G'day all
Now I don't follow Baseball, but my wife is watching the Playoffs on Fox Sports at the moment and she raised a question that I'm sure you baseball loving American folk could maybe explain.
She noticed the Pitcher is signaled by the Catcher to throw certain pitches, The Catcher is signaled by the coach (dude in the Dugout) to tell the Pitcher to throw certain Pitches.
Now this is what she does not understand, why would the coach not signal the Pitcher directly?
If he was trying to avoid the Batter seeing his commands I'm pretty sure the batter is going to see everything the Catcher see's.
So, what is she missing here?
I'm no baseball expert, but I'll give this a shot. The coach, or manager, doesn't usually give signals concerning what kind of pitches to throw. It's usually left up to the catcher, who decides what pitches to throw based on his pitcher's strengths and what he know's about the batter as well as the game situation. If you see one of the coaches giving signals toward the home plate area its most likely the coach of the batter. He's giving him signals telling him to bunt or hit and run or swing away, or whatever the situation may call for. Hope this helps.
The pitcher was having a little hissy with the coach, so they weren't talking to each other. The catcher was having to play mediator between the two. Baseball, it's all make the beast with two backsin' egos and drama. ;D
[laugh] @ Dan...
I think A.B got it pretty close. If the coach or manager needs to say something to the pitcher, they'll go to the mound. That's usually bad, and the conversation is usually the coach/manager telling the pitcher to fix it or he's out. The catcher can see all the bases & runner positions & should signals the pitcher accordingly. If you'll notice also, you'll see the pitcher "shake off" the catcher's signal for whatever reason, then the catcher makes an alternative signal.
JM
they signal the catcher because he needs to know what type of pitch is coming... if it's a curve ball and he doesn't know it, things will get ugly...
in baseball, the catcher is man in charge out on the field, not the pitcher. the catcher sees the whole field and calls the pitches, both type and location.
the signals from the dugout aren't always regarding the pitch, it might be to call a pitchout if there's a man on base.
I'm assuming you were watching Red Sox - Angels game? Keep in mind that the Angel's manager, Mike Sciosa (sp?), was a very good catcher in his playing days. That is a big part of why he sends pitches into his catcher on occassion. He's just helping out as he may have a better understanding of a particular hitters weakness, given his catching background.
Like the others have said though, usually the catcher calls the pitches, not the manager.
here's one that will make it even more fun
the "language" often change from the dugout to the field. the mgr signals one way and when it's relayed to teh base runner by the base coach they say the same thing with diff signals.
because of the other team tryign to interpet the signals there are all kinds of wacky things done. there is often a certain part of the signlaling that indicates everything after it is the real signal, not the 400 motions done before it.
Quote from: the_Journeyman on October 07, 2008, 04:21:52 AM
[laugh] @ Dan...
I think A.B got it pretty close. If the coach or manager needs to say something to the pitcher, they'll go to the mound. That's usually bad, and the conversation is usually the coach/manager telling the pitcher to fix it or he's out.
Not always. Sometimes it's to break the momentum of the game and distract the batter.
My hat is off to you and your wife for trying to figure out the nuances of baseball. It is a complicated game and if you didn't grow up with it, it is a real challenge to understand. I've been trying to teach my wife the game, who grew up in an egghead sports deprived family. Last night we had a conversation like this.
Me, "How may balls equal a walk"
Wife, "What is a walk? Is that when the coach goes out to talk to the guy throwing the ball"
Me, "How many strikes for an out"
Wife, "Is that when the players go out on the bases?"
Me, "Who is the president of Iran?"
Wife, "Mahmoud Ahmadinejad."
Me, "How can you remember something like that and you can't remember anything I've been telling you about baseball for the
last 3 years?"
Wife, "Sweetee, it's not like I don't listen, it's just that you don't ever have anything important to say."
I think you can guess where this conversation went from here.
Quote from: the_Journeyman on October 07, 2008, 04:21:52 AM
If you'll notice also, you'll see the pitcher "shake off" the catcher's signal for whatever reason, then the catcher makes an alternative signal.
Also when watching the Red Sox, pay attention to Jason Veritek.
Once in a while you'll see him make a shake-off motion with his head. Then he'll signal a pitch.
That used to confuse the hell outta me. Turns out he's telling the pitcher to shake-off a pitch that he hasn't even called, then sends the signal so that the batter thinks that the first signal was rejected. Pretty interesting.
Those hand signals don't mean anything. It's just something they do to keep occupied during the painfully boring sport of baseball. ;D
akmnstr, dont say stuff like that. i was talking with the wife the other day and she said she didnt understand baseball or soccer. i have two sports to teach her.
Quote from: Pakhan on October 07, 2008, 11:01:48 AM
Those hand signals don't mean anything. It's just something they do to keep occupied during the painfully boring sport of baseball. ;D
it's only boring to watch
even from the bench.
Quote from: toaster on October 07, 2008, 11:18:36 AM
akmnstr, dont say stuff like that. i was talking with the wife the other day and she said she didnt understand baseball or soccer. i have two sports to teach her.
i have been trying to teach my g/f soccer, but she won't ask questions because she is embarrased that she doesn't know the game. she knows football and baseball really well so she feels like she should be able to just pick up on the rules of other sports. though the few things she has asked she generally retains.
to me soccer is pretty damn easy. theres not a million rules like in football or basketball. she just never was exposed to it (most of east Texas thinks its a communist sport and doesnt support it) so she didnt get to learn it growing up.
Quote from: toaster on October 07, 2008, 11:31:44 AM
to me soccer is pretty damn easy. theres not a million rules like in football or basketball. she just never was exposed to it (most of east Texas thinks its a communist sport and doesnt support it) so she didnt get to learn it growing up.
i grew up in AL. we knew of it's existence, but like the evil big city we weren't encouraged or given any means of learning the sport.
she has had more exposure to it in her lifetime, she just didn't have anyone who enjoyed watching it to teach her as she was growing up.
the rules are very easy to learn, but actually being able to do it properly is tough.
Thanks for all the replies [thumbsup]
My wife was watching an Angels and Red Sox games, I tried to watch it, but kept falling asleep, she loves it though.
The Missus was noticing the Coach signaling before every pitch (Fielding side) then the Catcher would signal the pitcher, I figured the Coach would be passing on overall information, such as "we want to do this" or "his weakness is this" or "Yo Momma!"
And then the Catcher and Pitcher would concentrate on ball by ball ways to force him to hit the ball high or strike him out.
Wait!?!? Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is a communist soccer player for the Red Sox? ;D