- Dec 7, 2011
- 2,368
- 38
Just a note on something I have recognized over the years -
I used to think that statements on top speed were the most fictitious thing said in pitching discussions by coaches & parents.
But after being the main practice catcher for the biggest TB club in my state I have seen that the biggest fallacy is the number of distinct pitches a pitcher supposedly has. So so so many coaches & parents will see a pitcher hit a spot where this type or that type of pitch is traditionally thrown to and immediately call it that pitch.
To me the only judge of a pitcher TRULY having this pitch or that pitch is to get a catcher, that is totally foreign to the pitcher, but still a very good catcher, and see how well the catcher catches those breaking pitches.
There are pitchers that it has been said that have 20 different pitches but when I catch them I don’t even need to focus (regardless of speed differences between 50-65mph). The same spin ball is just thrown to a different location (in general). Then there are pitchers I have caught for that have had ONLY 3-4 pitches that I have got to be on my toes because man those pitches just go places that the brain is not ready for (until you have seen her after many many reps).
And guess what,….those pitchers I have to be on my toes with get all the K’s….
I used to think that statements on top speed were the most fictitious thing said in pitching discussions by coaches & parents.
But after being the main practice catcher for the biggest TB club in my state I have seen that the biggest fallacy is the number of distinct pitches a pitcher supposedly has. So so so many coaches & parents will see a pitcher hit a spot where this type or that type of pitch is traditionally thrown to and immediately call it that pitch.
To me the only judge of a pitcher TRULY having this pitch or that pitch is to get a catcher, that is totally foreign to the pitcher, but still a very good catcher, and see how well the catcher catches those breaking pitches.
There are pitchers that it has been said that have 20 different pitches but when I catch them I don’t even need to focus (regardless of speed differences between 50-65mph). The same spin ball is just thrown to a different location (in general). Then there are pitchers I have caught for that have had ONLY 3-4 pitches that I have got to be on my toes because man those pitches just go places that the brain is not ready for (until you have seen her after many many reps).
And guess what,….those pitchers I have to be on my toes with get all the K’s….