What speed is good

thinking the game

Baseball is a thinking game, and that is where the fun is!!! By coaches calling pitches, kids do not get a chance to battle mentally with the hitter. I think they lose out on the competition part of the pitcher/hitter battle. A smart coach calls in a pitch or two in key situations to make sure the best pitch is thrown, but overall game should be left to the kids to play. Why else are we out there????

 

ok then at what age should a catcher start calling the game. I have seen some at the 13 and 14 level, but doesn't it fall on the knowledge of the game by the catcher. All catchers progress differently. Some earlier than others. Some catchers may have a canon for a arm at 13 but doesn't have the mentality for the game.

 

You teach them

what to look for in the hitter and you teach them to work with the pitchers. As they progress you can put more and more on them and continue to teach them. When they call a pitch in a situation that you feel should not have been called teach them dont yell at them. When they call a pitch in a certain situation talk to them and ask them what they were thinking. Pick their brain and let them pick yours. You have to understand as a coach that they are going to make some mistakes and its ok to make those mistakes as long as they are learning. Calling the right pitch does not mean the pitcher is going to make a good pitch. Calling the right pitch does not mean your going to have success with that pitch. Teach them why , teach why not and allow them to learn.

No one is in a better posistion to call a game than a catcher that knows his pitchers and understands how to attack hitters. But with advanced scouting at the college level and the number of arms that are used I can certainly understand coaches calling pitches. But I think its important for the catcher to know why that pitch is being called and why that pitch is not being called. And I think its very important for young catchers to learn the game and be taught to call their own game.

But calling your own game for the sake of calling your own game means nothing. They need to learn the game and why that is what is important. Understanding your pitchers strengths and understanding the hitters strengths will allow the catcher to properly attack the hitters. Without that knowledge its nothing more than a crap shoot.

 

Other than the pitcher himself, of course !