Catchers and the strike zone (FP)

[Andy]

Over on the eteamz coaches board, there is a post talking about how a certain coach trains catchers to "keep the pitch looking like a strike".

Personally, the actions of the catcher are one of the last things I look at to determine ball or strike. On most pitches, I'm looking at where and/or if the ball crosses the plate in the strike zone. I do track the ball all the way in to the catcher's glove, and there have been rare occasions where I have used the postion of the catcher's glove to help with the call.

Here is the link to the thread:

http://eteamz.active.com/fastpitch/b...cfm?id=1722486

Comments?

[Dakota]

He made a comment about framing being an insult to umpires. I don't consider it an insult. The only thing I get out of it was that the catcher did not believe the pitch was a strike. I use that information the same way I would use information that the catcher did believe it was a strike.

[Steve M]

He also was strongly against a catcher pulling a pitch into the strike zone. I thought he had some good points.

While the actions of the catch are one of the last things to look at, they are also one of the first. I do look at where the catcher sets up - before I drop into a set position.

[mick]

Originally Posted by Steve M

He also was strongly against a catcher pulling a pitch into the strike zone. I thought he had some good points.

While the actions of the catch are one of the last things to look at, they are also one of the first. I do look at where the catcher sets up - before I drop into a set position.

I, too, thought the advice was sound.
I didn't care for the post that had the catcher moving to "center" the pitch.

I like calling strikes. If a catcher helps me do that more power to her. I agree with just about everything this guys said. There is nothing I dislike worse than a catcher who jerks pitches and he says not to do this. If a catcher sets up on the corner and never moves she is going to get the close corner pitch from me more often than not.

[Andy]

My question and the reason for starting this thread was more along the lines of:

How often do the actions of the catcher influence whether you call a ball or strike?

The coach on the other board seems to think that his teachings will result in more strikes being called and it seems that some of the other posters agree with him. Since I'm watching the ball and not the catcher, it seems to me that there is an awful lot of effort for minimal return.

Speaking for myself, I would say that 95% of the time, I have made my decision by the time the catcher gloves the ball. Granted, it is only fractions of a second prior to the catcher getting the ball, but my decision has been made. My concentration is on where the ball is when it gets in the vicinity of the strike zone. The catcher is getting very little, if any, of my attention. Is this how others have been trained, or do I need to readjust my thinking?