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| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| sebaseball |
Posted - 02/11/2016 : 13:04:10
As a former catcher in HS & college (late 80's - early 90's), I'm very curious about this new method of framing pitches. The way I see it, it's not framing at all, but rather "pulling" pitches into the strike zone. I specifically remember being taught and being told by umps that they aren't stupid enough not too see what catchers were trying to do by pulling a pitch back in. They were actually insulted if you tried to do that. We were taught to very breifly stick the pitch and within the motion of catching the ball, could fold our wrist to get the pitch that was 1 ball off the plate back onto the plate, but that was it. You've got guys now trying to pull or "funnel" the ball from 2-3 balls off the plate and getting calls; especially on the low pitch.
Anybody have any insight as to why what was totally unacceptable is now being taught as correct? And, no, that isn't a loaded question with bigger implications about our society as a whole. Although..... |
| 4 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| bfriendly |
Posted - 02/28/2016 : 08:00:18
quote:
Originally posted by DecaturDad
quote:
Originally posted by sebaseball
As a former catcher in HS & college (late 80's - early 90's), I'm very curious about this new method of framing pitches. The way I see it, it's not framing at all, but rather "pulling" pitches into the strike zone. I specifically remember being taught and being told by umps that they aren't stupid enough not too see what catchers were trying to do by pulling a pitch back in. They were actually insulted if you tried to do that. We were taught to very breifly stick the pitch and within the motion of catching the ball, could fold our wrist to get the pitch that was 1 ball off the plate back onto the plate, but that was it. You've got guys now trying to pull or "funnel" the ball from 2-3 balls off the plate and getting calls; especially on the low pitch.
Anybody have any insight as to why what was totally unacceptable is now being taught as correct? And, no, that isn't a loaded question with bigger implications about our society as a whole. Although.....
My son is a HS varsity catcher and he was taught to frame the same way you did. I even remember him being told "Umpires are not stupid, they see what you are trying to do." At the same time, i agree, a lot of catchers are never taught the art of finesse.
I like that word......it should be subtle, not flagrant. At the 12u level and previous years, it does seem as though the outside, off the plate by 3 balls has been called a strike on a consistent basis so there isn't much need to pull it in anywho........Bringing up the low pitch and dropping down a high change or bender are the "Finesse" moves that seem to get the calls on borderline pitches. |
| HeyBlue |
Posted - 02/12/2016 : 11:17:44
A catcher can lose a strike when he tries to pull a borderline pitch back into the strike zone. If he pulls the ball back in, he's telling me it was not a strike and I will tend to agree and call the pitch a ball. I have no issues with holding a ball there for a moment to let me get all data on the pitch, but do not hold it there for more than a second and a half. We are taught to slow down on making the call so that you get it right based on all of the variables at the time the ball is in the neighborhood of the pitch. |
| DecaturDad |
Posted - 02/11/2016 : 14:05:03
quote:
Originally posted by sebaseball
As a former catcher in HS & college (late 80's - early 90's), I'm very curious about this new method of framing pitches. The way I see it, it's not framing at all, but rather "pulling" pitches into the strike zone. I specifically remember being taught and being told by umps that they aren't stupid enough not too see what catchers were trying to do by pulling a pitch back in. They were actually insulted if you tried to do that. We were taught to very breifly stick the pitch and within the motion of catching the ball, could fold our wrist to get the pitch that was 1 ball off the plate back onto the plate, but that was it. You've got guys now trying to pull or "funnel" the ball from 2-3 balls off the plate and getting calls; especially on the low pitch.
Anybody have any insight as to why what was totally unacceptable is now being taught as correct? And, no, that isn't a loaded question with bigger implications about our society as a whole. Although.....
My son is a HS varsity catcher and he was taught to frame the same way you did. I even remember him being told "Umpires are not stupid, they see what you are trying to do." At the same time, i agree, a lot of catchers are never taught the art of finesse.
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| CaCO3Girl |
Posted - 02/11/2016 : 14:03:51
I would disagree that it's being taught as correct, and I would also disagree that it would work from about 13u and up, heck I have my doubts about any age level.
My interpretation is it's all about the grab of the ball. If you can catch it in such a way that it just looks like you have folded your glove on the ball as you catch it and that can get you a few inches then more power to you. This of course means you catch balls on the right side of the plate by grabbing and folding to the left. You catch balls on the left side of the plate by having the glove first touch the left side of the ball and fold the glove towards the right. It also helps a LOT of you can sway with the incoming ball so it never appears like the catcher had to extend his arm very far across his body.
The idea of being able to catch the ball and then move the ball 6+ inches and get a strike called....well um, that just shouldn't happen. |
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