|
Pre game talk to catchers
I do many game where neither team knows me. I will go to each catcher and tell him to frame if he likes but if he tucks the ball in the strike zone he will always get a ball call. If he frames the pitch I will better be able to call the outside pitches in his favor. I reason this and "break the ice" with the catchers by telling them that I have never had a catcher to tuck a strike. If he wants to call "balls" he may tuck them to indicate the ball. I will call strikes.
The coaches like the attitude and appreciate the effort to ease and direct the catcher.
My favorite is to have a weak catcher to setup inside and have a pitch just in the strike zone on the outside where the catcher reaches "outside" to get the ball and has the ball swing the mitt behind him.
|