Gattis

[Jacksonian]

Some guys just need to play in the field in order to hit (from ESPN.com):

Position   AB   R   H   2B   3B   HR   RBI   BB   HBP   SO   SB   CS   AVG    OBP    SLG    OPS
As C      124   16  35   9   0    12   27    7     0    27   1    1   .282   .318   .645   .963
As DH     188   15  38   7   0    6    20    17    3    63   0    0   .202   .276   .335   .611

[Lefty]

I have no idea how the defensive metrics and pitch framing stats and whatnot view him, but I've been pleasantly surprised by his work behind the plate this year. 

[BizidyDizidy]

I have no idea how the defensive metrics and pitch framing stats and whatnot view him, but I've been pleasantly surprised by his work behind the plate this year.

He has a good arm. His handling of tough pitches has left something to be desired.

[homer]

His handling of tough pitches has left something to be desired.

Is this something that can be taught and/or learned?

[Waldo]

Based on those stats, pretty much the only thing that is worse at catcher is his walk rate. 

[Jacksonian]

Based on those stats, pretty much the only thing that is worse at catcher is his walk rate.

I wonder if because he is playing in the field he is better dialed into hittable pitches and therefore not going deeper into counts as often.

[Lefty]

His handling of tough pitches has left something to be desired.

No doubt about that.  I expected him to be much more of a butcher than he is, though.  To your point, he and Castro have allowed roughly the same number of WP, Castro's caught about 2.5 times more innings.

[VirtualBob]

I wonder if because he is playing in the field he is better dialed into hittable pitches and therefore not going deeper into counts as often.

That's what I was thinking. The M-rate dropping by a third (33% to 22%) also seems to argue that he is dialed in better.

[JimR]

Is this something that can be taught and/or learned?

yep

[HudsonHawk]

I'm not sure why people expected him to be brutal behind the plate.  He's always been a catcher, caught in the minors, came up as a catcher, caught in Atlanta, and was a serviceable backstop for many years.  It's not as if he had to learn the position this season, he's been doing it at the professional level for years.

[HudsonHawk]

No doubt about that.  I expected him to be much more of a butcher than he is, though.  To your point, he and Castro have allowed roughly the same number of WP, Castro's caught about 2.5 times more innings.

Catcher's don't "allow" wild pitches, that's the point of scoring it a "wild pitch".

[BizidyDizidy]

Catcher's don't "allow" wild pitches, that's the point of scoring it a "wild pitch".

Never change HH.

[Jacksonian]

Never change HH.

I think that's one of the laws of physics.

[HudsonHawk]

Never change HH.

You mean being right?  I don't plan on it. 

[MusicMan]

Catcher's don't "allow" wild pitches, that's the point of scoring it a "wild pitch".

Let's say a pitcher, we'll call him "Roy", bounces a curveball wide of the plate with a runner on third.

Catcher A stabs at the ball with the glove hand, it bounces away, and the runner scores. This is properly scored a wild pitch.

Catcher B instead slides over and blocks the pitch with his chest, keeping it in front of him, and the runner holds.

The catcher may not "allow" the wild pitch, but the difference in defensive ability does cause a difference in whether a wild pitch occurs.


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[Bench]

Let's say a pitcher, we'll call him "Roy", bounces a curveball wide of the plate with a runner on third.

Catcher A stabs at the ball with the glove hand, it bounces away, and the runner scores. This is properly scored a wild pitch.

Catcher B instead slides over and blocks the pitch with his chest, keeping it in front of him, and the runner holds.

The catcher may not "allow" the wild pitch, but the difference in defensive ability does cause a difference in whether a wild pitch occurs.


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I'll allow it.

[HudsonHawk]

Let's say a pitcher, we'll call him "Roy", bounces a curveball wide of the plate with a runner on third.

Catcher A stabs at the ball with the glove hand, it bounces away, and the runner scores. This is properly scored a wild pitch.

Catcher B instead slides over and blocks the pitch with his chest, keeping it in front of him, and the runner holds.

The catcher may not "allow" the wild pitch, but the difference in defensive ability does cause a difference in whether a wild pitch occurs.


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Of course some catchers are better than others.  But catchers "allow" wild pitches the same way fielders "allow" base hits.

[juliogotay]

Of course some catchers are better than others.  But catchers "allow" wild pitches the same way fielders "allow" base hits.

Good save.

[MusicMan]

Good save.

Let's not get started on saves.


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[David in Jackson]

Let's not get started on saves.


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Hold?

[Andyzipp]

And about that infield fly rule?  Is it just me, or is that completely unnecessary?

[JimR]

And about that infield fly rule?  Is it just me, or is that completely unnecessary?

Ray, is that you? what have you done with Zipp?

[Andyzipp]

Ray, is that you? what have you done with Zipp?

But I have stats!!!

[gundy315]

Let's say a pitcher, we'll call him "Roy", bounces a curveball wide of the plate with a runner on third.

Catcher A stabs at the ball with the glove hand, it bounces away, and the runner scores. This is properly scored a wild pitch.

Catcher B instead slides over and blocks the pitch with his chest, keeping it in front of him, and the runner holds.

The catcher may not "allow" the wild pitch, but the difference in defensive ability does cause a difference in whether a wild pitch occurs.


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Here, Catcher B prevented a wild pitch being scored as such.

[Lefty]

Of course some catchers are better than others.  But catchers "allow" wild pitches the same way fielders "allow" base hits.

Hell, if we're gonna be that pedantic, we can discuss the acreage of a spread vs a place vs a ranch.

[HudsonHawk]

Hell, if we're gonna be that pedantic, we can discuss the acreage of a spread vs a place vs a ranch.

It's not a trivial distinction when you're trying to use it as some sort of measuring device to make value judgements.