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Couldnt agree with this more, all MLB catchers call the game. I think theyd get laughed out of the game if they didnt.
With our 16u team, we plan on having our coach who is a junior pitcher in college call the game...
Couldnt agree with this more, all MLB catchers call the game. I think theyd get laughed out of the game if they didnt.
With our 16u team, we plan on having our coach who is a junior pitcher in college call the game...
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Good topic. When I was a baseball pitcher in HS, my catcher and I always called the game. Same thing in summer ball. Got to college and the catcher coach called every pitch like a Nazi. I hated it. I was basically like a robot on the mound and he had zero imagination when it came to keeping hitters off balance.
Note to college prospects: before choosing a school, ask how much lattitude you have in calling your pitches! Had I known to do this I would have gone to a different school for sure.
Note to college prospects: before choosing a school, ask how much lattitude you have in calling your pitches! Had I known to do this I would have gone to a different school for sure.
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You were mistaken, those dads were calling balls and strikes...
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would you let 12u girls call there own game or 14u what age is good do you think
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I believe at 14u should be giving the catcher a chance to at least call her share of pitches, good time to learn. If not a strong or 'knowledgeable' catcher, still can let them call some in pool play etc to build up the knowledge and confidence.
Teaches the catcher more to control the game, and no one sees it better than them behind the plate!
Teaches the catcher more to control the game, and no one sees it better than them behind the plate!
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Mine are 12U and they don't have many pitches. They basically call 2-3 different pitches, depending on the pitcher, and work locations by reading batters and swings. At 12U there aren't many pitchers who can effectively pitch the junk so it is mostly working locations. They are never too young to learn. My pitchers and catchers LOVE it and they feel like they are really running the game.
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Couldn't agree more. Last year, since it was 12U, my dd and I talked location most of the time and she called great games. Where do you pitch a slapper, bunt situation, aggressive power hitter, etc.
This year the Coach and his assistant are the pitchers Dads, the most my dd gets is once or twice a game they tell her why they called a pitch.
The only positive thing about it is that she doesn't get the blame when the pitcher gets pounded
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Our catchers have called the pitches since their first year at 12u. You have to tolerate a few mistakes early on, but those are "teachable" moments. The coaches, pitchers, and catchers end up talking a great deal and develop confidence in each other. Right now I trust all our catchers to call a good game.
Ted Mason
Buckeye Heat 95
Ted Mason
Buckeye Heat 95
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We are a first year 13u team and I started letting my catchers call the game. When I first did this one of my catchers had to go over the signals with me. I realized then that they(catchers) were being robotic and not knowing what was going on (not into the game). Since I let them call pitches, they definitly know what is going on. I just did not throw them out there and say go do it yourself; I went over different scenarios. After an inning I will go over my opinion what I may have done on a certain count on the batter; I may jump in on a pitch or two now and then and call the signals but that is rare. I will also ask them what they would have done or why did you call that certain pitch to see where they are coming from.
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You need to teach them to call their own game. If they get to college and do not know how to call a game it could hurt their chances of playing. My DD has played at 2 D1 schools and they usually call their own games. Better to be able to do it and not need to than to not be prepared.
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Every coach we talked to on the recruiting tour last year, stated the catcher calls their own game....
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From 12u thru 18u, DD's catcher always called the games. Between innings, there were always consultations and adjustments. Coach would make suggestions, DD would giver her input especially about what pitches were working great for her that particular game. It was a Democracy.
That process worked great - they won MANY games by making adjustments, and - most important - DD and her catcher learned a tremendous amount about how to work a count, and how to pitch certain batters. IMO, every travel team should use this method.
MLB catchers call their own game - based on book experience. "Suggestions" are passed to the catcher from the dugout, NOT specific pitches. If book says a hitter statistically does poorly with inside sinkers, that info is passed, and the batter usually gets a diet of those. The battery is not "robots" in that case, but they have to use their skill based on historical data.
In every single DI college fastpitch game I've seen this season, the coaches are calling every single pitch. Not just "suggestions" either - they call both pitch type AND location. Why? IMO, it's a power thing. I guess they feel compelled to control that aspect of the game because they ultimately pay the price if the team is not successful. Unfortunately, a lot of college coaches have NO CLUE how to call a game. The best ones have usually had pitching/catching experience, and understand that better.
