05-31-2008, 01:50 PM
The most important aspect of framing is to frames strikes and borderline pitches. Don’t waste your time or the umpires by trying to frame balls that are not in the strike zone. Simply catch the ball and return it to your pitcher and get ready for the next pitch. By framing pitches that are not strikes, you make yourself look like a bad catcher and may make the umpires look bad. If you make the umpire look bad, he will not be anxious to help you on a borderline pitch.
One key to framing is to catch the top half, bottom half and side half of the ball. When you catch the ball, you should show the umpire the other half of the baseball. On a pitch at the top of the strike zone or on the inside or outside of the strike zone, catch the ball with your palm facing the strike zone. For pitches down in the strike zone, catch the ball as if you were “picking strawberries” with your palm down, then lifting the mitt about 3 inches after the catch. Couple that with a weight shift and you have mastered the beginning skills of framing. It is most effective if the catcher can move their body with the baseball, putting their nose directly at the ball and eyes level.
It is very important to beat the baseball to the spot of contact. By this I do not mean extend your hand and arm so far as to get hit by a swinging bat. Don’t let the ball control you. Beat the ball to the spot and stick it. Make sure you do not hold the pitch for too long. This may upset an umpire. He may think you are showing him up by holding a frame for a long time. Keep an umpire on your side. Also, don’t allow the baseball to knock your glove around. Be firm with your frame.
Your mitt arm should be tension free and relaxed. It should be fully extended when the ball is caught. Trust your eyes, the ball will come to you. As it approaches, your wrist should relax. There can be a slight mitt drop or turn in order to relax the hand. Do no allow your mitt to fall too far. A slight wrist drop is appropriate for relaxing the hand for contact.
Drills:
1.) Shadow
Catcher starts out in their stance. Coach holds a ball in front of the catcher and moves it around the strike zone. The catcher follows the path of the baseball and frames the area. The catcher should work on body movement and catching the ball in halves.
2.) One knee underhand toss
Coach gets on one knee five to ten feet from the catcher. The coach will underhand toss a ball to the catcher. The catcher will work on body movement and catching the ball in halves. The benefit of this approach is that the coach is close enough that they can be more accurate with their toss and work all areas.
3.) Medium toss
Coach stands up and throws pitches to a catcher from 40-50 feet. This allows the catcher to track the ball from a longer distance. The catcher will still work on body movement and catching the ball in halves.
4.) catching batting practice and bullpens
This is as close to a live game situation as a catcher can experience. It is very important that a catcher not go through the motions when catching batting practice or a bullpen. This must be a highly intense environment and must be taken seriously.
One key to framing is to catch the top half, bottom half and side half of the ball. When you catch the ball, you should show the umpire the other half of the baseball. On a pitch at the top of the strike zone or on the inside or outside of the strike zone, catch the ball with your palm facing the strike zone. For pitches down in the strike zone, catch the ball as if you were “picking strawberries” with your palm down, then lifting the mitt about 3 inches after the catch. Couple that with a weight shift and you have mastered the beginning skills of framing. It is most effective if the catcher can move their body with the baseball, putting their nose directly at the ball and eyes level.
It is very important to beat the baseball to the spot of contact. By this I do not mean extend your hand and arm so far as to get hit by a swinging bat. Don’t let the ball control you. Beat the ball to the spot and stick it. Make sure you do not hold the pitch for too long. This may upset an umpire. He may think you are showing him up by holding a frame for a long time. Keep an umpire on your side. Also, don’t allow the baseball to knock your glove around. Be firm with your frame.
Your mitt arm should be tension free and relaxed. It should be fully extended when the ball is caught. Trust your eyes, the ball will come to you. As it approaches, your wrist should relax. There can be a slight mitt drop or turn in order to relax the hand. Do no allow your mitt to fall too far. A slight wrist drop is appropriate for relaxing the hand for contact.
Drills:
1.) Shadow
Catcher starts out in their stance. Coach holds a ball in front of the catcher and moves it around the strike zone. The catcher follows the path of the baseball and frames the area. The catcher should work on body movement and catching the ball in halves.
2.) One knee underhand toss
Coach gets on one knee five to ten feet from the catcher. The coach will underhand toss a ball to the catcher. The catcher will work on body movement and catching the ball in halves. The benefit of this approach is that the coach is close enough that they can be more accurate with their toss and work all areas.
3.) Medium toss
Coach stands up and throws pitches to a catcher from 40-50 feet. This allows the catcher to track the ball from a longer distance. The catcher will still work on body movement and catching the ball in halves.
4.) catching batting practice and bullpens
This is as close to a live game situation as a catcher can experience. It is very important that a catcher not go through the motions when catching batting practice or a bullpen. This must be a highly intense environment and must be taken seriously.