GD System - Foul Balls to Undesired Spots...

[DG]

My worst hits since adopting the GD system have all been from behind college age catchers on pitches they did not get a glove on. It could have happened in heel to toe just as easily, ie sorry catchers. I have not been hurt seriously in a high school game. I am locked in better though with GD so it's not a tradeoff. Sorry catchers will hurt you either way.

[briancurtin]

Originally Posted by DG

My worst hits since adopting the GD system have all been from behind college age catchers on pitches they did not get a glove on.

agreed. ive posted my story enough times, but overall, taking untouched fastballs at that level sucks.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by briancurtin

agreed. ive posted my story enough times, but overall, taking untouched fastballs at that level sucks.

I still fail to understand the problem! If F2 misses the ball you are going to get hit no matter where you stand! I would also think that the closer you stand to F2, the better the chances that you will get hit harder and in a bad spot. With the GDS, because you set up around 4 feet back, the ball should be dropping by the time it gets to you.

That is, unless F1 is throwing a rising fastball!

[TussAgee11]

Closer, to the catcher, more of you is protected. Also, you typically work lower the closer you are to the catcher, which hides more of your body, just scrunching over.

Working GD leaves you very high, and very open, from what I can see/tell/reason.

[RPatrino]

Being closer only protects you if your desire is to hide behind the catcher. Working lower only protects you if your desire is to hide behind the catcher. In both cases, you are sacrificing a better view of the strike zone for your own safety. I suppose that is a valuable trade off for lower level ball, and using the above techniques assures that you will stay at that level.

As mentioned numerous times, and in many threads, there is no statistical validity to the argument that you will be hit more using the GD, than using any other method behind the plate.

[TussAgee11]

RPatino -

This is true - there is no proven study either way. I said so in my post, albeit indirectly. I said that my theory is just based off what I can see/tell/reason.

Furthermore, you say working lower gives you a worse look at the zone. That is your experience. Umpires for a long long time worked low, knee low. Are people like Tim Mc. not a good umpire?

I can remember playing not too long ago and having umpires which worked from knees, and I was happy when I saw they'd be calling my game because I knew they'd be good.

If working low for you obstructs your view, then fine, it doesn't work for you. Don't say it doesn't work for all umpires.

You can work close and low and get the same angle on the zone as you can working back and high.

People swear by their own way of umpiring, their own stance and adaptations as "working", and anybody else's as "not working". Your post is an example of that.

[RPatrino]

Tuss, I guess it all depends on how LOW you GO!!

When I hear someone is working low, I have an image of your head being right next to the catcher's. There is NO physical way for you to see the outside part of the zone, because the catchers head blocks your view.

Tim Mc. does not work this low, he works MLB, and more or less does not call anything above the belt a strike.

So, I guess the question is, how low is LOW?

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

Closer, to the catcher, more of you is protected. Also, you typically work lower the closer you are to the catcher, which hides more of your body, just scrunching over.

Working GD leaves you very high, and very open, from what I can see/tell/reason.

Well I used to work the scissors so I never hid behind the catcher. I was exposed most of the time. As far as I am concerned, I take far fewer shots in the GDS than I did working the scissors. Again, those that never try the GDS cannot really understand its workings.

[RPatrino]

I suppose we could go back to hiding behind the 'raft' and stay right behind the catcher. Some would say that working directly above the catcher's head was never a bad thing anyway. There were days when working lower level ball when I turned into a human backstop and I wish I had the outside protector back.

The adoption of the inside protector and the slot position, IMHO, improved your view of the zone, and also the low pitch.

[DG]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

I still fail to understand the problem! If F2 misses the ball you are going to get hit no matter where you stand! I would also think that the closer you stand to F2, the better the chances that you will get hit harder and in a bad spot. With the GDS, because you set up around 4 feet back, the ball should be dropping by the time it gets to you.

The point I have tried to make is that sorry catchers will hurt you no matter where you stand. The distance between the pitcher and the umpire in heel to toe vs. GD on a fastball thrown by a college age (or high school even) pitcher is INSIGNIFICANT. It's gonna hurt like Heck if the catcher don't get a glove on it.

I deleted the rising fastball comment for obvious non-reason.

[briancurtin]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

I still fail to understand the problem! If F2 misses the ball you are going to get hit no matter where you stand! I would also think that the closer you stand to F2, the better the chances that you will get hit harder and in a bad spot. With the GDS, because you set up around 4 feet back, the ball should be dropping by the time it gets to you.

That is, unless F1 is throwing a rising fastball!

distance has nothing to do with it. if your feet are double wide and your arms are locked and an 87 MPH fastball blows up in your face while the catcher is on the outside corner diving over...you are going to wear that pitch.
working heel-toe or other stances, it would be easier to duck, slide over, turn, run away, dig a hole, etc.

edit: DG beat me to the punch pretty much. i didnt see page 2

[ozzy6900]

Sigh!

You know what? I use the GDS the correct way.

I don't get hit any more often than I used to (which is not that often).

I don't "lock up" I lock in!

I can see the pitch better.

I can see the plate better.

I can see the field better.

I can see the batter better.

I can umpire better!

I don't hide behind the catcher (I never did).

I don't spend time worrying about "if a ball gets by the catcher".

When I get hit, it doesn't hurt any more than it used to.

So I would suggest that if you have never tried the GDS, you have not concept as to how it really works. If you try to use the GDS without learning it how to do it, you will get hurt.

If you don't use the GDS, that is fine too!

If you "hide behind the catcher", go see the Governor of California so he can call you a Girlie-man!

Bwaaa-ha-ha-ha!

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

If you "hide behind the catcher", go see the Governor of California so he can call you a Girlie-man!

MAN LAW?.....

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

MAN LAW?.....

....MAN LAW!