Read on Twitter
Here’s a video of all the wild pitches from 8/8 to 8/13 this season. There were 27 wild pitches in 74 games, .36 wild pitches per game.
Here’s a video of all the wild pitches from 8/8 to 8/13 in 2017. There were 68 wild pitches in 87 games, .78 wild pitches per game. 2017 was as far as I could go back without taking months of time to pull video.
But it’s still before the one knee down setup was invented. Right?
Here’s what you will see… C’s trying to pick balls in a 1knee down set up, Cs trying to pick balls in a traditional secondary set up, balls kicking off to the side off catchers in a 1knee down setup, balls kicking off to the side off catchers in a traditional set up,
blocked balls landing right in front of the C in a one knee down setup and the runner still advancing, blocked balls landing right in front of the C in a traditional secondary setup and the runner still advancing.
There were more than double the amount of wild pitches per game on those dates in 2017 than this season. If you picked different dates would those numbers change? Probably.
But the point of the videos is: Cs have tried to pick pitches for years. Balls in the dirt have gotten by Cs for years. Let’s not take a couple clips of balls going by catchers in a 1knee down setup and act like it doesn’t happen in the traditional secondary setup
Catching coaches don’t ONLY care about receiving now. Is it the top PRIORITY? In most situations, yes. Think about a 1-1 count, runner on second base, 1 out and P throws a low borderline pitch.
C is prioritizing receiving and steals the strike, 1-2 count.
Now let’s say C is in the traditional secondary set up, prioritizing blocking, even though the P hasn’t thrown a dirt ball all game, and prioritizing stealing, even though the runner is not likely to steal, doesn’t get the call, 2-1 count.
Hitter feels a lot better 2-1 than 1-2. He gets a big hit because he is comfortable. That one situation can change the at bat, which can change the inning, which can change the game.
Hitter feels a lot better 2-1 than 1-2. He gets a big hit because he is comfortable. That one situation can change the at bat, which can change the inning, which can change the game.
Among other things, 1knee down setups allow you to get low. They help with getting under the ball and get the glove side knee out of the way. This doesn’t just help with stealing strikes but receiving the ball in general.
In terms of blocking, I’ve received feedback from my Cs that they feel it is much easier to block from a 1knee down setup because they are closer to the ground.
Do you lose some lateral range? Maybe. But do we want to completely ignore all of the advantages of the setup may have for something that rarely happens? And how often do we prevent runners from advancing on pitches several feet to our side anyway?
Are these setups for everyone? No. Do they need to be done in every situation? No. Catchers can have several setups. The situation will determine where the priorities lie.
Keeping runners from advancing on balls in the dirt is hard. The catcher must block the ball, keep it close to him and make an accurate throw to get the runner out. A lot needs to go right.
People don’t like change; they also see what they want to see. Think about when the infield shift was introduced. There is little talk when balls are hit into the shift, but as soon as the ball is hit to the side of the shift, someone will say, “SEE! THE SHIFT DOESN’T WORK!”
When teaching my Cs about one-knee down setups, I warned them of this. I told them, be prepared to have a coach say, “SEE! I told you it doesn’t work!” as soon as a ball in the dirt got by them.
With no regard to all the strikes stolen or other balls in the dirt the C blocks. It will be the one ball that got away that will justify the coach's opinion against the change.
Bottom line is this, the best Cs can do it all, receive, block, throw, and all of the intangibles. Receiving is not ALL that matters! Coaches know this. Different setups allow the C to be in a position to perform their best in that particular situation.
