05-31-2008, 01:50 PM
This skill can win or lose a close ballgame. One misconception is that blocking a ball in the dirt is a catcher’s only requirement. Not only is it important to block the pitch, but also to properly retrieve the baseball and get your body in a position to throw out a runner trying to advance. It must be stressed to catchers not to admire their work when they block the baseball. Catchers need to get up and pounce on the ball.
When blocking a baseball it is important to get both knees on the ground as quickly as possible. You do not want to hop up and then hit the ground, but drop to your knees immediately. The direction of the ball will dictate whether or not you will need to push off in any direction. This is done with your feet. You must get an aggressive push off with your legs toward the direction of the baseball. The next movement is to put your mitt back against your cup with your fingers down, not the back of your hand down. If your fingers are down and the back of your hand is against your cup, you have set up a barrier for the ball to bounce off. If your hand is on the ground, you have created a ramp for the ball to hit and continue in a forward motion. The ball will have an opportunity to continue its forward motion and possibly get away from the catcher. During this time your throwing hand must be placed behind your mitt. This will protect your hand from injury and help square up your body to the ball.
A catcher must also protect their throat and neck. To do this the catcher must take their chin and tuck it into their chest. They should not drop their head down, just their chin. Dropping the head will cause the catcher to lose track of the baseball. By only dropping the chin, the catcher will still be able to visually track the baseball.
A catcher needs to be flexible. They need to be able to sit on the ground in the blocking position. The lower they are to the ground, the less area the ball has to get under the catcher.
A catcher should attempt to block all balls in the dirt when there are runners on base or when there are two strikes on the hitter. When a dropped third strike occurs, a hitter may try to advance to first base if it is unoccupied. A catcher should make it as easy on their pitcher as possible. If the pitcher gets a hitter to chase a pitch in the dirt, they should be rewarded with a strikeout.
As there are different types of pitches that will be thrown, there are different ways to block these pitches. The goal in blocking is to block all balls so that they will hit you in the center of your chest and drop harmlessly in front of you. Do not try to catch a ball that is in the dirt. Trouble starts when a catcher tries to catch the bouncing ball and misses. The result is a ball to the backstop and the advancement of runners on base.
When a fastball is thrown in the dirt, the catcher should maneuver their body in front of the ball and block it back to the middle of the field. Their body should be perpendicular to the ball. If the ball is blocked correctly off the middle of the chest protector, the ball will hit and return to the direction from which it was thrown.
Depending on whether or not a right handed or left handed pitcher is throwing will dictate which direction a catcher will turn their body to adjust for the spin of a breaking ball. Therefore, blocking the breaking ball requires some thought and preparation.
As you look at home plate from the pitchers mound, a right handers breaking ball will hit the ground and spin right, a left handers breaking ball will hit the ground and spin left. A catcher must angle their body to adjust for the spin of the baseball. They must push off with the opposite leg and drive their body over to meet the baseball and block it towards the middle of the field. An aggressive push with the opposite leg is crucial. They must be able to beat the ball to the spot and block the baseball.
There will come a time when even the best catcher will be unable to block a fastball or breaking ball that is thrown way outside or inside. The catcher will not have a chance to get their body in front of the baseball. This is where the goalie save comes into play. This technique is used primarily for the ball towards the backhand side of the catcher. The catcher will push off hard with the back foot and drag the mitt across the ground. You should turn the glove over and get out as far as you can. The leg you initially pushed off from will drag across the ground and assist you in getting to your feet quickly, after you get the mitt or body on the ball. Basically, you throw everything you have at the ball in an attempt to stop or slow a poorly thrown ball. A variation of this will come on a pitch thrown towards your mitt side. The mechanics are the same only this time you have an open mitt. The goal is the same: stop the ball.
At this point it is important not to admire your work. Don’t allow yourself to be satisfied with a great block. It is now time to retrieve and get your body in a position to throw.
