I recently received a comment about who should call pitches during the game. Should the catcher and pitcher work together or should the coach make the calls. I have to admit this is something I have debated over the years. With exception of two seasons I have always called the pitches. Having said that our best year was one of the season I turned the pitch selection over to the catcher with the pitchers help.Let's take a moment and go through the positives from both respective sides of the argument!
The Coach Should Call The Pitches Argument:
1) As I coach I kept records of opposing hitters. Both in games we played against them and any game we scouted. If they were 2,3, or 4 year starters then we had every at bat from every year. Each at bat had the following information:
1) What hand pitcher was throwing
2) Where they hit the ball
3) What the count was
4) What pitch they hit
5) Finally, was the pitcher in the stretch or wind-up
From this information we would position fielders and make pitch selections based on previous results. We would also try and balance past information with what we were seeing that day.
2) What I like about this approach is it simplifies the game for the pitcher and catcher. Their focus stays on throwing, catching, and knowing situations so they know where to go with the ball. I don't want extra burden on these players if there is no need. Here's why!
I am a strong believer in keeping things very simple and competing by being assignment sound, technique sound, and out executing the other team. I believe even at the professional levels of baseball, basketball, and football they make it to complicated and it effects their performance. Do a few things and do them extremely well. Ala Vince Lombardi and the Packer Sweep play.
3) You could argue that if we have all this information then the pitcher and catcher could have it as a tool to set-up hitters. Yes they can, but it breaks my philosophy of keeping them focused on a few important components to their success. Plus we might have 2 to 3 different pitchers throw in a game who would all have to be able to learn and process all this information in an extremely short period of time.
The Pitcher/Catcher Should Call The Pitches Argument:
The advantages of the pitcher/catcher calling the game are as follows:
1) He has a good vantage point of where the hitters are in the box in relation the plate. He also has a view of the batters front side. Is he opening up, is he cutting himself off, etc...
2) It allows them to be more of a thinking mans pitcher/catcher. It allows them to think about setting up hitters and thinking 2 pitches a head. Would lead to them learning more about the game.
3) Allowing the pitcher to have final say will mean he will throw the pitch he is most confident in for that pitch. Which is better: Having the pitcher throw the right pitch at the right time with half confidence or throwing maybe not the right pitch but being confident in it?
My Philosophy and Approach
After scrolling up and reading the two sides I realize I wrote more on the coaches side then the pitcher/catcher side. This does not mean I do not think the 3 advantages listed for the pitcher/catcher aren't valid. Truth is they are very valid and none more then answering the question in number 3.
The questions still becomes which is better. There are great arguments for both sides. I think both sides are a sound philosophy and something you could build your pitching program around. But, I have one question I have to ask here. Why do we have to choose?
Let me explain. I have always found both sides to be compelling arguments so I thought to myself is there a way to blend together these two approaches where you could capitalize on the strengths of each. Here's what I believe in.
With the information I keep available I believe I should call the pitches. But I believe I should call them with the help of the pitcher and catcher. Their input from pitch to pitch, batter to batter, and inning to inning is invaluable.
Here's how I believe it should be done. First, I make the pitch selection based on the information I have available. That information does not only include the information I have on the scouting report but the constant feedback I am getting from the pitcher and catcher.
Second, the catcher is taught hand signals which he can relay to me on where the batter is in the box. Mainly, how close he is to the plate because I can see front to back of the box.
Next, you need to talk with the catcher after each inning and get his report on the pitchers stuff. How is the fastball, is the curve ball sharp, is the ball moving, etc... Let's face it pitchers lie so you need an honest catcher.
Third, allow the pitcher to shake you off but under the following rule. If he shakes you then you will call a different pitch. If he shakes and gets the pitch call again then he must throw that pitch.
This allows the pitcher to have some say in pitch selection and gives you the opportunity to answer the question in #3 based on the feel of the game. Don't forget to consult the pitcher on what he is feeling most confident with that day!
Why say we will always throw what the coach says regardless of how the pitcher feels. Why say the pitcher is always right and can throw whatever he feels most confident with. Why not have the ability to allow that particular moment in the game to decide which you think is best.
I really think this is the best approach to having a system that allows you to be successful. It allows input from all the important parties and still allows the coach to be in control of the decision making. This might mean he decides to make the decision or he decides to allow the pitcher to make the decision.
In Conclusion
I have been a coach who has called every pitch in a season and not allowed the pitchers to throw anything but what I called. I have coached seasons where I left the pitch selection up to the pitcher and catcher. Truth is I have been fortunate enough to be successful both ways.
However, I don't feel completely satisfied either way. I feel I should call the pitches and allow the pitcher a chance to shake. Truth is in most cases I will send in a different pitch if he shakes. If I do not then I coach him to take that as a sign that he must get committed to that pitch before he throws it.
It could work the other way as well. You could allow the pitcher to call the game and have signs where you can call a pitch when you wanted to. I don't like that approach as much but it's not to say it isn't a sound philosophy.
