The five words you never want to hear when working the plate

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Manny A

I did my first 12U rec ball game of the year a couple of nights ago. Mind you, I've already worked about 25 HS varsity, JuCo, and D1 games so far, and I've taken a couple of hits off my forearm and thigh, but nothing too painful.

In the first inning of the 12U game, the catcher didn't even get a whiff of leather on the pitch and it nailed me on the right hand, splitting my fingernail and busting up a couple of knuckles. I worked the rest of the game with my hands behind me, and was dodging and weaving pitches to keep from getting hit more than the dozen or so times I did get nailed. I walked away from that two-hour "game" so disgusted with life, I wanted to throw my gear in the dumpster on the way to my Jeep.

Amazing how intolerant I'm getting as I grow older...

Which stance do you use? My hands/fingers are never exposed on a pitch unless I simply screw up and start to make a call too quickly. (Well ... the very tip of my thumb is barely exposed, I suppose)