Role of the Catcher
The catcher's role to the team is important, both on and off of the field. He is the team’s leader, the team's captain. He has to be able to react to anything that happens during the game whether it is bunt coverage, responding to an infield hit, or calling for cutoffs. The catcher has the entire field in front of him and is able to see what is happening anywhere that the ball goes. Before every pitch, the catcher has to be prepared physically and mentally for the next play. The catcher has to be able to block pitches that are thrown into the dirt. If he doesn’t, then the runner will advance, bringing him 90 feet closer to scoring.
A good catcher also has to have good sportsmanship. He supports his teammates after a good play in the field and tells them what to do when they don’t do something right. If the umpire gets hit with a foul ball, the catcher will go out to the mound with his pitcher to give the umpire a couple of minutes to himself. It is courteous to do so. Also, a catcher has to be honest. An honest catcher will not argue with calls when he is batting or when he is in the field. Also, the catcher has to keep the runners honest by telling the pitcher to throw over to the base. The catcher can also throw to the base with the runner to hold him to a smaller lead. This smaller lead can help the catcher have a better chance to throw out the runner when stealing.
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The catcher has to be anticipating what will happen after the next pitch. Will the runner steal? Will the batter hit the ball? Will the next pitch be a strike? These are all things that go through a catcher's mind during the game whether it is on the bench or behind the plate, without even realizing it. They react to the play instinctively. They don’t need to think about it. Catching is, in my opinion, the toughest position in all of sports. The catcher has to be ready for all that is thrown at him. He has to be into the game. There is no fooling around when you are a catcher.
Catchers have to learn the most about their position. Other position players don't have to work as hard to be good at their position. Catchers have to learn what to do for almost all situations that could occur during a game. When the other players have a question, the catcher should know the answer. The catcher has to give orders. When catching, nothing is too hard. He has to be able to handle the blazing heat of the summer and the cold in the fall. At practice, the catcher should be the first one to the field and the last one to leave.
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