Comments on: ‘Tis Better To Receive . . .

By: Ben Badler

Ben Badler — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:06:47 +0000

Excellent point, Paul. I agree completely.

By: Paul Ivice

Paul Ivice — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:44:49 +0000

Interesting analysis of passed balls, though I think one major source for passed balls, especially at the lower levels of the minors, was overlooked. . I am an official scorer in minor-league ball. I’ve worked games in the Southern League, the Florida State League and the Gulf Coast League.
You talked about pitchers being more willing to challenge an adept catcher’s blocking ability by throwing more pitches in the dirt, but thoe pitches that go to the backstop in those cases are most likely ruled wild pitches.
The cause of many passed bballs, in my opinion, is catchers getting crossed up by the pitcher, usually because either the pitcher or catcher became confused about the signs. I believe thiese occurances happen more at lower levels off pro ball, but cannot be documented. Still, I would suggest that the relative frequency of passed balls resulting from mixed-up signals is consistent with the numbers you show for A-ball, Double-A and Triple-A and the majors.

By: Ben Badler

Ben Badler — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:34:02 +0000

Skip, I know some scouts measure arm strength with a radar gun at the amateur level, especially since some catchers also serve as their teams’ closers in high school or college. Obviously pro scouts don’t really have that option.

Pop times can be an indicator of arm strength, but they are inextricably linked to how quickly a catcher releases the ball. Angel Salome would be one example of a player I saw this year who does have above-average arm strength but always had below-average pop times (and below-average CS rate) because he doesn’t get rid of the ball quickly.

Most scouts have been around long enough to grade a player’s arm strength from observation and how it compares to an average arm (a 50 on the 20-80 scale). They look for the carry on the throw, whether the ball stays on a line (the trajectory) and the power of the throw. When you see a guy with a plus-plus arm, like Taylor Teagarden, it sticks out with ease. You can get a feel for a guy’s arm strength during games on stolen base attempts, but it also helps to get to the park earlier to watch a guy warm up down the outfield line. You get to see a lot more throws that way.

By: Ben Badler

Ben Badler — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:11:49 +0000

Dennis, you’re right. Unfortunately our data only tracks passed balls for catchers, not wild pitches, otherwise I would have presented (PB + WP)/9.

By: Ben Badler

Ben Badler — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:09:28 +0000

Michelle, I didn’t include Armstrong originally because he was not in the 2008 Prospect Handbook, but he’s a good defensive catcher and merits a look. In Double-A, he committed one passed ball in 469.2 innings (59 games). In Triple-A, he committed eight passed balls in 308 innings (35 games), giving him a total of nine passed balls in 777.2 innings (94 games), averaging 0.10 PB/9 and 13 PB/120 games.

However, I would just ignore Armstrong’s Triple-A numbers, mostly because he had to catch Charlie Haeger, a knuckleballer. The first time Armstrong caught Haeger on July 1, he committed three passed balls (and Haeger walked six batters in six innings). Charlotte used Paul Phillips to catch Haeger the rest of the season until Sept. 1, when Armstrong caught a complete-game, one-run gem from Haeger (with no passed balls).

Armstrong also had another game (of the non-Haeger variety) on Aug. 24 in which he committed two passed balls, but the Knights also walked 10 batters that game. Between that and the initial game in which he had to catch Haeger, it looks like there’s a lot of noise in Armstrong’s numbers.

All the scouting reports on his defense are positive, which is what really matters here.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:46:37 +0000

I am curious as to where catcher Cole Armstrong fits into this breakdown. He is in the White Sox TOP TEN PROSPECTS list and was rated as the best defensive catcher by AA Southern League managers. Did he not have enough Inn’s or games caught to be considered for this?

Thanks,

Michelle
White Sox Fan

By: Dennis McNamara

Dennis McNamara — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:24:36 +0000

I like the comment about tracking blocking balls in the dirt, but that may be tough to get. How about correlating wild pitches, some, if not most, being balls in the dirt? That might be a good proxy.

By: Skip Deitz

Skip Deitz — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:04:33 +0000

What are the components and metrics of the 20-80 Arm Rating the scouts use for a catcher? I have used “pop-time” and jugs readings at 10 feet to reate catcher’s arms.

By: Skip Deitz

Skip Deitz — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:02:14 +0000

You may want to offer some drills to young catchers to work on in order to improve their ability to block pitches. With my students I use wiffle balls and tennis balls to minmize the impact on exposed arms and wrists. Fastballs are the easiest. We work on adjusting to the kick-back effect that a curve ball has when it hits the dirt. Back bowed, shoulders forward and glove between the knees is the standard to insure the ball lands within the catcher’s grasp.

By: Brandon

Brandon — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 07:42:53 +0000

I’m surprised Texas’ Manny Pina didn’t get a mention here. I personally didn’t get to see him too much while he was here in Bakersfield, but he seemed to play well when I saw him and every report I’ve seen says he projects as a very solid back up for years to come, similar to Wilson and Tatum.

By: Jason

Jason — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 23:23:00 +0000

Alan de San Miguel can’t hit a lick, but he can pick it behind the plate.

By: Dave Sistaro

Dave Sistaro — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 03:39:47 +0000

The best behind the plate that I’ve ever seen in person is Frank Cervelli of the Yanks org. I saw him in Staten Island and Trenton and I’ve never seen a ball get by him. He boxes up well sort of like a Mike Scoscia… Keep your eye on him.

By: Pat Gaudreau

Pat Gaudreau — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 17:05:15 +0000

I’m happy to see Francisco Hernandez is listed in the top 15. What is the future for him with the White Sox. Is he ready to jump to AA next year? Since he’s a switch hitting catcher, does he have a chance at cracking the major league roster in 2-3 years?

By: dave york

dave york — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 02:21:37 +0000

With all of the stats that are kept in baseball, why don’t teams keep track of ball blocked in the dirt? Instead of only passed balls, seeing how many pitches were actually blocked might be a better way to telling the effectiveness of a catcher. Some pitching staffs are much harder to catch due to control issues. Using only number of passed balls without comparing it to number blocked only tells part of the story.

By: Luke

Luke — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 18:55:57 +0000

This is interesting. The stats don’t match the scouting reports at all for Pablo Sandoval and Austin Romine. Lou Marson and Wilson Ramos are two of the better prospects that did stand out positively, though.