I look forward to hearing your comments and ideas!
Great talk on pitch-calling strategy. My personal experience stems from a little younger age group (13-15 yrs old), so your solution to the problem tends to be a tad too complicated/rigorous for my situation.
ReplyDeleteIn my eyes, a coach has two jobs: Developing players abilities and winning games. The higher the level you coach, the more emphasis on winning. At my level, I feel that the priority has to be development, and I put a tremendous focus on that aspect.
What I have done in the past is call pitches the first inning or two, and then let the catcher take the reins. This allows him to get an idea for what I'm looking for, but also shows him that I have confidence in his ability. It also allows for a relationship between pitcher/catcher. If the game reaches a critical inning or at-bat, I may take the reins back if I want.
Obviously, reading your piece, you coached at a higher level. I have often debated this problem both internally and with others, and it was good to read your opinions on it. Hopefully we can continue the debate.
Personally, after being a catcher for 5 years before getting to a high school program, where coaches usually start calling pitches, I always called the pitches. Reading batter's 'swagger' and positioning in the box became second nature, and making adjustments to that in my pitch calling was completely automatic. Now, looking over to a coach between each pitch was something a bit new. So as far as 'saving the catcher from thinking', I'm not sure if that does the job. Even when the coach is calling the pitches, I still stop and think after each pitch, what pitch I would call next anyway.
ReplyDeleteWhen you look at, as a whole, all the information you get from previous encounters, normally they'll tell you the same things, and your pitch calling won't vary much. As far as the information you collect on a batter, I'm not sure how much that helps as far as pitch selection.
While knowing everything about when they actually hit the ball is important, I think its more important to note when he swings. I didn't do much scouting in my time, but the one time I went to scout WD during the diamond, I used many things to my advantage. The two biggest things I looked at is their reactions on the first pitch, and their reaction to off-speed pitches. The other thing I would try to note is the guys who move around in the box (say you throw an inside pitch, does he back off? outside-get closer and so on) Knowing just these things, you can easily set-up a tailored regimen for almost every batter.
One of the biggest things I enjoyed about calling pitches as a catcher, was to get in a groove with your pitcher also. You can tell and almost feel, on a pitch to pitch basis, how your pitcher is feeling. I always loved with one particular pitcher (Justin Trudell for those who know him), when he got in a groove with his curveball, and you could just tell he was really feeling it. We would straight up throw back-to-back-to-back curveballs to guys. It was viscious. I doubt though, that many coaches feel comfortable calling that, and who can blame them. But when a pitcher and catcher get on a groove, sometimes you just have to go for it.
On the converse side, I agree that for younger catchers playing on a bigger stage, the coach should be calling the pitches. Going from the JV to Varsity level, all of a sudden that low and outside fastball isn't a shut-em down pitch on 0-1. You have to get to know your pitchers, and you have to get to know your batters too. So, it can be a relief for younger guys to be told what to do.
I hope my input has been usefull.
Good luck Coach,
Very good debate going on here, I like the question and the different opinions,
ReplyDeleteMy take on this as being a pitcher for a few yers on different teams, played for a few coaches, mostly I feel it depends soley on who the coach is and the situation.
If I am on a team where the coach doesn;t have much idea what is going on (which I am sure many people have been on a team like that) I like my catcher making all o my decisions, for my high school team I played with a very good catcher, he is a college quality catcher and is very knowledgeable baseball player, he took much of the responsibility in the pitch call, made the calls for pickoff, pitchout and shakeoff.
Then on the other hand during summer league i had very smart coaches who knew much of the opposing hitters strengths and weakenesses as did we, so it was more like certain hitters we relied on our coaching to get the pitching calls.
So in conclusion I'd say it cant just be one responsibility of a young man or a coach, it has to be a joint effort to succeed, all in all most of this discussion still comes to the point that high school athletes are still just kids and need osme guidance always and i believe everyone would agree with that. Any level higher than this I believe the ctacher should take the pitch calling
My son is a pitcher - approx. 88 miles an hour; this season he had 63 strike outs and 5 walks - He is 16 in 10th grade and has been on varsity for two years. Recently he has joined another team. He made the team the first day of try-outs and suddenly a young pitching coach says that he needs to change alot of mechanics. My son works one day at practice with him and a few days later is put in to pitch. Before he goes out to pitch the pitching coach is trying to have him change his stance of slightly bent knees to straight up; Step back instead of small step to the side; and some motions he is already working on as he is always seeking to master his pitching. As he is pitching the coach is calling the pitches - he continues to call sliders, which is fine, but my son has an awsome fast pitch hitting his points and an awsome curve ball. Even though he strikes out two players in the first inning, the pitching coach is harping on him to change his stance and pitching mechanics - no, good job, no remember to work on... - Am I wrong for believing that this pitching coach could mess with my sons head in a negative way?
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