WHAT MAKES A GOOD CATCHER

Some say the catcher is the backbone of a baseball team. Some say the catcher is just another player on the field. For those that feel a catcher is just another player on the field may not understand the true role of the catcher.

What is truly the role of the catcher? For those of us that are catchers, have played catcher, or have wanted to be a catcher would most likely describe the role of a catcher differently, but we all understand the foundation of the catcher position.

The fundamental role of the catcher is to be the, for lack of a better term the “quarterback” on the baseball field. We are the only position on the field that has the entire diamond in front of us, therefor, it is crucial that we know what must happen in every situation pre pitch and after the pitch is thrown. Being the general of the team and guiding each player to be prepared to know what exactly needs to happen when the ball is in play.

When there is a runner on base, sure it’s great to have a cannon of an arm to throw that runner out when he tries to steal a bag, but we can mitigate that runners ability to steal even if we don’t have a 1.9 pop time to second by controlling the rhythm of our pitchers looks to first, his pick off attempts and how we strategically use our back picks to first, all to keep that runner close to first and not feeling like he can just run at will on our pitcher and on us.

As catchers, we must know and understand how to control the game by being the leader of our team from our attitude to our emotions to how focused we are on the field and in the dugout. Without this, we are just another player on the field.