Same pitcher different catching experiences

icnu01 · Jul 6, 2015

So I'm looking for ideas of what is happening when my DD is catching. She has a better skill set than our other catcher but during the games things get sloppy.

During warm ups with our #1 pitcher everything is fine and the pitches all look good. During the game my DD is chasing balls all over the place... in the dirt & over the batters head. The coach pulls DD and puts our other catcher in with the same pitcher and everything settles down. Of course my DD gets the brunt of the storm because of all the "passed balls". We get that, it's the catcher's fault, but we'd like to find a solution. I have my ideas but looking for other explanations.

riseball · Jul 6, 2015

Is it the pitching that "settles down"? What age group?

JJS · Jul 6, 2015

Some pitchers are just more comfortable with certain catchers. It isn't the catchers fault. It is the pitchers fault, but it doesn't matter. Whatever works best for the team...

Greenmonsters · Jul 6, 2015

riseball said:
Is it the pitching that "settles down"? What age group?

It would help to know age and level of play, but....I'm going to guess that either the other catcher is the pitcher's BFF or that the pitcher simply doesn't yet have full confidence in your DD's catching ability.

icnu01 · Jul 6, 2015

I am talking about a 16U A team. To some degree yes the pitcher is settling down. But after watching numerous videos of the games there is a definite difference. The pitcher does better out of the gate with the other catcher. I have wondered about the comfort level as well. My DD and the pitcher seem to get along well, maybe even very well, but how much does that translate into comfort?

As far as "fault", nobody is going to say anything to the pitcher, especially when we only have 1 right now. Most importantly this isn't about blame. Even if it's totally the pitchers fault I''m trying to figure out what she can do to make things better... for the team. If she/they can get the pitching straightened out it will be better.

So for my thoughts... One big difference between the catcher's styles is the other girl gives her sign and then immediately sets up for the pitch. My DD waits until she is into the pitch to set up. I told her to set up earlier but she said the coach told her not to. I told her to do it anyway if they put her back in for the good of the team. I say if they put her back in because she has not been behind the plate since a game where the opposing team scored 2 of their 6 runs on pitches that went over the batters head.

Greenmonsters · Jul 6, 2015

icnu01 said:
I am talking about a 16U A team. To some degree yes the pitcher is settling down. But after watching numerous videos of the games there is a definite difference. The pitcher does better out of the gate with the other catcher. I have wondered about the comfort level as well. My DD and the pitcher seem to get along well, maybe even very well, but how much does that translate into comfort?

As far as "fault", nobody is going to say anything to the pitcher, especially when we only have 1 right now. Most importantly this isn't about blame. Even if it's totally the pitchers fault I''m trying to figure out what she can do to make things better... for the team. If she/they can get the pitching straightened out it will be better.

So for my thoughts... One big difference between the catcher's styles is the other girl gives her sign and then immediately sets up for the pitch. My DD waits until she is into the pitch to set up. I told her to set up earlier but she said the coach told her not to. I told her to do it anyway if they put her back in for the good of the team. I say if they put her back in because she has not been behind the plate since a game where the opposing team scored 2 of their 6 runs on pitches that went over the batters head.

Certainly not the answer I anticipated. When the catcher sets the target shouldn't make a bit of difference to a 16U A pitcher (although it can make a big difference in how hard the pitcher gets hit!), but if that seems to be the problem then its worth trying to set up early as a short-term fix.

riseball · Jul 7, 2015

Sounds to me like the pitcher is a bit of a head case.

CJ D · Jul 7, 2015

Pitcher does sound like a head case. Maybe she has never learned to throw to shoulders and knees and have the catcher move during wind up. On another note, and no offense, but there is zero excuse for passed balls in 16U A ball. I know it's tough blocking a half dozen balls every half inning, but it's 16U A ball. If she wants to have any chance at being a catcher at the next level, she has to be able to do it. Coaches don't care how many she has to block. Only that she has to block the ones that come to her.

MNDad · Jul 7, 2015

icnu01 said:
I am talking about a 16U A team. To some degree yes the pitcher is settling down. But after watching numerous videos of the games there is a definite difference. The pitcher does better out of the gate with the other catcher. I have wondered about the comfort level as well. My DD and the pitcher seem to get along well, maybe even very well, but how much does that translate into comfort?

As far as "fault", nobody is going to say anything to the pitcher, especially when we only have 1 right now. Most importantly this isn't about blame. Even if it's totally the pitchers fault I''m trying to figure out what she can do to make things better... for the team. If she/they can get the pitching straightened out it will be better.

So for my thoughts... One big difference between the catcher's styles is the other girl gives her sign and then immediately sets up for the pitch. My DD waits until she is into the pitch to set up. I told her to set up earlier but she said the coach told her not to. I told her to do it anyway if they put her back in for the good of the team. I say if they put her back in because she has not been behind the plate since a game where the opposing team scored 2 of their 6 runs on pitches that went over the batters head.

Coaches love this...

Greenmonsters · Jul 7, 2015

riseball said:
Sounds to me like the pitcher is a bit of a head case.

No way, its always the catcher's fault!

Same pitcher different catching experiences

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