- Feb 12, 2014
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A pic from last fall. Can't wait to be outside on a regular basis again.
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- Thread starter Bchbum54
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A pic from last fall. Can't wait to be outside on a regular basis again.
After missing 10 weeks of action behind the plate due to a throwing arm injury, Maddie got back in action this week with 2 innings of play for her middle school team, and 4-1/2 games over two days with her TB team. During the weekend, she went from throwing at 75-80% early on Saturday to making possibly some of the strongest throws I have seen from her, including gunning out a runner at 2B (would have had another if SS got there on time 
). Lots of people were happy to see her in catcher-beast mode again - coaches, teammates, and parents. No one was happier than Maddie.
). Lots of people were happy to see her in catcher-beast mode again - coaches, teammates, and parents. No one was happier than Maddie.
- Jun 8, 2016
- 16,118
- 113
The girl hitting dumps the barrel worse than my DD..didn't think that was possibleAfter missing 10 weeks of action behind the plate due to a throwing arm injury, Maddie got back in action this week with 2 innings of play for her middle school team, and 4-1/2 games over two days with her TB team. During the weekend, she went from throwing at 75-80% early on Saturday to making possibly some of the strongest throws I have seen from her, including gunning out a runner at 2B (would have had another if SS got there on time
Greenmonsters
Wannabe Duck Boat Owner
Doesn't look like her feet are flat! Rusty or has she gone over to the west/dark side?!
It's mostly a personal comfort thing with her left knee (which has been injured in the past) - she plants her right foot flat, but lifts her left heel. The strength of my argument to be heels-down on both feet faded (in her head) when she saw Jessica Plaza using a similar stance last year. I don't love it, but have learned to live with it, as long as she maintains decent separation between her feet. One of the things she tends to do, however, is pull her left knee toward the middle a little bit, which will sometimes put her in a position where she's catching the ball outside her knee. Keeping the knee outside the mitt on pitches at the edge of the zone presents it a little better.
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I have no problem with a little variation, or style to how a kid catches. My DD doesn't put her fist behind her mitt with runners on because she has never felt comfortable doing so. Don't tell anybody, but she also takes off her mask on pop ups.
Greenmonsters
Wannabe Duck Boat Owner
I'm not opposed to a player exhibiting a little style, except when it affects their performance. For example, during last night's Sox v Cubs game you could make a case for both catchers (Contreras and Vazquez) having unique style, but in the 8th inning both catchers allowed key runs to score based on their ineffective blocking techniques/style. Because of their stances, neither of these two catchers receive misses well and potentially lose strikes. Unfortunately, IMO, there are numerous top level catchers, NCAA FP and MLB, seen routinely on TV or in slick YT videos that use or promote poor technique.
Now that I am agitated, I will note that Vazquez also is a pitch puller which is the second worst insult I have for catchers. FWIW, insult number one in my book is calling them a player who catches.
Now that I am agitated, I will note that Vazquez also is a pitch puller which is the second worst insult I have for catchers. FWIW, insult number one in my book is calling them a player who catches.
I have two pet peeves when it comes to catchers. One is definitely pulling pitches and the other is dropping to one knee on the frame. Not sure why the last one bothers me, but I am not a fan. I do believe you can coach the athleticism out of catchers just like a hitter. That being said, there are some absolutes that define the best catchers, just like hitters.
One issue I don't have with Maddie is her receiving. I don't love her uneven NR stance, but her ability to keep strikes looking like strikes is - in my (possibly biased) observation - at the top of game for players her age. She is doing a very good job with understanding the subtleties that get the strike call, and is often complimented by umpires.
Unfortunately, she has some refining to do with her blocking. 10 weeks out of the game, and her mechanics have deteriorated more than I expected. She does fine in drill work, but in the game, the dots aren't connecting. Her RO stance is good. It's a mental issue.
Unfortunately, she has some refining to do with her blocking. 10 weeks out of the game, and her mechanics have deteriorated more than I expected. She does fine in drill work, but in the game, the dots aren't connecting. Her RO stance is good. It's a mental issue.
