Ben Warner
2.5K posts
Ben Warner
@B_dub_24
Dad- Husband- Ex ball player - Average golfer - Weekend fisherman!
Canberra, Australia Katılım Mayıs 2011
245 Takip Edilen201 Takipçiler
3.Receiving- The way a catcher receives the ball and his ability to steal strikes has been a point of emphasis for the industry the last 10 years. There is clear evidence of how valuable it is to flip a count in the pitcher’s favor and typically great receivers are revered by pitchers for that ability. I want every catcher to be the best receivers they can possibly be within the framework of how their body moves and keeping them in a comfortable position that does not deter from blocking, throwing, targeting or enhancing the opponents ability to relay location/pitch type. The undervalued part of a good receiver is how it builds confidence for the pitcher. When you stick a pitch just off, the pitcher understands that he was that close to executing what he was trying to do. Over the course of a game, giving the pitcher a good look is a valuable way to allow the pitcher to make in game adjustments. A lot of the techniques for framing have taken away from the pitcher’s ability to see where the ball finished and therefore be able to re-align his mechanics in a way to execute on the next pitch. I am unequivocally for doing everything possible to increase the catcher’s ability to steal strikes and there are several set-ups that can produce positive results without completely sacrificing the other responsibilities that go along with the position.
4.Throwing/Blocking- With the new pace of play rules, there is an increased importance in controlling the running game and preventing free 90s. I am a big believer that we have to be open minded to the different ways that each guys go about keeping the ball in front of them and how they put themselves in a position to be ready to throw. In addition to getting guys in the most effective set-ups to throw/block, it’s also vital to make sure that these stances are identical regardless of pitch types. In my experience advance scouting, one of the easiest ways to delineate pitch types before release is to observe the minor differences between the catcher’s set-up as he prepares to block/receive secondary pitches. The more we get guys comfortable in one standard set-up, the more we reduce the chance that the runner can get an extra step to the next base. Getting guys prepared to block/throw on secondary pitches, will increase the amount of pitches we can get at the bottom of the zone and minimize big movements. There are several drills to shore up this issue and help catchers with early recognition of which balls they need to block and which pitches they can frame. Perhaps the most important nuance as it pertains to blocking, is having catchers that are so confident in their ability, that they can call for secondary pitches in the dirt without fear that a runner on 3rd will score and change the outcome the game.
There are far more details to the position than the ones covered under these four pillars, but it’s a good place to start in order to maintain a high standard of performance. I will always be of the opinion that the catcher has more control over the outcome of games than any other position.
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As a former catcher and current scout, I can’t help but have a reaction to the discourse over the evolution of the catching position. Recieving techniques taking precedent over the other aspects of the position have been polarizing to say the least. These are my pillars for success as a catcher.
1.Game management- Helping the catchers understand the opposing teams lineup construction and the best strategies to navigate the damage guys. Having awareness of the stolen base threats and any relaying of locations/pitch types from runners/coaches. Being able to recall sequences when the game starts moving fast. Embrace/encourage the pitchers to understand spots where you can get creative with pitch calling and the times to be relentless to the hitter’s weakness. In my opinion, a catcher’s ability to manage the game through sequencing and awareness of the opposing lineup is crucial to run prevention.
2.Targeting- In order to execute the plan of attack as a catcher, you have to have a deep comfortability/understanding of your own starters/relievers pitch types/shapes and miss tendencies. You need to know whether the pitcher likes a target where he wants the pitch to finish or does he prefer a target at the starting lane. When you give a target in a certain location, where does that pitch have a tendency to end up. As a catcher, you can not just defer blame by saying that your pitcher simply missed his spot. You have to do everything in your power to minimize that risk and give targets that increase the likelihood of a positive outcome. The catchers that are most familiar with how those targets relate to where the pitch ends up, are the ones that create the most margin for error for the staff.
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Ben Warner retweetledi
Meat pie warmer? ✅ Budgie Smuggler clothes line? ✅ Kookaburra horn? ✅
Your first car could NEVER... So we made a second car that could. Purpose built for an Aussie road trip.
@Uber_Australia #UberCarShare
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Checo, it’s ropes me lad
Aarav@_aarava
If Daniel Ricciardo out-qualifies Perez in that jalopy of an Alpha Tauri, give him the Red Bull seat immediately
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Zak: “I’m dominating, this is like Alonso on Stroll”
Lando and Oscar’s faces 😳🤣💀
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Ben Warner retweetledi
This was the greatest WBC ever played. From start to finish. The stories were incredible, right down to the Hollywood ending where Shohei Ohtani struck out Mike Trout in the 9th inning of a one-run game to win the title. Absolutely amazing. The game of baseball put on a SHOW.
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16 year old Ethan Salas, Padres.
Elite - elite - elite hands.
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Ben Warner retweetledi
“It’s nice to see 3 Red Bull cars on the podium”
HELP THIS HAS ME WHEEZING twitter.com/formulakimmich…
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The future is here.
Jasson Dominguez challenges a strike in the Arizona Fall League and immediately everyone sees the results in real time.
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Ben Warner retweetledi
they are driving Formula 1 cars through the casino in Vegas 😂
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