ECU SKILLS CAMP

Did anyone attend the camp at East Carolina University on Sunday the 17th if so, how do you think the catchers there looked anyone stand out?

 

ECU Pitcher/Catcher and Hitter Camp is this coming weekend.

2010 Pitcher, Catcher and Hitter Camp
When: January 23-24
Where: Clark-LeClair Stadium
Ages: 9-18
Cost: $75 per day (checks made payable to ECU Baseball)
All registration fees must be paid in full prior to camp date
Pitcher/Catcher Camp: Saturday, January 23</B>
Hitter's Camp:Sunday, January 24
Camp sign-in will start at 8:30 a.m. at Clark-LeClair Stadium
Start Time: 9 a.m.
End Time: 1 p.m. both days
Address:ECU Baseball
Attn: Jeff Stevens
102 Clark-LeClair Stadium
Greenville, NC 27858
Equipment Needed:
Pitchers: Glove, turfs/tennis shoes, cleats, and long sleeves
Catchers: Shins, chest protector, mask, mit, cup, and turfs/cleats
Hitters: Bat, turfs/cleats, and batting gloves ECU Baseball players will be assisting throughout both days of camp.

Have not heard anything from last weekend... Event last weekend was a Canes workout/tryout? ( so I was told)

 

I was there and have the times of all the catchers. The 3 Canes catchers (Clark, Braswell and a VA kid) were 1.9-2.0. Are you looking info on someone in particular?

 

ecu

yes the kid with blonde hair in the black t-shirt he was the 2nd one to throw down from rockingham county

 

His best time was 2.09 with the other 4 ranging from 2.1-2.19.

 

ECU

I don't understand cause I was there timing the catchers to and the best time of the day I saw was 2.04 and nobody I saw was under that mark

 

Don't get so caught up in this number especially in some type of tryout like this. This is not an exact science and when you are comparing 1/100 of a second, even a tenth of a second, on a stop watch, there are a lot of factors that can sway the result and since a human is doing the recording, mental (not necessarily intent to do) aspects affect the number. Also, I've seen too many catchers cheat the drill by not staying in a proper receiving stance and other. You will see a difference in games on their times and that is the only place it counts and should be recorded.

Instead of getting caught up in tryout throw down times, look at his throwing velocity. If he is throwing in the low 80s or lower, he needs to get out and long toss more. Check how hard he throws the ball with crow hop and compare to his velocity throwing down from catching position - if a drop, he needs to work on mechanics of throwing from the catching position. Improving footwork and other to get a quicker release can be worked on but arm strength is important and will take more time to develop.

When he throws, what percent of throws are accurate. If you have a grade 50 arm and are accurate, there is more potential than with a grade 30 (or below) arm and not accurate.

Another aspect that seems to get lost in tryouts is receiving - I say the primary job of a catcher is to make the pitcher look good and to instill a confidence in the pitcher to throw any pitch at any time knowing the catcher can handle it. Too many catchers lose strikes for the pitcher and yes the catcher's actions do affect what the umpire calls. Does he stab at every pitch or does he make it appear that the ball simply and quietly disappears into his mitt.

Think about it, how many opportunities does a catcher have to get border line strikes called compared to throwing out runners in a game. If he can get those border line strikes called, then maybe the need to throw out runners can be reduced.

 

This was from my watch, another scout's and Coach Godwin's. There were 2 catchers who broke 2.0.

The ECU catcher wasn't going full speed. They were working on his footwork.

 

ecu

okay thanks

 

gkg,

Your post brings up some valid points but pop times are still very important.

1) Game times are much more reliable for times but, absent of that, how are the coaches supposed to evaluate the catchers?

2) All of the catchers did a goob job of not cheating. I think the throws were as realistic as possible.

3) I don't see many kids per year that throw 80+ mph to 2B.