First, locate the ball and quickly get to your feet. From the blocked position it is important to clear your hands from the middle of your body. It should be done by exploding your hands and arms in opposite directions. Do not lift your hands up and out in front of your body. The baseball can get caught up in your hands or arms if your first movement is towards the pitcher. If your movement is away from your body, you decrease the chance of making contact with the baseball and increase the chance of keeping the ball in front of you.
Next, you should round the ball. Get your chest over the baseball and in a position to scoop up the baseball. Note we have yet to look for a runner that may be trying to advance. The single most important aspect of this stage is to get to the ball first, then check the runner. A common error is to check the runner first. If you see the runner go, you may panic or get in a hurry and not retrieve the ball correctly. Get to the ball first and then check for the runner. Besides, if the rest of your teammates are paying attention, you will hear them yelling “runner”.
Never pick up the baseball with only your mitt or only the bare hand. The hand and mitt must work together. This can be referred to as “raking” the baseball. A common error is made when a catcher tries to pick up the ball with only one hand. If the ball is not fielded the first time, the catcher may panic and continue having trouble picking up the ball, kick the ball, or field it and make a bad throw because they are in a hurry. Two hands will give you a greater opportunity to field the ball the first time.
As you rake the ball, you should be angling your body to the base the runner could be advancing to. You should get your feet set, your mind ready to throw and now find the runner. If the runner is trying to advance, throw a strike to the base. If the runner is not going to advance but is leaning, throw behind him. The key is be ready to throw to any base. Take pride in blocking, retrieving and throwing the baseball effectively. This can make a difference in the outcome of the game. A good catcher wants to call a breaking ball in the dirt with two strikes and the winning or tying run on third base. The pitcher must have confidence in the catcher to get the job done, and the catcher must have confidence in themselves.
Drills:
1.) Shadow blocking (No ball)
Coach stands behind the catcher. Catcher assumes their stance. The coach tells the catcher which pitch is being thrown and where. The coach will give the catcher a few seconds to get ready. When the coach claps their hands, the catcher will assume the blocking position and hold. The coach or other players will check their form to make sure the catcher is in good position. The drill can be varied by giving the catcher less time between pitch and location and the clap, or the catcher will go on verbal commands only.
2.) Sit and get hit
Coach gets on one knee from a short distance. The catcher assumes the blocking position. The coach will throw the ball in the dirt and off the chest of the catcher. The catcher gets the feeling of balls coming off their body.
3.) Medium toss
Coach stands halfway between the mound and home plate. The catcher assumes their stance. Coach will throw balls in the dirt and the catcher will block, retrieve, and get their body in a position to throw.
4.) Standard toss
Coach stands on the mound. The catcher assumes their stance. Coach will throw balls in the dirt and the catcher will block, retrieve, and get their body in a position to throw.
5.) Up-downs
Lay out five balls five feet apart. The catcher will shuffle to each ball, assume the blocked position, get up and shuffle to the next ball. The object is to work on quickness down to the ball and up from the ball. Make sure the catcher’s hands are moving in the correct position on the way up. The drill should be executed both directions.
6.) Hands drill
The catcher should start in the down position with the ball placed in front of them. When the coach says go, the catcher fires their hands out to the side and away from the ball, gets to their feet quickly, rakes in the ball and gets their body in a position to throw the baseball.
7.) Zone blocking
Acceptable activity for when practice is getting monotonous and the catchers need a change of pace. Assign three zones and points for each (5, 3, -5). The first zone should be 3 feet by 3 feet starting at the catcher’s feet. The second zone should be 5 feet by 5 feet starting at the catcher’s feet. The third zone is anything outside of the two zones. Catcher assumes stance while the coach stands on the mound. The coach will throw balls in the dirt. The catcher should block, retrieve the balls in a zone and then get their body in a position to throw. Each catcher gets an established number of trials. Add up the points and assign a winner.
8.) Batting practice
There is no substitute for blocking live during an established period of time during batting practice. This prevents the catcher from sitting back and creating bad habits during batting practice.
