How Important is Good Blocking Catcher?

With runners on third, it's pretty important...


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idahosportsacademy said:

Gentlemen and Lady, I agree in principle; the value of a good blocking catcher. In this case, I believe there are a couple of overlooked facts. One, in the scorebook, all balls that land in the dirt prior to "blocking" are "wild pitches", especially this pitch. The ball landed approximately 8" in front of the plate. When this occurs with a spinning breaking ball, there is no way to predict the distance baseballs/softballs bounce to the right after hitting the ground (from the pitcher's view). Additionally, when a ball lands that far in front of the plate, it is at best a guess how high the ball will bounce. In this case, even with Contreras coming up high in his stance to get his body in front of it, the ball hits his left shoulder area prior to going off towards the 3rd base dugout.

I do not want to undermine the premise of this post, because a solid catcher behind the plate is game changing. However, I cannot honestly sit back and have someone criticize Contreras' blocking skills based on that pitch, it was wild. I replayed that pitch many times and cannot agree with your assessment. My assessment in no way diminishes the value you place on a catcher who prides his/her self in their blocking abilities.

I would like to add the value in a great blocking catcher that can pickup those low strikes like Contreras utilizing a less beneficial "Froggie", or lower stance. You may notice he doesn't "Froggie" with runners on, but strategically throughout the game. All of your posts on catcher value is well taken. As for the Cub's curse, I personally would like to see it continue; why end it now? Bill Buckner has give much to baseball here in Boise, Idaho.

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Yes it was a WP, but a catcher's goal should be to prevent those too! The big issues I have is with his technique- he doesn't start with a square stance which makes it harder to block to his left and when he blocks in that direction he only drops to one knee, which leaves a big five hole, makes it difficult to square and drop the ball back towards the plate, and leaves him no chance on anything low to the outside raised knee side. He had another example last night in game #5 as well as a PB because he didn't turn his glove. To be fair and offer credit when due, he did make one amazing pick on a Chapman slider in the dirt with runners on in a key situation late in the game. Some might argue that it wasn't a block and that blocking w good technique will produce a higher success rate in the long term

riseball said:

A great blocking catcher is certainly nice to have. But not the game changer that a great fielding catcher will provide.

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IMO, receiving is the area where the biggest contribution can be made simply because that is where the most opportunities lie every game. Another 5-10 called strikes per game is huge. Many parents and coaches are challenged to recognize the difference between poor, good, great w a catcher's other more obvious skills ( i.e., fielding, throwing, blocking) let alone receiving. The real give away on this skill is when pitchers express a preference to pitch to one of two or more seemingly comparable catchers.

PS I won't even mention the skill of pitch calling

Greenmonsters said:

IMO, receiving is the area where the biggest contribution can be made simply because that is where the most opportunities lie every game. Another 5-10 called strikes per game is huge. Many parents and coaches are challenged to recognize the difference between poor, good, great w a catcher's other more obvious skills ( i.e., fielding, throwing, blocking) let alone receiving. The real give away on this skill is when pitchers express a preference to pitch to one of two or more seemingly comparable catchers.

PS I won't even mention the skill of pitch calling

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Blocking and receiving are skills that augment the performance of the defense. Neither can be affected by the actions of the offense. On the other hand if a catcher is deficient in fielding that can and will be exploited by the actions of and the offense. The gravy of blocking, receiving, and even pitch calling is great to have but only serves to enhance the meat which is fielding.

riseball said:

Blocking and receiving are skills that augment the performance of the defense. Neither can be affected by the actions of the offense. On the other hand if a catcher is deficient in fielding that can and will be exploited by the actions of and the offense. The gravy of blocking, receiving, and even pitch calling is great to have but only serves to enhance the meat which is fielding.

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Turkey is good on its own, but it is much better with cranberry sauce, stuffing, mashed potatos, peas, and apple pie.

PS I know today is Halloween, but for some unknown reason I already looking forward to Thanksgiving!?

Greenmonsters said:

Turkey is good on its own, but it is much better with cranberry sauce, stuffing, mashed potatos, peas, and apple pie.

PS I know today is Halloween, but for some unknown reason I already looking forward to Thanksgiving!?

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Because Thanksgiving food is delicious?

IMO, the number 1 skill necessary for a good catcher is receiving the ball properly and keep strikes looking like strikes. When they get an extra 5-10 called strikes for their pitcher, it's a huge difference. These are the catchers that the umpires seem to learn to trust because they are not trying to deceive them in any way. They are also the ones that are able to stretch or expand the strike zone by small increments thus getting even more strikes called. How many times have you seen a pitch by an opposing team called a strike when that same pitch is a ball for your team? Did you ever wonder if it may be the way your catcher presents the ball or tries to "frame" it? Probably not. Think of it this way, 9 extra called strikes is a half inning that the pitcher doesn't need to pitch. The second most important skill IMO is dropping and blocking. If they drop and block effectively, keeping the ball within easy reach a majority of the time, this keeps runners from scoring and if properly trained, can make the throw from the knees on a blocked ball for an out on the attempted steal. These first 2 skills are how they control the game. The number 3 skill needed by a catcher is fielding. Fielding is extremely important for this position but not too often do you see bunts land right in front of the plate and stay there at the higher levels. Also, with the higher level teams, you will see F5, F1 or F3 field the bunt while the catcher covers 3rd if there's a BR on 1st since the bunts are usually further out simply due to the speed of the pitch or possibly a push bunt. As far as pop-ups go, again, a properly trained catcher should make this play 9 out of 10 times. Other fielding responsibilities are also very easily trained and learned but you always have those "one" or "two" catchers that seem to excel at receiving and presenting the ball and those are the ones that pitchers have a tendency to want to pitch to. JMHO

I think YOCOACH and I see things very similar. There are 6 critical skills I use to rate catchers. Times are relative to age. These are not in order of importance:
1. Blocking - technique and attitude towards blocking. Ability to keep ball in front and close for opportunities to knee throw down or just keep runners at bay.
2. Receiving/Framing - the catchers responsibility is to get strikes for their pitcher through excellent framing within their body frame, their arm straight by meeting the ball, eyes level as possible and steady. Catching the outside of the ball and turning it in. Flexible enough to Froggie and get the low pitches and bring them up into the zone, yet athletic enough to pop up with no hands and catch a short popup, field a bunt, or throw down to any base from knees or feet athletically.
2. Speed to bunts - indicated by the 3 cone 5x10x5 shuttle and speed from stance and knees to the ball.
3. Pop-to-Pop - time is relative to age, but from knees and feet.
4. Field Presence - directing and controlling the game with their voice. Are they the Gladiator everyone comes to see? Do they win the crowd? Can they make game changing plays? Be intimidating to base runners?
5. Game Intelligence - what is his/her IQ and EI. Decision making speed and accuracy.
6. Leadership - do they have the ability to raise everyones kevel of play through their presence. Do they connect mentally with the pitcher? Other teammates (infielders)?

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The value of a good blocking catcher is far less important as having a pitcher who isn't throwing pitches that need blocked!!!

coach james said:

The value of a good blocking catcher is far less important as having a pitcher who isn't throwing pitches that need blocked!!!

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Very true. Similar to pitching the catcher position is more about having one that is competent and just doesn't screw it up versus having someone that is exceptional.