Stop watching the pitcher when you have a man on 1st

[CoachHenry]

I say "at will" because some athletes have the ability to read pitchers EXTREMELY well. I remember our CF, my senior yr of HS, would often take off before the pitcher started his motion and take 2B standing up - almost before the cathcer had the ball. And then he would often repeat the feat by taking 3B - in much the same manner. I still have yet to see anyone (in person) read a pitcher better than him. He was absolutely baffling. It also didn't hurt that he could run 6.8 in the 60-yard dash. But never once, do I EVER remember him being picked-off. His lead was never all that big, he just had an ability to the read pitcher unlike anyone I have ever seen.

I was quite the opposite. As a player I didn't read well at all. As a coach I do much better because I pay more attention to the things you should watch. As a player? No.

[Jake Patterson]

We time all our runners off a primary lead from first. Timing the pitcher and catcher's pop times gives you an idea who can steal and who cannot. Timimg the pitcher and catcher does little howeve,r for all the things that can go wrong when throwing down.

[StraightGrain11]

It sounds as if he is asking for a "good" delivery time ("first movement" to "ball in the glove" - just clarifying for those that may not know). A good delivery time for a pitcher is anything around/under 1.4 sec (for a RHP - LHP can be a little longer - as they may use a full leg-kick as part of their deception). Anything longer than 1.5, and you're catcher had better be very quick, and very accurate (2.1 or less - and on the bag every time).

And, no, you really don't have to get as deep as "knowing your runners' times" - I'm sure it doesn't hurt, though. As a coach, you should be able to tell who your guys are that can take a base "at will", those who are capable of stealing - if needed to, and those who cannot - at all.
I say "at will" because some athletes have the ability to read pitchers EXTREMELY well. I remember our CF, my senior yr of HS, would often take off before the pitcher started his motion and take 2B standing up - almost before the cathcer had the ball. And then he would often repeat the feat by taking 3B - in much the same manner. I still have yet to see anyone (in person) read a pitcher better than him. He was absolutely baffling. It also didn't hurt that he could run 6.8 in the 60-yard dash. But never once, do I EVER remember him being picked-off. His lead was never all that big, he just had an ability to read the pitcher unlike anyone I have ever seen.

[CoachHenry]

You know,

Ah. Well then. Nothing to see here. So stop watching.

[TrentThomas]

I'm not quite sure what you are saying here. Are you saying to stop watching the pitcher or that you seen someone not watch the pitcher and you disagree? Or are you asking what is a good time from when the pitcher begins his motion until he actually throws the ball?

You know,

"Stop watching" : (verb) To record the amount of time it takes to complete a task.
Example: The coach was "stop watching" the Pitcher's delivery.

[Catchingcoach]

OK, I saw a 1st base coach stop watching the pitch to get his release time.

What is a good release time for the pitching with a man on first.


so you add release time and accuracy of catch and pop time to get a reading on the percent of success of your runner on first who you have timed already running from a certain lead to second base, to improve your chance of a successful steal.

drill

Drill,

What age are you asking about??

This is how I aways time at games. When I time catchers I always also want to know the pitchers time to plate. A stopwatch that gives "split times" works great that way.

I have so many coaches come to me concerned about their catchers pop times but have know idea what their pitchers times to the plate are.

As coaches we need to be sure our pitchers are not hanging our catchers out to dry with slow times to the plate.

Coach W

[CoachHenry]

I'm not quite sure what you are saying here. Are you saying to stop watching the pitcher or that you seen someone not watch the pitcher and you disagree? Or are you asking what is a good time from when the pitcher begins his motion until he actually throws the ball?

[Drill]

OK, I saw a 1st base coach stop watching the pitch to get his release time.

What is a good release time for the pitching with a man on first.


so you add release time and accuracy of catch and pop time to get a reading on the percent of success of your runner on first who you have timed already running from a certain lead to second base, to improve your chance of a successful steal.




drill