pitchers or robots?

9 couldnt agree with you more. There are just some people u have to call the game for. I am a pitcher and I think it is an insult if a coach calls a game for me. My thought on this though is totally different. If I am not comfortable with a pitch I do not want to throw it. If my offspeed stuff is just not locating well I probably would not want to throw it 3-2. There are things or tendencies that I look for in a batter when I pitch. And coaches do the same thing but I think I have a little bit more of an advantage.

 

9, I quit reading at that sentence. I can't believe you abandoned me & joined my wife's 'you're wrong again idiot' team.

I'll say this: At some point the best experts agree that a skilled catcher should call the game. That's what they do in the play-for-pay league...so there must be merit to it.

But (you knew there was a 'but' coming)...but I don't know many kids in high school (or college) who would put in the time to know each of his pitchers...& then study a lineup & memorize how best to pitch every opposing batter. But I guarantee coaches like Simpson or Andro do that everyday. Seems to me that's the most logical path to victory.

But what do I know? I was a point guard.

 

I respect and understand where you come from... Let me first say this, I give my kids as much flexibility as possible, bu they know I am in control. I call hit and runs, bunts, steals, etc... when running the game. In the rare instances where I have had a player that could take a base or dragging was part of his game, I do give that player the flexibility to do something he feels comfortable with, but only when I feel comfortable that he knows when and where is the right time. I had a player that could take 3rd because he had a gift for reading pitchers, he had the green light after I knew he and I were on the same page as far as situational running goes. Was he perfect, no, but I dont mind my players being a little aggressive... Its part of the game, and part of my personal philosophy. My players do not run wild, but when they earn trust, they get rewards (flexibility)... For 90% of my players, this may not happen. As far as catching goes, I just believe that part of becoming a good catcher is learning to call a game. I will let an experienced pitcher and catcher work together, with guidance and direction in the form of discussing how to pitch certain hitters, etc... that comes with trust and that's something I try to develop with my players. That's just the way I do it, I dont claim to be "the authority", but I just think it is one good way to develop a player.

 

Excellent point... I will just say that I just believe that calling games is a valuable learning experience for the catchers and it is a skill that can only be learined through practice in game situations.

We call pitches when we need to but we work to letting the catcher do it as a learning experience. With a young catcher we will call most (we called 95% this year with a Soph), If I see he is not calling a good game, we will go backto doing that..