Everyone knows I don’t like technology in baseball but garbage coaching like this is why I can’t wait for the Robot strike zone! Stealing strikes will become irrelevant and catchers will get back to blocking the ball and controlling the running game! Video courtesy of USA Baseball Coach #shegone... Not Gaetti Bob File Bill Dubs Randy Johnson Jonah Artiles Greg Jacobs 🇺🇸 🎾 ⚾️ 🇮🇹 Sinker Slider SliderDom Low and outside Jerry Hairston, Jr. Doug Mientkiewicz John VanderWal Mike Piazza Kevin Kennedy Sal Marinello The Real Voices of the Game Productions Kevin Kernan KINETIC ARM Will Clark MLB MLBPA MLBPAAshow more

It's funny how we complained about umps like CB Bucknor & Angel Hernandez calling balls as strikes (or strikes as balls), yet now we're teaching catchers to trick unpires into doing exactly that!! At this point, just give us the ABS system full time & let the HP Ump judge swings

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@Patrick30887310 I somewhat disagree in the sense that framing was once a skill, an art form because it was subtle and required soft, quiet hands. Now they snatch and stab at pitches, which is the polar opposite of good receiving. The position is radically different and not in a good way.

@shegone03 It most certainly was a skill in that catchers used to subtly shfit the ball back toward the strike zone. I also think there's a difference between old school framing and modern day "strike stealing"

I’m blown away how even USA Baseball has changed. I’ve seen favoritism, I’ve seen follow the “trend” coaching, I’ve seen NOT baseball guys coaching, I’ve seen skills on the coaching level deteriorate. Not sure what is going on with them but it’s time to clean it up.

I really hate the new catchers philosophy of 1 knee down. Mitt down so the pitchers loses target half way down thel hill. might as well give him a chair and a juggs machine back there to not throw. Bring back old school baseball. Screw analytics. Play ball !!!

Yeah, the pitch framing generation went too far. I can’t count how many times I’ve seen a catcher trying this in a game and whiffing.

As a marlins fan I see Agustin Ramírez who doesn’t have a bad arm but allows a ton of passed balls, and I wonder why doesn’t a coach just tell him to forget the framing nonsense and go to a traditional stance so he can block and throw out runners better

Working on stealing a strike on the pitch in the damn dirt… really 🤣

Not to mention giving the pitcher an actual target to throw to! Maybe guys at the most elite level can throw to nothing, but to watch high school level kids try to throw strikes to a catcher with his glove laying in the dirt is ridiculous.

The new catching technique isn’t proper technique with legitimate framing, it is a bastardized version of catching, and looks unprofessional. Bring on the robots! 🤖

I was never taught to steal strikes, nope I sat in the crouch while some deranged coach hit baseballs from six feet away so I learned how to stop balls from getting passed me.

I agree 100% and I originally hated the idea of robo strike zone, but how bad catching defense is now I can’t wait for it. I only played catcher at the college level so I’m sure it was different in MLB but we would get crap from the home plate umpire if he thought we were trying to frame. They would threaten to toss us if we were overt about it and it was nothing like you see now.

But he’s wearing a full uniform. That means he knows stuff. (While the players are in shorts and warmups 🤣)

This is why I refuse to umpire ever again. I’d call every single a pitch a ball until the catcher stopped yanking his glove.

Just throw the ball at the bottom of the zone. No catcher takes hops like that. That shit is contradictory to blocking balls in the dirt.

I thought the one knee technique would stop with all the runs given up on easy blocks old technique. Apparently not important, like RBI’s

No stealing strikes on the most consistent strike zone ever……

I hate this stuff. There is a not-so-subtle underlying message in the concept of "stealing strikes" that undermines good sportsmanship, and so undermines the game itself. "Let's complain about umpires while we try to manipulate and trick them." No thank you.

Just curious: How much has the passed ball rate increased with this lazy ass style of always catching on at least one knee, never being in position to shift and block the ball? What is with swiping the mitt/target down just as the Pitcher begins delivery?

I’ve been following Cards games daily since 1963. I’ve seen Tony Pena, Matheny, Molina, Pagnozzi. The Cardinals catching defense is the worst I’ve ever seen. Catching the ball is the priority, not stealing pitches.

Irony: a good umpire sees through most of it. You might steal one in a game. Maybe.

The answer is to get rid of all the computers and ABS and instant replay, and for umpires to call a ball if the catcher moves his glove after catching it in an attempt to fool him, for unsportsmanlike conduct. Base umpires can make the call if the plate ump doesn't see it. ⚾️

It was irrelevant from the beginning. If you're going to do that on every pitch, it's useless. The whole point is getting the borderline pitch. Taking a pitch 5 inches outside and moving your glove to the middle is pointless.

Exactly! This one leg catching style and lazy glove work. And these guys get stolen on constantly. If I saw a catcher like that I’m leaving as soon as I can.

@USABaseball is nothing but a glorified travel ball program.

Why is stealing a strike from an impartial judge (umpire) okay, but stealing signs for competitive reasons (electronic earpieces for pitcher catcher) taboo? They both are forms of cheating.

Im not a fan of the Robot Strike Zone,although,gotta admit,Umps are doing themselves no favors lol Agreed. Catchers worry too much about all that nonsense,not blocking,monitoring their pitchers,and stopping the run game. Its all framing,stealing strikes and,lets be real,most arent good at either lol You can only steal close Pitches. It should be a secondary skill. Id point out Pudge Rodriguez and Yadi. They framed and stole better than anyone,but,they didnt try to do it every damn pitch,which is why they were so good at it and,well, we know how great both were at stopping the run game,helping pitchers,and blocking.

Exactly. Once full ABS comes the C's will get back to their crouch and blocking side-to-side will improve. The game will look better and I can't wait until C's start saying how they are "more athletic" behind the dish.

Stealing strikes is a form of fraud.

I'm blown away at the number of drills I see that are done in a predictable environment meant to create success at that moment. This one is on turf, same hop each rep thrown from a coach on his knees 3 feet away. Does this really replicate a hard spike from 60'6"?? No!

Lol

I bet stolen bases are down a ton with robo ump. Catchers will finally be in a better position to throw from now that there not "trying to stealing strikes"

Me too then all this bs doesn't matter

I absolutely despise catchers "framing" pitches... it would stop if the umpires wouldn't allow "framing" to influence their call.

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If pitchers could pitch stealing strikes wouldn’t be something that’s talked about..just go back to the Charlie O’Brien way of receiving

Shouldn’t this chap be blocking the ball with his chest protector and keeping it in front of him rather than rolling the dice on a dirt pick?