1. Blocking pitches and understanding what different pitches do when hitting the ground.
2. Blocking with runners on vs. no runners on.
3. How blocking affects pitchers mentalities
Blocking is probably the most difficult action to do while catching. It takes a bit more skill than receiving. As I’ve mentioned before, proper positioning is key in blocking. The catching position is very cerebral, you have to be smart to do it, no questions asked. There is a completely different world out there in relation to science in baseball. The baseball aerodynamics is a subject that I’ve been finding interesting over the last few years, due to the fact that our game has become a little more about numbers, so in part, as a catcher you must try to find yourself a bit more knowledgeable that any other position player. A fastball, because of its spin and angle is not going to react the same on the dirt as a breaking pitch that has a faster and higher spin and angle. So you must learn, pitcher by pitcher, how those spins and angles react on dirt.
Blocking with runners on and blocking with no runners on base has been a bit of a weird argument in the past from catching instructors. Some have said that blocking with no runners on base helps the catcher build that muscle memory so when there is actually someone on base, and I’ve also heard that blocking with no runners on is done to look good in front of coaches and scouts to promote more “playing time”. I can relate to both, even though I don’t think either one is a bad thing, I think they are forgetting what the ultimate goal of blocking really is; to stop the ball from going to the backstop. I often express to my catchers to block the ball at all costs. During last year’s off season, I was fortunate enough to speak to a current MLB Allstar catcher about blocking and he expressed that because of his big frame, he was often unable to go down on both knees (which is what most catching instructors teach), I like the catcher to have some “feel” for what he is doing and let the athleticism take over. Sometimes catchers wont have time to go down on both knees, sometimes only bringing the chest down and one knee might work. Don’t feel like you have to be a robot behind the plate. Let your athleticism take over.
Blocking also affects the pitcher’s mentality because they may rely on a pitch down in the dirt in order to get a batter out. This goes to show the special relationship between the pitcher and catcher. It has been proven in the big leagues and even in some D1 programs, that highly talented pitchers may have “personal” catchers that may only catch during that specific pitcher’s outing. Pitchers argument might be that, even though both catchers on the team are equally valuable and both are good solid catchers in the bigs, one just feels more comfortable to work with. You have to build that relationship as a catcher, not with a single pitcher, but your complete pitching staff.
