Kind of Close Here?

[briancurtin]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

I can't imagine ANY catcher wants the umpire's hands on him while he's trying to field a 90+ mph moving pitch.

I wouldn't do it myself, but it's not bad. You forget about it after the first few pitches.

(I was a catcher through college)

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by briancurtin

I wouldn't do it myself, but it's not bad. You forget about it after the first few pitches.

(I was a catcher through college)

I think you are an anomaly, Brian. I have asked a lot of college catchers about this, and just about all of them said they hate being touched by the umpire, although none of them said they would object to it.

[MNBlue]

What is the advantage of being that close and/or putting your hands on the catcher?

[Steve Meyer]

Originally Posted by briancurtin

I wouldn't do it myself, but it's not bad. You forget about it after the first few pitches.

(I was a catcher through college)

You must have sat the bench then, because I've caught quite few games myself, and this stuff wouldn't fly with me.

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by MNBlue

What is the advantage of being that close and/or putting your hands on the catcher?

Obviously the advantage is what has worked for him, in the +-10 yrs as a MLB Umpire. Although I would never subscribe to a stance like that, it is the thing that makes him comfortable behind the plate and enables him to do a good job with his strike zone.

I used to have a much lower crouch before my knees started to go bad and then I had to adjust. I used to feel that if I was looking at about the same height as the catcher was I had the best view. After two surgeries and a renewed stance, (Gerry Davis) I think I have have a better view and bigger zone.

Now as far as putting your hands on the catcher, I never liked it when I caught and would never do it to another catcher. A few times I asked the umpire not to do it because it bothered me and they always respected my wishes.

[MNBlue]

Originally Posted by jicecone

Obviously the advantage is what has worked for him, in the +-10 yrs as a MLB Umpire. Although I would never subscribe to a stance like that, it is the thing that makes him comfortable behind the plate and enables him to do a good job with his strike zone.

That's my question. Is it helping him lock in to his stance? Is it guiding him to the set height he wants? Is it guiding him to the distance behind the catcher that he wants?

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by MNBlue

That's my question. Is it helping him lock in to his stance? Is it guiding him to the set height he wants? Is it guiding him to the distance behind the catcher that he wants?

Sorry I can't answer for him.

[GA Umpire]

Originally Posted by MNBlue

That's my question. Is it helping him lock in to his stance? Is it guiding him to the set height he wants? Is it guiding him to the distance behind the catcher that he wants?

Any of this is possible. Some even say it helps to know where the catcher is going as well b/c they feel the shift.

If any ever did it, as a catcher, I never even noticed. As long as they didn't hinder me (and none did), I had other things to worry about.

[APG]

Originally Posted by Steve Meyer

You must have sat the bench then, because I've caught quite few games myself, and this stuff wouldn't fly with me.

This statement makes absolutely no sense at all.

[Steve Meyer]

Originally Posted by APG

This statement makes absolutely no sense at all.

Why not?

[johnnyg08]

Originally Posted by Manny A

This is Phil Cuzzi, and he's been using this close-in stance for a while. Here's another one of him with Orioles catcher Matt Wieters (sorry for the large size).



I'm sure Phil has no problem opening the gate and not interfering with a catcher's throw.

Personally, I would never get that close.

That is a fantastic shot...how did you get a hold of that?

[APG]

Originally Posted by Steve Meyer

Why not?

Sorry...read you initial post incorrectly.

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

That is a fantastic shot...how did you get a hold of that?

I just did a Google Images search for Phil Cuzzi.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by APG

This statement makes absolutely no sense at all.

it makes sense if you know his history.

[Adam]

It may make sense, but it was borderline.