Catchers: Tips, Drills, Information, Catching Equipment, Catchers Gear

Baseball-Catcher.com

Catchers Guide Glossary

Basic Skills
Stance

Setting Up

Receiving

Framing

Blocking

Throwing

Leadership

In-depth Skills
Relays, Cutoffs, and Plays at Home

Signals

Calling A Game

Catching Bullpens

Covering Bases

Pre-Game Routine

Umpire Rapport

Misc. Situations and Plays

Glossary

Arm Band Drills - drills designed to warm-up the shoulder before practice or a game. Also, these drills strengthen the rotator cuff and muscles of the shoulder.
Arm Position - this term refers to the correct positioning of the throwing arm in a ready or relaxed stance

Blocking - refers to the movement of the catcher attempting to stop and control a pitch in the dirt.
Breaking Ball - a pitch that changes direction in flight because of the spin created by the pitcher.
Brush Back Pitch - used to keep a hitter off of the plate. This pitch is useful to set up breaking pitches away.
Bullpen - an area where the pitcher warms up that is off of the field. Also, refers to a session where a pitcher throws a pre-determined number of pitches during practice.
Bust the Hitter - a pitch up and in with the purpose of jamming a hitter.

Can Drills - *see Arm Band Drills.
Catcher's Interference - an instance during an at-bat where the catcher interferes with a batters swing. This usually happens when the catcher's mitt is tipped by the bat on a swing. The result of the play depends on whether the pitch was hit and what happened as a result. For example: If the pitch was hit and the batter hit a double, the play stands. However, if the batter grounded out or maybe didn't make contact, he is awarded first base and any base runners advance one base.
Chest Protector - part of a catcher's set of equipment, it is a soft flexible covering for the chest. The purpose is to protect the catcher's chest from injury.
Crossed Up - a term used to describe a situation where, through miscommunication or a missed sign, the pitcher throws and different pitch than what the catcher called for.
Cup and Jock Strap - protection for the male body part.

Dropped 3rd Strike - refers to a situation with two strikes on the batter and the batter swings and misses on a pitch that bounces in the dirt or on a third strike, called or swinging, and the catcher drops the ball. The batter may advance to first if first base is unoccupied. The exception is with two outs all runners can advance.
Dry Rotted - term used to describe glove leather that has not been properly cared for.

Foul Tip - when a batter swings and barely makes contact with the pitch.
Framing - the art of the catcher making a borderline pitch appear to be a strike by moving the ball toward the strike zone.

Grip - Four Seam - the proper way to hold a baseball when attempting to throw.

Jab Step - one of the three main throwing styles described in throws to second.

Mask - Hockey Mask/Mask Helmet Combo - equipment used by the catcher to protect the head and neck.
Mitt - another term for a glove.

Out Pitch - usually the best pitch in a pitchers arsenal. It is the hardest pitch for the batter to hit hard.
Overhand Position - refers to the correct way to frame and catch a pitch low in the zone with the wrist pointed at the ground. More low pitches are called strikes when caught in the overhand position.

Pick Off - an attempt by either the pitcher or catcher to throw out a base runner that has too big a lead or too large a secondary lead.
Pop Fouls - pitches hit into the air that will land in foul territory. This term usually refers to balls hit around the infield.

Ready Stance - the position a catcher takes with runners on base and/or two strikes on the hitter. A raised squat.
Receiving - catching the ball
Relaxed Stance - the position a catcher takes with the bases empty and less than two strikes on the hitter.
Replacement - one of the three methods of throwing out base runners. See the throwing section for detailed info.
Rock and Throw - one of the three methods of throwing out base runners. See the throwing section for detailed info.
Run Downs - when a base runner gets caught up in-between two bases and the defense is trying to tag him out.

Secondary Lead - a secondary lead occurs after a runner has taken his normal lead and the pitcher delivers the ball to the plate. The runner then shuffles out a few steps and reacts to the result of the pitch.
Shin Guards - equipment worn by the catcher to protect the lower legs, knees, ankles, and feet. Made of a hard plastic and padded on the inside.
Signs - an important part of the communication between the catcher and pitcher. Pitch and location are usually given through the use of finger or body signals. Also, signals are given by the catcher to fielders for various defensive situations.
Slide - blocking - the term used to describe the actions of a catcher attempting to block a pitch to the side.
Square to Pitcher - an important concept to remember for blocking, receiving, and framing pitches. It involves keeping your shoulders and hips parallel to the pitcher.
Stance - term used to describe the catchers positioning when catching a pitcher. There are two variations: ready and relaxed.
Sticking Strikes - an important part of receiving. This refers to catching a pitch that is a strike and keeping the strike where you caught it, not moving the glove.

Umpire's Zone - the strike zone an umpire is calling. This usually differs from a rulebook-defined strike zone.
Underhand Position - the improper way of catching a borderline pitch low in the zone. Your palm is facing up in this position.

Waste Pitch - the purpose is to set up the next pitch or series of pitches. A waste pitch is out of the strike zone.

Catching 101
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