Interesting question. The opportunity to distinguish the difference between an average- and great-hitting catcher only comes along 3 or 4 times per game whereas there are 75-100+ times/game when an average v. great defensive catcher has the opportunity to make a difference. In other words, a great catcher has 75-100 more opportunities to positively influence the game! Long recognized by MLB, but overlooked by most involved in FP IMO.
To answer your question, most coaches are better suited to coach up hitting than catching. Regardless of that, IMO taking the great defensive but average-hitting catcher and working on elevating their hitting would still be most productive.
Agreed on the hitting numbers, but not sure about the "75-100+ times/game when an average v. great defensive catcher has the opportunity to make a difference"
First, at the college level, wouldn't you need to throw out a large number of those pitchers that are straight to the glove where any catcher at that level should make?
Second, throw out all the pitches she misses when there is no runner on or it's not a dropped 3rd. They don't matter because they didn't "influence the game"
I guess my point is, how many times per game does a great defensive catcher make a difference over an average catcher? My bet is the number is nearly as high as 75-100.
With all that said, give me the defense. I have way more confidence in my ability to coach hitting. Plus, I'd rather my pitchers be confident in the girl behind the plate.
They may very well have 75-100+ opportunities. Sometimes more than 1 opportunity per pitch. However, the number of times that opportunity is realized is much, much lower. That said if the catcher can pick off 1 runner and throw out 1 more while stealing they have now accounted for just under 10% of the outs in a 7 inning game. Now throw in 5 pitches that would have been balls that they convert to strikes and they have just taken a pitcher throwing 60% strikes into the 70% range. Throw in the intangibles and you have a player who has made a very significant yet often unrecognized impact to a teams performance by realizing only 7 of the 75-100+ opportunities. I have always said that a poor catcher can make a good pitcher look mediocre where a great catcher can make a good pitcher look great.
As to coaching up a catcher to become a better hitter, most programs are well equipped to do this as almost all have a competent hitting coach. Unfortunately most programs do not have the expertise to coach up a catcher to become a better catcher. If you look closely many Big D1 and the vast majority of lesser programs do not have a competent pitching coach like a Rick Pauley at Georgia. And I have never heard of a dedicated catching coach. Most often you have a coach who "works with the pitchers and catchers".
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