[GarthB]

Tim (BU56 Tim, not T.Alan Tim):

Pardon the delay. Although I'm on "mid-winter" break from my teaching position, I've still found some chores around the house that need attention. However, I also found my tape. (And I really enjoyed watching it, especially the part when I "tossed" one of the instructors, Jesse Redwine, who suggested after a strike two call "Oh, I get it, you're here it to stick it up my a$$."

At the Desert Classic the routine in the cages was formal and uniform,in part so that everyone could be evaluated more easily. (I'm sure that's a carryover from the five week.)

Near the end of the warmup pitches, the umpire would stand to the right of, and slightly advanced, of the plate, holding up the right hand at about the top of the head level with the index finger raised and announce to the pitcher, "One more pitch". After the pitch, the umpire would brush the plate, turn to his right and while watching the pitcher take a couple of back steps and then get behind the catcher.

The umpire would call "play!" (right hand pointing at the pitcher). The instructor at the pitching machine would announce "on the rubber.......set", and the umpire would drop into his stance on "set."

Evans allowed heel/instep at the camp in addition to heel/toe. I was told by one instructor that Evans requires heel/toe at his 5 week school but PBUC then allows heel/instep.

The stance taught was fairly wide, not the double wide of the GD but wider than what most student were used to. Wide and a half, if you will.

The batter-side arm is positioned level across the body. I avoid using the word "tuck" because when most students tucked their arms, they pulled them too far in, which moved their shoulders off square with the pitcher and off level with the ground.

The catcher-side hand was used to help lock in position and was placed in a position on the leg just above the knee. It was not placed behind the knee. It's hard to describe precisely, but I'll try. (I stopped the tape at the point the instructor went into his stance for this example)

Look at the back side of your right hand while you have the four fingers closed and the thumb extended as far to the left as it will go. Imagine the thumb on the top of your leg and left (inside)of center. The fingers are placed on and wrap the outside of the leg. The area between the thumb and index finger falls on the top of your leg.

At no time did any of the instructors place their hand behind their knee, however, some shifted their hand so that even more fell on the side of the leg.



[Edited by GarthB on Feb 22nd, 2006 at 01:00 PM]