Paco (or anyone): Baseball question

[82Rigger]

How, exactly, does a pitchout work?

I know what a pitchout is...it gets the catcher upright and in the clear for a strong accurate base-stealing throw.

Who initiates the pitchout, and when?

How is it communicated?

Thanks,

Steve

[Bill Farnie]

The catcher or the manager calls for a pitchout and there are a few variables that might call for the play. The obvious is to catch a base runner stealing but it’s also used when a hit and run play is on or a squeeze play. Now there are different variables for each of those too. How many outs are there, what’s the count, who’s the batter & base runner(s) and so on. I know Pack will give an expert's explanation much better then myself.

[82Rigger]

Thanks, Bill!

Everything hinges on the base runner's stealing ability. I know who the good "base robbers" are for the Braves, Marlins, and Rays, but otherwise a pitchout always comes as a surprise!

[Packo]

I can't improve much on what Bill said. It used to be called by the catcher....the old field general, but not sure today. Probably comes from the bench. The catcher used to always have to study all the tendencies of the team they were playing. Everything from hitters to base runners and situations. One of the best counts to steal on is 2 balls 1 strike. Would call a pitchout, depending on who was on base, many times on that count. Also would depend on outs. More steals with 0 or 1 out, obviously, than with 2, though you'd have to watch carefully with 2 outs. Runners would have the tendency to want to leave early with 2. The 2/1 count gets the pitcher concentrating on the batter as to not go to 3 giving an advantage to the runner....if he's a threat. Pitchers don't really appreciate having to throw a ball on a 2/1 but hey, they're primadonna's anyway. If you smell hit and run....pitchout! Don't see it as much as I used to. Hope this helps Steve, but Bill was hitting the nail pretty much on the head.

Smokey Packo

[82Rigger]

Thanks, Bill and Paco,

This gives me an idea of when to look for a pitchout. I like learning new stuff about baseball.

Last night, during the Marlins/Braves game, a batter hit a foul ball almost straight up.

One of the commentators noted something that I never thought of before...

In that situation, the catcher has to make sure he tosses his mask AWAY from where the ball is coming down, so his feet don't get tangled up with the mask as he makes the catch.

[Keith_Hixson]

Most pitch outs come from the bench now days. Use to be the catcher, the field general. On rare occasion the pitcher can also decide on one.

Keith

[Robert Ryan]

agree with Keith most are called from the bench today based on the variables in the other posts about a pitchout. Most of the time to me the ones I have seen don't really produce much.

[Packo]

Tossing the mask has been a rule since I donned the gear. It is easy to trip over it and have seen that happen. Used to be on a steal we were taught to get your mask off BUT if you notice today...not done. That extra second to get the dang thing off gives another advantage to the runner. Also, was taught on a pop fly to catch it with the glove palm up. When I first started, a lot of "mits" did not flex. In other words when the ball hit your glove you had to cover it with your ungloved hand. My first year I had a glove like that but had such a good rookie year, my father surprised me with a beautiful new Rawlings catcher's mit that flexed, after working in the Needs foot oil, rubber bands, and a ball in it. Once that sucker got flexable, catching was a compleatly different experience. I used that beautiful glove all the way to the majors. Afte being wounded and coming home from Vietnam, I gave it to my first love's little brother with my Pirate Hat, the only thing the team let me keep from my brief appearance. We broke up.....never got the hat or glove back, but at the time didn't care. Wish now I had it.

Smokey Paco

[82Rigger]

As a kid playing baseball in the vacant lot next door, I remember catcher's mitts as being pretty simple...a doughnut with a pocket, like this "Jim Hegan" by Spalding.

Nowadays they seem to be better designed and more efficient.

[Packo]

That's basically what I first started with. Was great for a straight fast ball....not good for much else. Shows how good the old time catchers had to be. Thanks for posting that picture.

Smokey Paco