Catcher "framing" a pitch

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by cbailey

wow all you want.....not getting my ass chewed for rewarding a pitcher/catcher who can't hit their spots.

Old school

Originally Posted by Rich

I wonder who's doing all the chewing. I don't throw away strikes and nobody's bitching. Hasn't hurt my assignments in the least bit.

New school

[Multiple Sports]

In this "new school" vs. "old school" debate, I'll take old school every time. Catcher sets up 1 inch off of outside blk and pitcher paints inside black....that's a ball all day long....I don't claim to be right but the higher level of ball I work the less problems I get.....

[drumsub]

To address the original question a bit more, which Rich hinted at it in one of his responses, the frame is your body. When you hear educated people talk about framing a pitch it has nothing to do with dragging the ball. It has more to do with catching it inside their frame (picture a box around their body). If they can ankle sway well, get around the ball, beat the ball to it's spot, and stick the catch, they can influence close calls. This is most effective at the younger ages, but I've caught with college level umps behind me and stolen more than a few strikes.

Of course when I was a kid it was a misunderstood art and everyone taught us to drag the ball a little. I still hear people coaching that, and when they try it on me in a game I tell the catcher I won't react well to him trying to make me look bad. If you drag it that means you think it was a ball, so why should I call it a strike?