I hate to see travel coaches calling every single pitch, even at 10u. If anything, maybe call a few, but let the battery learn the game! By letting them make their own mistakes, they learn much faster, and less "oops" pitches get thrown. If the catcher isn't sure what pitch to call, have her look over to the coach for a "prompt signal". Nazi pitch calling will eventually bite you where it hurts, and does no one any good.
That process worked great - they won MANY games by making adjustments, and - most important - DD and her catcher learned a tremendous amount about how to work a count, and how to pitch certain batters. IMO, every travel team should use this method.
MLB catchers call their own game - based on book experience. "Suggestions" are passed to the catcher from the dugout, NOT specific pitches. If book says a hitter statistically does poorly with inside sinkers, that info is passed, and the batter usually gets a diet of those. The battery is not "robots" in that case, but they have to use their skill based on historical data.
In every single DI college fastpitch game I've seen this season, the coaches are calling every single pitch. Not just "suggestions" either - they call both pitch type AND location. Why? IMO, it's a power thing. I guess they feel compelled to control that aspect of the game because they ultimately pay the price if the team is not successful. Unfortunately, a lot of college coaches have NO CLUE how to call a game. The best ones have usually had pitching/catching experience, and understand that better.
I hate to see travel coaches calling every single pitch, even at 10u. If anything, maybe call a few, but let the battery learn the game! By letting them make their own mistakes, they learn much faster, and less "oops" pitches get thrown. If the catcher isn't sure what pitch to call, have her look over to the coach for a "prompt signal". Nazi pitch calling will eventually bite you where it hurts, and does no one any good.
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To Sammy's point. I was concerned that because our dugout currently calls our pitches, I was doing my catcher a dis-service from a development and recruiting perspective. So I asked the coaching staff at OSU and Miami U. Both indicated that for them no weighting (positive or negative) is given to a catchers ability to call a game.
An interesting and subtle point of view I have as a former collegiate baseball pitcher, catchers call games - not pitchers. I may be old fashion but like they said in Bull Durham - "Don't think, just throw". A catcher is the only one between the pitcher and catcher who can take the emotion out of the decision - there were many of times I wanted "announce my presence with authority with heat and my catcher would call a first pitch change up" and he was right.
I did however hold the decision making authority of when a ball was thrown at the batter - which I always enjoyed. The unwritten rules of baseball (and men) just don't seem to translate to softball (this sound like another thought provoking topic).
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Straying off topic to MLB, but I have always wondered why you see quotes like this in the paper. "He's just a rookie, he needs to learn how to pitch in the major leagues, when to throw certain pitches, how to handle the batters. etc etc" My full of baloney know nothing thinking is why isn't the veteran catcher handling that? Seems like he would say "Kid, I will call the pitches and you just worry about executing the pitch and hitting the spot." Assuming that's the case, how can anyone mention the pitcher is a rookie? Either he is executing and hitting the spots or not. Of course being able to do that comes better with experience, but that's another issue completely.
It's not rocket science. I truly believe the wrong pitch at the wrong time which is executed properly still gets the hitter out more often than not. The right pitch at the right time executed poorly with bad (from a pitcher perspective) location get's murdered more often than not. Certainly not foolproof, but to me the execution is by far more important as long as the basics of changing speed and locations are covered.
It's not rocket science. I truly believe the wrong pitch at the wrong time which is executed properly still gets the hitter out more often than not. The right pitch at the right time executed poorly with bad (from a pitcher perspective) location get's murdered more often than not. Certainly not foolproof, but to me the execution is by far more important as long as the basics of changing speed and locations are covered.
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To Sammy's point. I was concerned that because our dugout currently calls our pitches, I was doing my catcher a dis-service from a development and recruiting perspective. So I asked the coaching staff at OSU and Miami U. Both indicated that for them no weighting (positive or negative) is given to a catchers ability to call a game.