9.) Bullpens
The bullpen should be utilized not only for pitchers preparing to enter the game, but also by catchers as well. The catcher should report to the bullpen in full gear and have their game face on. No balls should ever get by a catcher in the bullpen. Take pride in your abilities.
When blocking a baseball it is important to get both knees on the ground as quickly as possible. You do not want to hop up and then hit the ground, but drop to your knees immediately. The direction of the ball will dictate whether or not you will need to push off in any direction. This is done with your feet. You must get an aggressive push off with your legs toward the direction of the baseball. The next movement is to put your mitt back against your cup with your fingers down, not the back of your hand down. If your fingers are down and the back of your hand is against your cup, you have set up a barrier for the ball to bounce off. If your hand is on the ground, you have created a ramp for the ball to hit and continue in a forward motion. The ball will have an opportunity to continue its forward motion and possibly get away from the catcher. During this time your throwing hand must be placed behind your mitt. This will protect your hand from injury and help square up your body to the ball.
A catcher must also protect their throat and neck. To do this the catcher must take their chin and tuck it into their chest. They should not drop their head down, just their chin. Dropping the head will cause the catcher to lose track of the baseball. By only dropping the chin, the catcher will still be able to visually track the baseball.
A catcher needs to be flexible. They need to be able to sit on the ground in the blocking position. The lower they are to the ground, the less area the ball has to get under the catcher.
A catcher should attempt to block all balls in the dirt when there are runners on base or when there are two strikes on the hitter. When a dropped third strike occurs, a hitter may try to advance to first base if it is unoccupied. A catcher should make it as easy on their pitcher as possible. If the pitcher gets a hitter to chase a pitch in the dirt, they should be rewarded with a strikeout.
As there are different types of pitches that will be thrown, there are different ways to block these pitches. The goal in blocking is to block all balls so that they will hit you in the center of your chest and drop harmlessly in front of you. Do not try to catch a ball that is in the dirt. Trouble starts when a catcher tries to catch the bouncing ball and misses. The result is a ball to the backstop and the advancement of runners on base.
When a fastball is thrown in the dirt, the catcher should maneuver their body in front of the ball and block it back to the middle of the field. Their body should be perpendicular to the ball. If the ball is blocked correctly off the middle of the chest protector, the ball will hit and return to the direction from which it was thrown.
Depending on whether or not a right handed or left handed pitcher is throwing will dictate which direction a catcher will turn their body to adjust for the spin of a breaking ball. Therefore, blocking the breaking ball requires some thought and preparation.
As you look at home plate from the pitchers mound, a right handers breaking ball will hit the ground and spin right, a left handers breaking ball will hit the ground and spin left. A catcher must angle their body to adjust for the spin of the baseball. They must push off with the opposite leg and drive their body over to meet the baseball and block it towards the middle of the field. An aggressive push with the opposite leg is crucial. They must be able to beat the ball to the spot and block the baseball.
There will come a time when even the best catcher will be unable to block a fastball or breaking ball that is thrown way outside or inside. The catcher will not have a chance to get their body in front of the baseball. This is where the goalie save comes into play. This technique is used primarily for the ball towards the backhand side of the catcher. The catcher will push off hard with the back foot and drag the mitt across the ground. You should turn the glove over and get out as far as you can. The leg you initially pushed off from will drag across the ground and assist you in getting to your feet quickly, after you get the mitt or body on the ball. Basically, you throw everything you have at the ball in an attempt to stop or slow a poorly thrown ball. A variation of this will come on a pitch thrown towards your mitt side. The mechanics are the same only this time you have an open mitt. The goal is the same: stop the ball.
At this point it is important not to admire your work. Don’t allow yourself to be satisfied with a great block. It is now time to retrieve and get your body in a position to throw.
First, locate the ball and quickly get to your feet. From the blocked position it is important to clear your hands from the middle of your body. It should be done by exploding your hands and arms in opposite directions. Do not lift your hands up and out in front of your body. The baseball can get caught up in your hands or arms if your first movement is towards the pitcher. If your movement is away from your body, you decrease the chance of making contact with the baseball and increase the chance of keeping the ball in front of you.
