Comments on: The Mariners apparently have no emergency catcher

By: leftywildcat

leftywildcat — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 01:31:24 +0000

With Werth gone, the Phillies emergency catcher must be Wilson Valdez.

An infielder is allowed to be the both the emergency closer and the emergency catcher, right?

By: hittfamily

hittfamily — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 21:16:42 +0000

I re-read my posts and I sound like a jerk. I am sorry for that.
You are right about being able to sub a pitcher for a catcher at the high school level. Most of the pitchers on a high school team are the best players on the field. When they arent pitching, they play a position. However, at the next level, whether it be JUCO, NAIA, D2,D1, or low level minors, they stop playing the field, with a few rare exceptions. I have never played pro, but did pitch JUCO and D1, and in my experience in practice and pregame was this: Set up roll on cage, shag in the outfield, hit fungo to infielders/outfielders, run, throw long toss, short bullpen with a catcher and pitching coach.

We were the least skilled players on the field because we didnt practice or do the same drills as everyone else. Looking back on it, we did catch a few short bullpens in the fall (around 45-50 feet), where the pitcher was working on delivery, sidesteps, motion, etc, throwing 50%. We sat on upside down 5 gallon buckets. When a ball was in the dirt, we bailed (Think Johhn Kruk/Randy Johnson bail). We literally never practiced any skills useful to any other position with the exception of PFP once a week (pitcher fielding practice).

My point is that at low levels, we did nothing useful. I dont think that major league relievers are doing anything in the realm of catching a 90 mph splitter. The risk of injury is just too high to justify a pitcher catching…practice or game. A middle infielder is the most obvious choice because his skills (good glove, fast hands, right handed) translate the best. After that any other skilled player.

I remember Lou Piniella saying once that he would lose today to win tomorrow. Maybe this is just a great exmple of this. No one else got injured.

By: cur68

cur68 — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 20:30:53 +0000

….and wlschneider09 WINS! ROFLMAO

By: wlschneider09

wlschneider09 — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 20:24:19 +0000

/knock knock/

“Hi! I’m your stripper gram! You can call me Gator, Old Gator….”

By: cur68

cur68 — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 20:13:00 +0000

Baaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrdddd!!!!! (shakes fist futilely at the heavens)

By: cur68

cur68 — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:54:00 +0000

After nearly 20 years in emergency, joint surgery, PICU, NICU and teaching gigs, nothing startles me anymore. Mores the effing pity; I could do with a nice surprise (as in “Surprise! I’m your strip-a-gram! You can call me Jessica. Jessica Alba”. That would be a nice surprise). I wear the gear not only in hopes of playing in a real MLB game but also to answer the door to religious folks, salespeople, and my ex-wife. And, if we can judge anything by that last visitor, it seems I can move well enough to duck a high hard one.

By: foreverchipper10

foreverchipper10 — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:53:34 +0000

Come on now Craig, what kind of Braves fan are you!? When they are on a west coast swing you need to pay attention. Disappointed I am. I at least had the crummy ESPN gamecast on my computer as I fell asleep to a rerun of Law and Order.

By: Detroit Michael

Detroit Michael — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 18:25:39 +0000

Josh Bard is called up and is in today’s line-up.

By: hittfamily

hittfamily — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 18:24:33 +0000

Well, maybe you are right. I mean, relief pitchers do know the signs. BWAh ha ha ha. Because most players over 13 dont know 1 is fastball, 2 is curve, 3 is change. Dude, just stop, you are beat. Your kid catches other pitchers because there is nobody else available to catch, not because it is the norm. In college, there are 15 redshirts running around hoping to catch a bullpen.

Every major leaguer, Johnny Damon included, has the arm to throw it 120 feet to second.

By: dirtyharry1971

dirtyharry1971 — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 18:18:24 +0000

just put ichiro behind the plate, heck he wins GG’s for positions he doesnt play so he must be that good

By: Richard In Big D

Richard In Big D — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 18:11:47 +0000

I know that in the off-season, my son, who is a very good high school pitcher on a very good high school tem, will get together with a fellow pitcher, and they will take turns throwing bullpens with each other. Given that they know signs, understand the strike zone and how to use it, and generally have stronger arms than most of the rest of the team, it’s a natural backup plan. I never said it was ideal, but after all your real catchers are used up, where would YOU go next? And yes, I’ve seen this done, including my son having caught a handful of innings over his career…

By: hittfamily

hittfamily — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 18:11:32 +0000

Oh I agree that it is crazy that no POSITION player was willing to give it a shot. I just had to respond to the asanine idea that just because a pitcher can throw the ball back to the pitcher and has a good enough arm to throw to second, that makes him an ideal candidate to be an emergency catcher. Relief pitchers are the worst, absolutely worst, athletes on the team. Horrible hitters, horrible fielders. The backup infielder is the first choice, and a relief pitcher is somewher behind the hot dog vender.

By: bennyblanco1

bennyblanco1 — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:56:22 +0000

I agree. But it is surprising that no one else on the team has any experience catching. U figure that at least one guy on the roster could squat for 2 innings.

By: shanemcdowell

shanemcdowell — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:46:19 +0000

Just more evidence of how Miguel Olivo is indispensable.

By: hittfamily

hittfamily — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:40:24 +0000

You must have played on a bad high school team. As someone who played D-1 baseball, I can tell you I was a bull pen pitcher who has never “squatted down and caught the ball workong with felloe pitchers”. We do long toss together, shag bp together, and run together, but bullpen work was left to a pitcher, catcher, and coach. A pitcher wouldnt know the first thing about being a catcher. Hell, most of them havent worn a cup since high school. You are just making things up when you say the bull pen is full of backup catchers.

By: yankeesfanlen

yankeesfanlen — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:29:24 +0000

Would a knock on the door startle you? Cather’s gear can be quite immobilizing.

By: Richard In Big D

Richard In Big D — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:20:57 +0000

Every team has a whole BUNCH of emergency catchers. This group is more commonly referred to as “the bullpen”. Every pitcher that’s made it to the high school level has squatted and caught the ball workong out with his felloe pitchers, throwing the ball back to the mound after each rep. He also has an arm strong enough to make a decent throw to second base, and he knows the signs. You start with the lamest mop-up guy, and work your way up the food chain from there. But I must caution: It’s NEVER a good idea to use an emergency catcher for strategic reasons. That’s why they call it “emergency”.

By: cur68

cur68 — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:10:37 +0000

Cur “El Gaucho” Molina68 is sitting by his phone, catcher’s gear on, waiting. Waiting for the call…