作者 catsondbs 站內 精華區
標題 [Note] Bullpen Catchers
時間 Mon Jan 1 22:22:00 2010
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Bullpen Catchers - How They Impact a Baseball Game and the Team
http://goo.gl/FTp2r
Bullpen catchers are the men in a baseball game who have the responsibility
of warming up relief pitchers in the bullpen. Most of these catchers are
anonymous to baseball fans and the sports media, never get a baseball card
made of them (even when the mascot sometimes does!), yet they impact the
overall experience at a baseball game in ways most people do not recognize.
While their primary duty is to warm up relief pitchers during a game, there
are many other things bullpen catchers do to while serving in what some
consider to be a "thankless" role for the team. Here are just a few things
they do to contribute:
Many teams carry only two catchers, with another fielder being the
"emergency" catcher. Ideally the manager of the team wants to have all of his
reserve catchers ready to be used in case of pinch hitting, pinch running
(although there are VERY few catchers who are used as pinch runners!),
injuries, or simply helping the pitching coach evaluate a pitcher's
performance. The bullpen catcher frees up the manager to keep all of his
catchers available to be used during a game by replacing the need for one of
the reserve catchers to be in the bullpen.
Occasionally the bullpen catcher will be called into duty before a game to
catch the Opening Pitch by the honored person. Often, he is called to escort
and warm up that person to make sure that he or she makes a decent attempt at
throwing in front of the crowd.
During pre-game batting practice the bullpen catcher will share the load with
the other catchers of warming up pitchers who need to throw on their
respective "off days." Every pitching coach gives his pitchers a specific
throwing schedule and routine. It is in these practice sessions that pitchers
work on their mechanics and fine tune their deliveries. Other exercises
include the "Towel Drills", "Flat Tosses", "Long Tosses", and other exercises
specific to pitchers.
After working with the pitchers, many bullpen catchers are then asked to
throw the remaining part of batting practice or work with the hitters on
"Flip Toss" or other hitting drills.
A bullpen catcher, if he has caught for many years, also can be a de-facto
"psychologist" in the bullpen. Relief pitchers have the stereotype of being
crazy, mentally unbalanced, etc. While this is not necessarily a true
stereotype - although I have met my share of a few wild men in the bullpen
(!) - the ability for a pitcher to trust his bullpen catcher's feedback is an
important part of a pitcher being ready to enter a game. Barry Zito and
Huston Street, in an August 2006 article by an MLB.com writer, are cited as
trusting the experience of their bullpen catcher in order to help them get
ready
(http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060817&content_id=1615561&vkey=news_oak&fext=.jsp&c_id=oak)
In between innings, if the bullpen is located along the foul lines of the
field, will often warm up one of the outfielders. Two balls are carried by
the outfielders in between innings, and one is shared between two of the
outfielders to stay loose. The other is tossed between the left fielder (or
right fielder depending on which side the bullpen is located) and the bullpen
catcher to help the outfielder stay loose.
If a bullpen is located along the foul lines, and one of the other catchers
is catching a particular pitcher, the bullpen catcher will stand behind the
pitcher to protect him in case of a hard line drive hit toward the bullpen.
A bullpen catcher may also serve in multiple roles off the field:
- Give post-game lessons for kids when the other players are in the clubhouse.
Appear in uniform for various local charity events or events with emphasis
for kids.
- Help the team with its marketing efforts, especially in the lower levels of
the minor leagues.
- Work with the pitching coach to determine ways to help pitchers improve.
Help set up the locker room before opening day. Yes, this actually does
happen!
- Help the general manager with on-field and off-field promotions
In all, the bullpen catcher does a tremendous amount of unrecognized work.
Furthermore, he sometimes ends up catching (and returning) more pitches and
warm-up throws (between pre-game practice and in the bullpen) than the
starting catcher does! If you want to make a player's day, find out who your
team's bullpen catcher is, send him an autograph request, and chances are you
will get one back faster than any other request. And if you happen to meet
your team's bullpen catcher in July, August, or September please remember
that it may take him a few extra seconds to raise his arm to shake your hand.
All those throws do take a toll!
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