The Catcher?
Catching may be the most demanding position in baseball, both physically and mentally. To be a quality catcher, you need to know more than how to catch the ball and how to throw the ball to second, you need to know the game of baseball. When we talk about knowing baseball, we mean knowing it as a coach tries to know it. As the catcher, you're the onfield coach. You have the entire field in front of you. Your team depends on you to make split second decisions that can determine runs vs. outs, wins vs. losses.
Late in the game
Your team is up by one run
Runner on second
1 out
What has the 4th hitter done? Maybe the 3rd hitter has hit the cover off the ball and the 4th hitter has struggled. Is the hitter a dead pull hitter or does he spray the ball? What does your pitcher have left in the tank? How is his control? Is the runner on second a threat to steal? Based on all that information, what pitch are you going to call and what location?
When I play "MLB THE SHOW" I don't think my catcher knows these things. I have studied my catcher closely and all he does is offer pitch "suggestions". His one and only "Catcher Attribute" is "BLOCKING". He shares Arm Strength and Accuracy with other positional players.
We all know that in real life baseball(highschool and up) the Catcher "Calls the Game" with some help from the manager. And we know the catcher biggest attribute is his brain and his ability to recall and or have a great memory.
Lets list some attributes that a Catcher should possess.
Baseball IQ - This attribute will be what differentiate catchers from one another. Knowing Batters scouting report, understanding the situation as well as his chemistry with the pitcher or pitching staff. The more time he has with a pitcher the better he understands what pitch he's confident in throwing or what is in his repertoire also his ability to calm a pitcher down when he visits the mound. This directly correlates with how he calls a game. This is a mental attribute and this is what makes a catcher good to great.
Situational Awareness - Knowing what shift is on and calling pitches that influences hits into those zones. This leads to the catcher "calling the game", instead of pitch suggestions.
SAGE - His relationship and chemistry with the Pitchers and Pitching staff. This will help with mound visits and the catcher's ability to calm the pitcher down. There should be stat tracking for Catcher/Pitcher games played together this will influence chemistry and trust and how that correlates to a calming influence. E.g. Grandal, has called the game for Kershaw 10 times so the chemistry and trust is there, so when Grandal visit the Mound he should have a better calming effect on Kershaw as oppose to A.J. Ellis who has only called 1 game for Kershaw. Knowing a pitchers strength and weaknesses is paramount to calling a good game.
The aforementioned was all mental aspects of the game. The Catcher calls the game, he is the quarterback and the Point Guard on the Diamond. And in Football and Basketball we rely heavily on the leadership abilities of those positions in both the mental and physical parts of the game.
Reaction Time - How quick he gets out of the crouch for foul balls, throwing a runner out on an attempted steal and snap throws. Blocking wild pitches or passed balls.
Just like we know the difference between Tom Brady and Mike Vick, We should know the difference between Grandal and Ellis. There is a reason Grandal is the starter and Ellis is the back up and when it comes to Catchers 80% of the time it isn't just about offense or what he can make that bat do.
Catching may be the most demanding position in baseball, both physically and mentally. To be a quality catcher, you need to know more than how to catch the ball and how to throw the ball to second, you need to know the game of baseball. When we talk about knowing baseball, we mean knowing it as a coach tries to know it. As the catcher, you're the onfield coach. You have the entire field in front of you. Your team depends on you to make split second decisions that can determine runs vs. outs, wins vs. losses.
Late in the game
Your team is up by one run
Runner on second
1 out
What has the 4th hitter done? Maybe the 3rd hitter has hit the cover off the ball and the 4th hitter has struggled. Is the hitter a dead pull hitter or does he spray the ball? What does your pitcher have left in the tank? How is his control? Is the runner on second a threat to steal? Based on all that information, what pitch are you going to call and what location?
When I play "MLB THE SHOW" I don't think my catcher knows these things. I have studied my catcher closely and all he does is offer pitch "suggestions". His one and only "Catcher Attribute" is "BLOCKING". He shares Arm Strength and Accuracy with other positional players.
We all know that in real life baseball(highschool and up) the Catcher "Calls the Game" with some help from the manager. And we know the catcher biggest attribute is his brain and his ability to recall and or have a great memory.
Lets list some attributes that a Catcher should possess.
Baseball IQ - This attribute will be what differentiate catchers from one another. Knowing Batters scouting report, understanding the situation as well as his chemistry with the pitcher or pitching staff. The more time he has with a pitcher the better he understands what pitch he's confident in throwing or what is in his repertoire also his ability to calm a pitcher down when he visits the mound. This directly correlates with how he calls a game. This is a mental attribute and this is what makes a catcher good to great.
Situational Awareness - Knowing what shift is on and calling pitches that influences hits into those zones. This leads to the catcher "calling the game", instead of pitch suggestions.
SAGE - His relationship and chemistry with the Pitchers and Pitching staff. This will help with mound visits and the catcher's ability to calm the pitcher down. There should be stat tracking for Catcher/Pitcher games played together this will influence chemistry and trust and how that correlates to a calming influence. E.g. Grandal, has called the game for Kershaw 10 times so the chemistry and trust is there, so when Grandal visit the Mound he should have a better calming effect on Kershaw as oppose to A.J. Ellis who has only called 1 game for Kershaw. Knowing a pitchers strength and weaknesses is paramount to calling a good game.
The aforementioned was all mental aspects of the game. The Catcher calls the game, he is the quarterback and the Point Guard on the Diamond. And in Football and Basketball we rely heavily on the leadership abilities of those positions in both the mental and physical parts of the game.
Reaction Time - How quick he gets out of the crouch for foul balls, throwing a runner out on an attempted steal and snap throws. Blocking wild pitches or passed balls.
Just like we know the difference between Tom Brady and Mike Vick, We should know the difference between Grandal and Ellis. There is a reason Grandal is the starter and Ellis is the back up and when it comes to Catchers 80% of the time it isn't just about offense or what he can make that bat do.
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