Catching Problem

[ICS38]

Today my team had a scrimmage. We played well and I was put to catch. I did well but my problem was that when a curveball or knuckle curve came i couldn't catch it. It was not my glove but i am asking could it have been my anticipation of the pitch or something else?

[Centerfielder2]

if its in the dirt you could drop in block ?

[Catchingcoach]

Today my team had a scrimmage. We played well and I was put to catch. I did well but my problem was that when a curveball or knuckle curve came i couldn't catch it. It was not my glove but i am asking could it have been my anticipation of the pitch or something else?


ICS38,

I need a little more information about the exact nature of the trouble you had. When you tried to catch it did you keep dropping the ball? or did you miss the ball altogether?

[ICS38]

Yes Catchingcoach when i got the ball i drop it and also balls in the dirt got passed by me as well. Is there a way to improve this?

Thank You

[Catchingcoach]

Yes Catchingcoach when i got the ball i drop it and also balls in the dirt got passed by me as well. Is there a way to improve this?

Thank You

Possibly 2 different issues here.

First the balls you dropped.
One of the main reasons that catchers can have problems hanging onto off speed pitches is that because of the way they are tracking the ball in the air.

Many catchers track a pitch that has alot of movement by following the pitches movemnet with their glove. The probelm with this technique is that it almost always causes you to be late or "chasing" the pitch. Never able to beat the ball to the spot and catch it good and clean.

If you go to the link below you will read a post from earlier this year that explains it all in detail.

http://www.baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?t=51462

Question #2 is about blocking offspeed.

The biggest reason these pitches get away from catchers is they do not attack the ball enough and finish the block right over the ball as it bounces on the ground. Catchers that stay back as they should on a fastball will find the off speed pitches a real problem to control.

When you have called an off speed pitch you have to remember to block forward on those and get right on top of the ball as it hits the ground to keep it from bouncing away from you.

[cubsphill]

when i started catching i had that problem also. then someone taught me to receive the ball close to my body and the problem went away

[ICS38]

So you are saying let my eyes follow then stop the ball in the strike zone area or let it hit a stone wall as you say.

[ICS38]

But thank you for the tips and blocking offspeed as well.

[Drill]

Yogi Berra was ask

How do you catch a knuckle ball? His answer was "When it stops rolling"




drill

[Catchingcoach]

So you are saying let my eyes follow then stop the ball in the strike zone area or let it hit a stone wall as you say.

Yes. eyes track the ball but the glove heads for the spot the ball will be at when it is time to catch the ball. This way the glove is "ready and waiting" when the ball gets there.

Good receiving is catchers doing eveything they can to keep strikes looking like strikes, and never doing any thing that could cause a strike to look like a ball

[ICS38]

Thank You For This Tip. Whenever we have another game right before i will practice it. So catching with the eyes i get it thank you.

Also with the knucklecurve thank you Drill but is true Catchingcoach that i should let just drop in the dirt or something else?

[Catchingcoach]

Also with the knucklecurve thank you Drill but is true Catchingcoach that i should let just drop in the dirt or something else?

The key to good receiving is learning to read where a pitch is going to end up. The more experienced you get behind the plate the more you will have a read on whether a pitch is going in the dirt or not. It it is not going in the dirt then ball all means use good glove positions and catch it. But if you read that its going into the dirt then use good blocking mechanics and block it.

And...now the real important one....with runners on base...when in doubt..block it.

[ICS38]

And...now the real important one....with runners on base...when in doubt..block it.

Now i have not heard this one but now i will almost live my baseball career like this. Thank You catchingcoach