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Our catchers have called their own games since they were 11. I guess I disagree with DaBoss, for reasons that include the points made by ab209ljf. I also disagree, because our catchers have virtually no exposure to being blamed for making the wrong call. We sometimes talk to our catchers about what pitch was called and whether something else would have been better, but that is really quite infrequent. And I don't think we have EVER put the blame for a game loss on a catcher's call.
Sure, these catchers will probably have college staffs that take over calling the game. But presumably whoever is sitting on that bucket will discuss with and invite input from the catcher regarding the calls before, during, and after the game and we think we are preparing the catchers a lot better for those conversations by letting them call their own game now. Same goes for our pitchers, who have reasonable leeway to shrug off any particular called pitch.
I'm pretty darn sure that if you asked our catchers whether they would prefer a pitching coach to call the game, their answers would be a resounding no.
Sure, these catchers will probably have college staffs that take over calling the game. But presumably whoever is sitting on that bucket will discuss with and invite input from the catcher regarding the calls before, during, and after the game and we think we are preparing the catchers a lot better for those conversations by letting them call their own game now. Same goes for our pitchers, who have reasonable leeway to shrug off any particular called pitch.
I'm pretty darn sure that if you asked our catchers whether they would prefer a pitching coach to call the game, their answers would be a resounding no.