Mike, I'm sure if you asked an Irishman if he prefers Guiness or Budweiser, you know the answer you'd get. The answer to "if and who" calls the pitches for each college team is similar - the background of the staff is going to weigh heavily on that decision. I'm guessing a neutral weighting in recruiting would indicate that it doesn't matter if the catcher can call a game or not - just catch, block and throw - the coaches will pass you signals. Nothing wrong with that. But remember - some fastpitch COLLEGE coaches still teach swinging down on the ball... So it all depends on the method YOU think works. Just because a particular college coach uses a certain method doesn't mean it is the BEST method for every team.
An interesting and subtle point of view I have as a former collegiate baseball pitcher, catchers call games - not pitchers. I may be old fashion but like they said in Bull Durham - "Don't think, just throw". A catcher is the only one between the pitcher and catcher who can take the emotion out of the decision - there were many of times I wanted "announce my presence with authority with heat and my catcher would call a first pitch change up" and he was right.
I'll agree, up to a point. SUCCESSFUL catchers call games. If things aren't working, I'm sure the coach isn't going to just play mum! Either the pitch selection is wrong, or the pitcher's not hitting spots. Emo pitcher? Everyone knows there's no crying in... softball!
Mike, I'm sure if you asked an Irishman if he prefers Guiness or Budweiser, you know the answer you'd get. The answer to "if and who" calls the pitches for each college team is similar - the background of the staff is going to weigh heavily on that decision. I'm guessing a neutral weighting in recruiting would indicate that it doesn't matter if the catcher can call a game or not - just catch, block and throw - the coaches will pass you signals. Nothing wrong with that. But remember - some fastpitch COLLEGE coaches still teach swinging down on the ball... So it all depends on the method YOU think works. Just because a particular college coach uses a certain method doesn't mean it is the BEST method for every team.
An interesting and subtle point of view I have as a former collegiate baseball pitcher, catchers call games - not pitchers. I may be old fashion but like they said in Bull Durham - "Don't think, just throw". A catcher is the only one between the pitcher and catcher who can take the emotion out of the decision - there were many of times I wanted "announce my presence with authority with heat and my catcher would call a first pitch change up" and he was right.
I'll agree, up to a point. SUCCESSFUL catchers call games. If things aren't working, I'm sure the coach isn't going to just play mum! Either the pitch selection is wrong, or the pitcher's not hitting spots. Emo pitcher? Everyone knows there's no crying in... softball!
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I am surprised about OSU and Miami but I guess they both have ex pitchers and catchers on the staff so they can call. Last week at my DD's college game they had the Jr catcher call the game from the dugout while the freshman was catching.
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I could not agree more.
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I haven't watched any D1 games lately, or at least close enough to see who was calling pitches, but if I take Sammy's statement as gospel that the coaches are calling pitches, I think that ought to tell us all something, regardless of what we think might make sense or what they might do in MLB.
I disagree with Sammy however that they are doing it because of ego ... I think they do it because they are being paid to win games, and they believe this gives them the best chance to win. If there are egos involved, I would argue that those belong to some of the catcher's dads who think their DD's should always be the one calling the pitches. I have seen plenty of "all conference" catchers who don't have a clue on how to call them.
I would argue that the best person to be calling the pitches is the person on the team (coach or player) who best understands the art/science of calling them, and who both knows their pitcher as well as the batter's tendencies.
On the 16-U travel team my daughter (D3 pitcher) and I are coaching this summer, I can tell you that she will be calling the pitches.
I disagree with Sammy however that they are doing it because of ego ... I think they do it because they are being paid to win games, and they believe this gives them the best chance to win. If there are egos involved, I would argue that those belong to some of the catcher's dads who think their DD's should always be the one calling the pitches. I have seen plenty of "all conference" catchers who don't have a clue on how to call them.
I would argue that the best person to be calling the pitches is the person on the team (coach or player) who best understands the art/science of calling them, and who both knows their pitcher as well as the batter's tendencies.
On the 16-U travel team my daughter (D3 pitcher) and I are coaching this summer, I can tell you that she will be calling the pitches.
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http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/59787
MLB answer.
From a college softball coaching site.
http://www.softballperformance.com/softball-coaching-who-should-call-pitches/
MLB answer.
From a college softball coaching site.
http://www.softballperformance.com/softball-coaching-who-should-call-pitches/
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