Next, you should round the ball. Get your chest over the baseball and in a position to scoop up the baseball. Note we have yet to look for a runner that may be trying to advance. The single most important aspect of this stage is to get to the ball first, then check the runner. A common error is to check the runner first. If you see the runner go, you may panic or get in a hurry and not retrieve the ball correctly. Get to the ball first and then check for the runner. Besides, if the rest of your teammates are paying attention, you will hear them yelling “runner”.
Never pick up the baseball with only your mitt or only the bare hand. The hand and mitt must work together. This can be referred to as “raking” the baseball. A common error is made when a catcher tries to pick up the ball with only one hand. If the ball is not fielded the first time, the catcher may panic and continue having trouble picking up the ball, kick the ball, or field it and make a bad throw because they are in a hurry. Two hands will give you a greater opportunity to field the ball the first time.
As you rake the ball, you should be angling your body to the base the runner could be advancing to. You should get your feet set, your mind ready to throw and now find the runner. If the runner is trying to advance, throw a strike to the base. If the runner is not going to advance but is leaning, throw behind him. The key is be ready to throw to any base. Take pride in blocking, retrieving and throwing the baseball effectively. This can make a difference in the outcome of the game. A good catcher wants to call a breaking ball in the dirt with two strikes and the winning or tying run on third base. The pitcher must have confidence in the catcher to get the job done, and the catcher must have confidence in themselves.
Drills:
1.) Shadow blocking (No ball)
Coach stands behind the catcher. Catcher assumes their stance. The coach tells the catcher which pitch is being thrown and where. The coach will give the catcher a few seconds to get ready. When the coach claps their hands, the catcher will assume the blocking position and hold. The coach or other players will check their form to make sure the catcher is in good position. The drill can be varied by giving the catcher less time between pitch and location and the clap, or the catcher will go on verbal commands only.
2.) Sit and get hit
Coach gets on one knee from a short distance. The catcher assumes the blocking position. The coach will throw the ball in the dirt and off the chest of the catcher. The catcher gets the feeling of balls coming off their body.
3.) Medium toss
Coach stands halfway between the mound and home plate. The catcher assumes their stance. Coach will throw balls in the dirt and the catcher will block, retrieve, and get their body in a position to throw.
4.) Standard toss
Coach stands on the mound. The catcher assumes their stance. Coach will throw balls in the dirt and the catcher will block, retrieve, and get their body in a position to throw.
5.) Up-downs
Lay out five balls five feet apart. The catcher will shuffle to each ball, assume the blocked position, get up and shuffle to the next ball. The object is to work on quickness down to the ball and up from the ball. Make sure the catcher’s hands are moving in the correct position on the way up. The drill should be executed both directions.
6.) Hands drill
The catcher should start in the down position with the ball placed in front of them. When the coach says go, the catcher fires their hands out to the side and away from the ball, gets to their feet quickly, rakes in the ball and gets their body in a position to throw the baseball.
7.) Zone blocking
Acceptable activity for when practice is getting monotonous and the catchers need a change of pace. Assign three zones and points for each (5, 3, -5). The first zone should be 3 feet by 3 feet starting at the catcher’s feet. The second zone should be 5 feet by 5 feet starting at the catcher’s feet. The third zone is anything outside of the two zones. Catcher assumes stance while the coach stands on the mound. The coach will throw balls in the dirt. The catcher should block, retrieve the balls in a zone and then get their body in a position to throw. Each catcher gets an established number of trials. Add up the points and assign a winner.
8.) Batting practice
There is no substitute for blocking live during an established period of time during batting practice. This prevents the catcher from sitting back and creating bad habits during batting practice.
9.) Bullpens
The bullpen should be utilized not only for pitchers preparing to enter the game, but also by catchers as well. The catcher should report to the bullpen in full gear and have their game face on. No balls should ever get by a catcher in the bullpen. Take pride in your abilities.