Matt Clark

What opinion about sports do you have that would put you in this position against everyone else?

Great question. For me I look at it like this. If a pilot is flying the plane that last thing they want is an air traffic controller telling them how to fly from a tower miles away. The tower can “guide” them, and give them direction, but only the pilot can see what’s in front of them. The way I see it, a “big brother” model of pitch calling doesn’t serve the purpose of the team, it serves the purpose of the coaches trying to control an uncontrollable and multiple factor game. That being said, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t look in for help here and there during my career. However, 99% of the pitches I called during my career were me, or the pitcher shaking me off to what he wanted to throw. As I referenced above with the airplane analogy, it’s hard to see something when you aren’t personally there in the fight itself. Getting a hitter out involves multiple people working together to achieve that goal. Pitching coach, analytics guys, catcher, and the pitcher. The catcher is the executor of the signal, and the pitcher is the executor of the pitch itself. From the catching perspective (if he is a good one), you see multiple things that coaches in the dugout, the pitcher, and analytics guys can’t see. The hitter choked up, he moved up in the box, he moved closer to the plate, etc. Game calling is instinctual, strategic, and methodical at the same time. Maybe the pitchers slider is bad that day, maybe his 2 seamer isn’t moving like it usually does, maybe he’s babying his change up that day, etc. There are so many factors and pitchers stuff is day to day. Maybe he slept on his arm that night and it’s lagging behind his body, maybe he has a blister and can’t execute his slider like he usually does. The real game isn’t MLB the Show, it’s a human game where human factors have real impact, good and bad, and I don’t think that calling a game from the dugout will lead to the best result. Ideally we all want a Yadi type behind the plate. A catcher that is prepared, is smart, is a leader, and can run the whole pitching defensive game. I know that a guy like him is a rarity, but I think that teaching catchers the proper way to call a game and lead a staff will lead to longer term, more sustainable results. This is my opinion and my thoughts.

Let’s win a national championship

12 Years Ago This Week - June 9, 2008 The Final Game in the Original Alex Box Stadium: Before a stadium record crowd of 8,173, the Tigers explode for six 1st-inning runs and cruise to a 21-7 victory over UC Irvine to advance to the CWS. LSU collects 24 hits, including 7 HRs!