Catchers

[bobabuga]

I am 61 and have been around baseball all my life but can someone tell me why catchers today start from there knees?

 

[Special Ed]

Their knees.
Fire your spell-checker.

 

[vol66]

Welcome to the board OP.

 

[DazzleVol]

Their knees.
Fire your spell-checker.

But it was spelled correctly

 

[WillisWG]

But it was spelled correctly

Sp wasn't knees but there vs their...darn spelling police

 

[StarRaider]

why i always just go thar to confound the grammar nazzis

 

[WillisWG]

Dupe

 

[WillisWG]

I am 61 and have been around baseball all my life but can someone tell me why catchers today start from there knees?

Several articles out there, here's one. First guy I remember doing it was Johnny Bench

Both World Series catchers will be on one knee. Here's why it's fine

“The catching fundamentals are terrible,” said the longtime catcher and manager. "They changed catching, but not for the best," he continued, talking about some of the best catchers of the previous decade. "Catching today," he added," is a disaster." If that sounds like it could have been spoken...

www.mlb.com

• Improved Framing and Receiving: Proponents argue that catching from one knee allows catchers to present a lower target, making it easier to frame pitches and receive low strikes. This can potentially lead to more favorable calls from umpires and improve a team's pitching performance.
• Quicker Release: By starting from a lower stance, catchers can potentially reduce the time it takes to transition from catching to throwing, thereby improving their ability to throw out baserunners attempting to steal.
• Less Strain on the Body: Squatting on both knees for long periods can be physically demanding and may lead to fatigue or injury over time. Catching from one knee may alleviate some of this strain and help prolong a catcher's career.
• Adaptation to Pitchers: Some pitchers may prefer catchers to use a one knee stance, as it provides a lower target and allows them to throw their breaking pitches with more confidence.

 

[savannahfan]

In our case, I don't think it makes any difference where they start from. Standing up, sitting down, standard position, knees (one or two) they are just not that good that it will make any difference.

 

[taylorvol]

In our case, I don't think it makes any difference where they start from. Standing up, sitting down, standard position, knees (one or two) they are just not that good that it will make any difference.

You would be dead wrong. Coach Elander was one of the best catchers in the game and is an elite coach responsible for hitting and the C position among other roles. Stolen bases are not due to poor Cs. Again, it’s a P philosophy that focuses on getting hitters out. Not altering deliveries with runners on base which put additional strain on arms and shoulders.

 

[teeball]

In our case, I don't think it makes any difference where they start from. Standing up, sitting down, standard position, knees (one or two) they are just not that good that it will make any difference.

+1 … I realize catching is a tough business but dang, can’t we find one somewhere that can catch and hit above .200?

 

[WillisWG]

In our case, I don't think it makes any difference where they start from. Standing up, sitting down, standard position, knees (one or two) they are just not that good that it will make any difference.

Yesterday was brutal but 18/30 of the SEC SBA have happened with Marcus on the mound, so I am not putting this weakness all on our catchers.

 

[larjoranj]

You would be dead wrong. Coach Elander was one of the best catchers in the game and is an elite coach responsible for hitting and the C position among other roles. Stolen bases are not due to poor Cs. Again, it’s a P philosophy that focuses on getting hitters out. Not altering deliveries with runners on base which put additional strain on arms and shoulders.

We're the defending national champs so our philosophy didn't keep us from winning that. Most teams don't try to run us ragged anyway. I do wonder though why we don't add a slide step or the occasional pitch out for the teams that do want to run us to death. Just give them something to think about. And why would you ever not look at the runner on 2nd?

 

[taylorvol]

We're the defending national champs so our philosophy didn't keep us from winning that. Most teams don't try to run us ragged anyway. I do wonder though why we don't add a slide step or the occasional pitch out for the teams that do want to run us to death. Just give them something to think about. And why would you ever not look at the runner on 2nd?

An occasional pitch out under the right circumstances would be warranted, but no slide steps. They hold runners on at 2nd base so not sure what you mean by not looking?