Pitching and Pitchers Discussion Calling pitches.

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How does everyone on here feel about calling pitches? Should the catcher or the coach call the pitch? I have heard many different opinions.

 

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I am sure there are some older catchers 14U and up who could call it, I prefer to keep control of that. The girls have enough pressure to perform. Even the managers in the Bigs call pitches occasionally.

 

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Our girls in town call them from grade 7 on up through High school

 

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I agree with turbo...however I would be OK with having a pitcher shake off a sign OCCASIONALLY if she sees something I am missing. For example: I am calling an inside corner pitch and I do not see the hitter setting up way off the plate...she would be correct in wanting to stay on the outside corner.

 

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Let me add one more detail, I have pitchers who have 2 pitches and a pitcher who has 4...I like to utilize all 4 from my years of experience and knowledge. I do have 2 catchers who could call 1's or 2's at the right time so they are learning. But we emphasize location as well, just not ready for calling an entire game IMHO.

 

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It seems that with the number of pitches that a pitcher has as they get to 14U and above and having information with the coaches of what the batter has done before it is more effective to have a coach call the pitches. That being said you still have to train the cathchers and let them and the pitcher have some instances to overrule the coach if they feel better about a certian pitch in a certain situation. Most but not all of the major college programs typically work this way as well.

 

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i believe most coaches call pitches. they are more experienced and have, as eaton stated, the info from score books ect about what that particular batter has done in the past. i believe most travel team coaches call their own. perhaps hilliard would have done better if a coach called pitches instead of young players.

 

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OUCH!

 

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here's an idea... why don't you teach your catchers how to call pitches? Catchers in the big leagues do not get their calls from the dugout.. they are looking over to see if a play is on (pick off, etc.) when runners are on base. They go over the game plan before the start and have a plan to attack the hitters. The more of the game you do for the kids, the less you are teaching them how to play and react for themselves.

 

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I'm a firm believer in training our catchers to call pitches. Many High School coaches don't want to or don't know how to call pitches and they rely on the catcher to call the game. I've also seen this with College teams/coaches but less often.

For the last 2+ seasons (as 13yo, 14yo and now 15yo) we've had our catchers call the pitches (pitch & location) to me.

Then I will either:
a) approve
b) shake it off and ask for another pitch
c) give them the pitch / location I want (usually after "b" doesn't produce the desired call)

I believe this method keeps our catcher thinking (what should I call this time) while also training them on how to call pitches (why didn't the coach want that pitch, why did the coach call for that pitch). It also takes some pressure off of them as I have the final say on the call and if the pitch doesn't work out it's on me and not on them.

When they were 13 year olds we had a high percentage of "B" and "C". They improved as 14 year olds and the "A" percentage went higher while the "C" percentage went lower ("B" was approx the same).

This year, as 15 year olds, they are doing a very good job of knowing their pitchers and the opposing hitters and we have a much higher percentage of "A". With 1 of my catchers I rarely change her calls as I often come to regret changing her initial call.

 

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Obviously Rocks doesn't have an idea on calling a game, so that's ok. One thing calling the pitch, the pitcher then has to get it there in the right location, then if it's hit there are 7 others that have to field it as well....

 

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I have been around some very good pitchers and catchers at the high school and traveling ball. Coaches have always called the pitches. From a prior post, these are not full time players, yes we scout, but when did a major league team play 8 teams in two days ? If your catcher has this ability I would like to meet her!

 

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It depends; if you have a really knowledgeable catcher than I would say let her call the pitches. The catcher can easily see if the batter is standing far from the plate or if she's right on top of the plate. Even if the catcher is calling pitches I still like for the coach to have some input. The coach is more likely to see if the batter is dropping their barrel etc.

