Like most things experiance really helps. I will give a lower level coach that asks about a pitch from the dug out one answer. I will meet him between innings pull out my lineup card and tell him to ask his catcher about future pitches between innings. After that, the questions from the dugout are not questions they are complaints and I don't do complaints.
In the upper levels I don't take much out of the dugout. At these levels the coach the catcher and the pitcher have signals given by the catcher to let them know when I miss a picth. (yup they do it to you too) I miss em once in a while and that is fine, we all know. But the questions from the dug out at higher levels are always viewed as complaints and I don't do complaints.
I have no problem with a catcher setting up off the plate and the pitcher hitting his spot. But whoa be it to the cathcher who holds that pitch, thats a complant and I don't do complaints. I will tell the catcher don't hold em, I saw it when it crossed the plate and I will give you the call when I see a strike. I hate it when the catcher holds a pitch, they are arguing balls and strikes and can get coaches and fans all worked up. And don't forget they know what the pitch was.
I will talk to a catcher I have not worked with. (and do feel that I work with catchers) this talking starts as I watch pitches as he takes the warm ups in the 1st inning. I intoduce myself and tell him I will work hard for him all game. I tell him if he has a question to leave his mask on and ask, I tell him if his pitcher shows me up he better handle it before I do, and I tell him to be truthful with his coach when he gets to the dugout but he better lie like a rug from the field.
I also understand that I have bad days and I may miss a few more than normal. I have to be a little more tolerant if I miss one as the comment may not be a complaint but a reminder to concentrate a little harder.
