As a result, catcher is the only position (other than pitcher) to not have a member of the 3,000 hit club (not counting Craig Biggio, who only played four seasons as a catcher and was a second baseman when he reached the milestone) the current hit leader for the position is Iván Rodríguez, with 2,844.Because of the strategic defensive importance of catching, if a catcher has exceptional defensive skills, teams are often willing to overlook their relative offensive weaknesses. ![]() The physical and mental demands of being involved on every defensive play can wear catchers down over a long season, and can have a negative effect on their offensive output. Though rare, some chest protectors may extend lower to provide some shield to the genitalia wearing a pelvic protector or cup, depending on the case, is preferred and more common.īecause the position requires a comprehensive understanding of the game's strategies, the pool of former catchers yields a disproportionate number of managers in both Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball, including such prominent examples as Yogi Berra, Connie Mack, Steve O'Neill, Al López, Mike Scioscia, and Joe Torre. This includes a mask, chest and throat protectors, shin guards, and a heavily padded catcher's mitt. Foul tips, bouncing balls in the dirt, and contact with runners during plays at the plate are all events to be handled by the catcher, necessitating the use of protective equipment. Essentially, the catcher controls what happens during the game when the ball is not "in play". The calls are based on the pitcher's mechanics and strengths, as well as the batter's tendencies and weaknesses. The catcher typically calls for pitches using hand signals. Positioned behind home plate and facing toward the outfield, the catcher can see the whole field, and is therefore in the best position to direct and lead the other players in a defensive play. ![]() The role of the catcher is similar to that of the wicket-keeper in cricket. In addition to this primary duty, the catcher is also called upon to master many other skills in order to field the position well. When a batter takes their turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the (home) umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. Wikipedia Rate this definition: 0.0 / 0 votesĬatcher is a position in baseball and softball.
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