 

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I agree that it is important to let the catcher call pitches if she is able and knowledgeable. Also if she is not, isn't it our responsibility as coaches to make sure that she is? I dont believe that it's a true statement that "travel coaches have always called pitches." I do ?believe that the coach who refuses to let a catcher call pitches, even if she is able, is wasting a valuable commodity, and limiting her ability to grow as a player. ?JMHO

Also, great ideas jb... I like the idea of having them call the pitches, and get your approval until they prove they can do it on their own.

Lastly....... ?if you have a pitcher who's curveball is not breaking, or fastball is not moving, etc.... who better to know that than the catcher? We can see only so much from on top of the bucket!!!

 

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SBFamily... you mean to tell me you don't think every MLB team has books of information on every player currently in the majors? Of course they do. No, they don't have to see 8 different teams in a weekend. What's your point? Teams should learn as much as they can about their opposition. The teams and coaches need to be 'scouting' the opposition when possible and figuring out their gameplan. The coach knows all the players on all 8 of those teams that you're playing? Of course not. So, why not teach your catcher the basics of what pitch to call and when (there are general rules of thumb to follow). OR... have the catch attend pitching lessons WITH the pitch to learn from the pitching coach what is best? Sooner or later, teams are going to wake up to the fact that when the coach gives the signal to the catcher, he/she is also giving a signal that EVERYONE else can see too. Eventually, a smart opposing coach is going to read those signals and give the hitters the pitches. While some people think that is 'cheating', it's not. Are you telling me then it's cheating to try to figure out when the batters are going to bunt or runners are going to steal? It's the same thing. The difference is... coach calling pitches can be avoided by teaching kids the game. I cannot believe more mothers don't get angry when people seem to think girls are incapable of learning how to do it. Or that it puts too much pressure on them. What ever happened to "anything boys can do, girls can do better" and slogans like that?

 

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hilliarddad3 who are you to question about calling games. i was just stating that perhaps if an older more experienced coach would call pitches the hilliard "D" program would have done better the last few years I know the talent is there they have many good competive travel ball players on their team as you well know as yours is one of them. fastpitch softball has become so advanced in the last 10 or so years that any edge you can have over your opponent is a plus. i'll bet coaches are calling pitches at compuware, stingrays, states and nationals...what is the difference OCC, districts, regionals,STATES...sorry but we all want to win and if anyone states otherwise they are liars.

 

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JB, an excellent post on your part and I agree with you on how you break it down ( A, B and C ). One of my DD's had the chance to start calling pitch's as a Freshmen in H.S. this spring and it really made her think about pitch selection/location to different batter's. As you know there are many more variables that go into calling pitch's then just where/how the batter sets up...lol. I understand at 10/12U and even young 14's coaches calling the game, but I also feel that it's a lost art ( catcher calling her own game ) that overzealous coaches carry all the way through to 18's.

BTW, great talking to you up at Sparta last weekend and I'll be sure to pick your brain the next time we meet.

 

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Sorry rocks, nothing wrong with pitch calling, They just couldn't execute the basics as a team. That along with their starting catcher ? and their first baseman going down with foot injuries for 3/4 of the season didn't help. Even then, their replacements did just fine..

I do recall the last three catchers from Darby playing college ball or will be playing it, so they can't be that bad at calling them.

Our 18's at Compuware are calling their own as usual too..

 

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It is my personal belief that a catcher should call the pitches, unless improperly trained. ?If you know how to call a pitch, then I think you have every right to play the game. ?To be honest, some coaches who have catchers who are able, but not allowed to call pitches....are perhaps trying to be more involved than need be? ?A coach can't see everything from the plate like a catcher can, and they can't always make the right decision. ?Not only that...but how many coaches have actually played competitive fastpitch softball? ?Few to none. ?Granted, some may have played baseball, but the games are different, much different. ?A lot of girls have been playing this game longer than their coaches have been active in it. ?I think that a student of the game versus a player and student of the game is a no brainer. ?Of course, that's just me.

 

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You hit the nail on the head Catchit09.
i think i like you!!!