Who says Gerry Davis doesn't move
 

How about Gerry's bailout on the 1-0 Pitch, just before Pablo's 3rd home run!:)

Pretty hard not to flinch on a pitch that bounces at around 45 feet.

I call it self preservation. No need to be a hero there.

Exactly.

I usually stay locked in on those because the ball tends to find unfortunate places if I don't.

But I will tuck my arm behind me if the pitch is coming toward one of my sides.

"Locked in" using the Gerry Davis stance means the arms are weight bearing.

On a pitch such as the one we're talking about, even if you don't "bail", you need to at least get the arms free of that weight.

That means you're moving as the pitch is coming in. Something we try to avoid.

The Davis stance puts weight on your arms, and puts you more toward the "Danger Zone" of getting hit. If both those things are needed for you to see the pitch properly, go get 'em. Me, I'm fine up in the slot, with my hands rotated behind my thighs. When I get old and tired, and need to put my hands on my knees to rest during a game, I'll try it.

With some of the guys I umpire with, if you flinch or bail, you're buying the beer after the game. That's why you wear to top notch gear, fellas.

What if the ball is clearly going to hit the ground? I think you preserve yourself first in those cases. Who cares about a flitch when the pitch is clearly going to not be a hard call to make. I know I don't care at that point.

Peace

The problem is that once you begin to flinch on pitches in the dirt, you will start flinching on most low pitches. Once you start doing that you might as well pack it in. Granted, some movement is reflex, and can't be prevented. Flat out bailing on bounced pitches is something I don't think anyone wants or is advocating.

I do agree with your point. Just saying that if you have noticed that the pitch has no way of reaching the plate then I get why someone would bail on that pitch. But you are right, you do it on one pitch you might do it when you do not need to. But then again that is based on the practice of the individual and their confidence in the catcher or maybe the experience of the umpire.

Peace

Not moving, head stays still. The other hand stays on my other knee. Normally the only time I tuck an arm is if the pitch has hit the ground and I can see that F2 is not going to be able to catch it.

I use the Davis stance to keep from getting tired during a game and to to be consistant in my positioning.

All I will say is, I use the Davis as well, and once I am locked in I do not move. There is a chance of getting hit by a pitch, there always is, but I get hit a lot less now that I don't move. Setting up properly in the slot and keeping all the protective gear facing forward helps a lot.

And, Rut you are correct. A lot has to do with confidence in the catcher. Also, as you gain experience, you tend to work with catchers who are better at what they do. The challenge is to not develop bad flinching or movement problems at the lower levels because you might never move up and get to work behind confident catchers.

On a pitch as short as the one mentioned here, there is reason not to bail. I try to stay as still as I can and keep tracking the ball. Who knows how a ball thrown that short is going to bounce. I'm still looking for a possible HBP.

He who has not flinched has not called enough pitches. The older the catcher the more likely he will block the plate and the more likely that if he don't the pitch will hurt if it hits you.

I have found that the age of the catcher doesn't make as much difference as the skill of the catcher. There have been 12 year old catchers who I feel more comfortable behind then a 35 year old MSBL catcher who can't block a pitch and is lazy.

In general though, age matters. I have not been behind a 12 year old catcher lately, but would rather be behind a varsity high school catcher than a JV catcher. But having said that, my broken pinky finger about 8 years ago was behind a college catcher on an inside pitch that did not bounce, and he did not get a glove on it at all. So skill matters. I adopted GD shortly afterwards, and while I have been hit, I have not broken any bones. Of course I got hit before, GD just locks me in better for calling pitches, IMHO.

Experience comes with age. Certainly ability counts, but more older F2's have the ability, if they're missing frequently, they're being lazy.

Sure there are younger kids w/ ability, but I'd take my chances w/ a newer, older F2 any day, than a youth F2 who's just learning the position...and there are a lot more younger, inexperienced F2's than older, inexperienced ones.

I've told people for years that as you move up the ladder the hitting gets a little better, the fielding gets a little better, the pitching gets a little better, but the catching gets a LOT better. That's why it's usually a lot easier to work behind a catcher at a higher level - you're not in fear of your life!

JJ

Exactly.

Fear for your life is playing safety in college, and going one on one with Earl Campbell. Been there, done that.

No place to run. No place to hide.

You could always play like Deon Sanders and not participate in run defense.