Tom Griffin

Great chart that Tanner Swanson put out years ago. Great visual on location of throws to bags. Tag time is something to keep in mind when timing C’s throw downs.

Some ideas on controlling the running game

SEMI RANT I have been reading INSIDE THE BOX by David Epstein. It’s about how constraints are not obstacles to creativity and performance—they are often the very conditions that produce them. In today’s game of baseball we have all kinds of data to help us develop players or at least to evaluate our processes because we are able to quantify the outcomes. Take pitchers & pitching coaches for example. Some become overly reliant on the data. If they don’t have their Trackman data, their Edgertronic videos & KineTrac graphs they are often at a loss in the development process. My suggestion is restrict( constrain) the use of all those aids during a % of the development process in order to force the coaches & players to become more creative. As a coach, be able to evaluate ball flight/shape by using your eyes. Same for the pitcher’s movement pattern(s). Same for pitchers but also more in touch with FEEL(Kinesthetic Awareness). You MIGHT come up with some training methodologies that you would not have when you just lean on the data. This is not a revolutionary concept & I think many of the best players & coaches follow this path. Obviously this applies to hitters as well. I’m not suggesting that all the tools we have are not valuable because I truly think they are. They reinforce what our eyes tell us & often tell us what we think we are seeing is not really accurate. In the strength field measurable data is invaluable. IMO there is a need for both to maximize the development process & provide for maximum transfer into the game. In the game you are making pitch by pitch adjustments without access to any data so why not make that a part of your preparation plan. Just a thought worthy of considering. The bottom line is to find the sweet spot/balance point in the process to produce the best version of the athlete most consistently.

Plyo ball drills for warm up before throwing. Med Ball drills before Light throwing day. Optional on medium load throwing day

Check point C’s when throwing-front foot hits the ground check 1.Head. Center/between feet. 2. Hand. Inside elbow (pic on right), on top of elbow, or even w/elbow (pic on left) Be aware of throwing hand being extended beyond elbow or pointed down (Borrowed from Fred Corral)

Various ways to develop arm strength. Example for weekly throwing. Throwing footballs or softballs are effective tools to add. Younger ages (Middle school & lower) more days off during week. Work within light and medium days only. Longer break from throwing between seasons

Loading the glove/arm involves timing and some rhythm. Some young C’s are too big w/loading movement and/or start too early or too late. Simplify. The pitch called, location called, tendencies of P arsenal, can dictate the glove load. IMO young C’s trying to steal K’s vs Keep a K a K. 3 Receiving Rules 1. Catch Everything. 2. Keep a K 3. Win Stri-Ball

Observations for improvements from our C camp w/ 13-18 yr old players. 1. Loading patterns w/glove all the same (ground up or down to ground and up). 2. Arm strength lacking. 3. Too many kickstands and not able to move effectively for receiving, blocking, throwing. 4. Bring back PE to curriculum year round (especially for middle school ages). 5. Some kids really effective on 1 knee, some much better in traditional (one size does not fit all). 6. Limited communication within groups and peers.

Great 2 days of camp. Great group of players and coaches

MLB combine C’s throw. Talent level amazing/strength, exchange-Super impressive.Would like to see at showcases throws they let it eat to see arm strength/mph.Then game like w/batter. Proper distance get accurate times. Mix throws that are not center(Down in/down away, pick throw)

@PeteViles You make a good point. Like to give benefit of the doubt. I do feel as an outsider obviously that the Dodgers have a clubhouse filled with solid leaders that may be able to direct him.

@catchblockthrow I dunno Tom. If he’s trying to pull that alpha dog crap in the big leagues, I’m guessing he’s been bossing pitchers around for a long time. That’s a long time spent not learning how a catcher is supposed to lead.

Great example on importance of serving others in leadership role. One skill lacking many catchers on all levels is how to excel in servant leadership. Roberts shows w/between inning talk and post game comments. Importance of being in sync w/P and serving the P. Not easy and takes training/reminders/communication. Being on same page in P calling. Body language when it goes wrong. Not letting poor AB’s carry over to field. Lot of heat on Dalton Rushing. Has caught 74 big league games. Not a full time C in minor leagues. All C’s have been in that spot. Frustrated with self because of hitting, miss a pitch, P not throwing K’s, ect. we react. It happens. Key is awareness of it and limiting those times!

Tag play work/drills bare hand and glove work. Train like infielders. “Catcher are SS with C gear on” Jerry Weinstein

JERRY @JwonCATCHING does a great job explaining the play at the plate and options for it

Can be in front of plate, not blocking the plate, not obstructing. Catch, left foot jab in baseline, drop right knee.

@RylanKuk On this play not starting in baseline. Giving runner the plate but it would be catch then jab step foot into baseline.

Respectfully sir, setting up in front of the plate to receive the throw would result in an obstruction call. The catcher must provide an open path to the plate for the runner before he receives the ball. This catcher only has 2 options for setup position: where he was or off the front of the plate (pitcher mound side).

Many coaches would prefer on this play to be in front of plate. Especially with ball beating R to the plate and having some time. Sometimes C’s get caught starting in wrong spot and the drop step takes us out of position. He may have also recognized the hop and believed to drop step, gave him best chance to handle throw, and still come back to plate for tag. C’s need to train both techniques of tag plays. Chance here to block plate off from R I believe

Short hops to feel position on glove and elbow on the pitch glove side below knee. Thumb at 6:00, ride glove above knee. Mix ball outside area to work on flipping glove over to avoid getting “thumbed” and not pushing ball out

Amazing accomplishment. All he does is win. Carrying on the legacy of his Dad. Harry Shatel. One of the best all time in NJ. He certainly has laid down his own legacy as one of the top coaches in the country. In 2 sports, high level mindset and development for many years. Incredible

It's been quite a run for Bruce Shatel. His @DelbartonHockey team won a state title in OT in March. He just guided the @DelbyBaseball team to a state title in a 10-inning thriller. That's 2 rings in 3 months for the legend. “I think I need a vacation.” nj.com/highschoolspor…

Footwork for right knee down. Location of throw in the sliding pit vs. over the bag