Catcher Pet Peeves?!

[Dragon29]

I had an F2 this year who quietly sang the whole game, no one but me and the batter could hear him.  And he was a good singer.  Was like having a radio on for background music every half inning.

 

My son used to do this.  The guys who worked behind him usually enjoyed it.  (he's a good singer)

[GoodOldGus]

Two things for me....

 

1.  The super  intense catcher that thinks every game is Game 7 of the world series.  He looks like he's going to rip someone's head off, heavy breathing, red face etc.  Usually slams and throws his mask off and runs around with his hair on fire every time a ball is popped out of play.  Practices his "blocking" technique in between batters by sliding left and right as if the pitch is in the dirt.  Gets extra geared up when someone is on base only to throw a 7 hopper to second base.  

 

2.  The figgity catcher.  Constantly changing his stance or positioning even while the ball is in flight.   This gets worse when there are runners on. 

[mstaylor]

I second the figgity catcher. I also hate the ones that half stand in a steal situation. One of our JV teams has a back up catcher, catches when number one is pitching, that almost completely stands. I told his manager, who is also a football official, that if he expects any low strikes he needs to sit down. The manager says his dad taught him that. I told him I didn't care who taught him, he's killing his pitcher. Also, ones that just whiff at balls with no runners. I told a catcher that he needed to get in front of those instead of just slapping at them. He said it didn't matter if there was nobody on. I told him, besides the fact that it wasn't true, I was behind him getting killed and he was losing strikes if I am running for my life. 

[DVA7130]

The little guys who decide they are terrified of the space directly behind home plate and feel safer with one foot nearly midway towards the other batter's box. I am just standing here lined up on the inside looking at a desolate plate feeling like a Spartan about to be attacked.

[mstaylor]

I had a college catcher that would move way off, pitcher pop the glove and I would ball it. It would be a foot off the plate. He says I need to go out there and get a look. I told him I had a fine view and no way was I going that far out. I understand what a chase pitch is but usually if he doesn't chase it, it's a ball. 

[alan2703]

all the above plus the caycher that sents up so far outside that the only thing between me and the pitcher is air and the bat,I usually inform the catcher that if he is going to set up that far out I am going to the bench and borrow a glove to protect myself.

[iankelleyumpire]

In a game the other day this catcher was almost too hyped up about the game. He would rip his mask off and pump fake to any of the bases almost after every pitch. First off, it wasted a lot of time because he never threw anyone out, and second, because half of the time he would chuck his mask back without aim and it would hit me. 

[JaxRolo]

In a game the other day this catcher was almost too hyped up about the game. He would rip his mask off and pump fake to any of the bases almost after every pitch. First off, it wasted a lot of time because he never threw anyone out, and second, because half of the time he would chuck his mask back without aim and it would hit me.

Did you tell him to stop??

[carolinablue]

The one that's never caught before, inevitably paired with the best F1 on the team.

[iankelleyumpire]

 

In a game the other day this catcher was almost too hyped up about the game. He would rip his mask off and pump fake to any of the bases almost after every pitch. First off, it wasted a lot of time because he never threw anyone out, and second, because half of the time he would chuck his mask back without aim and it would hit me.

Did you tell him to stop??

 

 

After the first several times, I just told him to watch where he was tossing it. Then after it became an issue, I told him to just stay down, and throw the damn ball back, again reenforcing to still watch where he tossed it. Finally once I told his coach between innings, the coach put in a much better catcher to end the last 2-3 innings. Thank god. 

[basejester]

The one that's never caught before, inevitably paired with the best F1 on the team.

That almost happened to me the first game of the rec season this spring.

The pitcher threw 6 warm-ups pitches, none of which the catcher even deflected. All 6 literally traveled all the way to the backstop untouched. The catcher was expecting an entirely different trajectory.

Thankfully, the manager recognized the problem and switched to someone more competent before I was beaten to a pulp.

[MadMax]

• Catchers who have a less-than-contemptuous care for their glove, insomuch that they use it to prop themselves up, sweep off the plate (I have a brush, ya know), draw gang symbols in the dirt (they weren't smiley faces or ponies!), etc., generally getting all manner of dirt, dust, pebbles, mud, etc. in it. Of course, the _next pitch_ is just above their mask, and POP!... and I'm now blind, and caked with mud in my face.
  As I've said before, I was a catcher for 15 years, and _still have_ the glove I started with. It's now 28, faded, but in remarkably good shape.
• Like some of the other guys expressed above, I'm none too thrilled with catchers who set up in the opposite batter's box and not only hold the pitch there, but expect that to be a strike (or worse, are doing so because the coach (often some angst-riddled "pitching coach") expects that to be a strike). In the meantime, I'm sitting in my normal position, back over here by the plate... where the strike zone resides... if you care to join me.
• Same as a prior post, the F2 that calls for time to do the YMCA dance in front of the plate when there are R1 & R3. Guys, it's a live ball that I really don't want to make dead, just because you want to relay to everyone in the stands that your team has fruitlessly dreamed up some elaborate ruse-play to pick off the two runners. Besides, I doubt your pitcher is going to pitch with you standing 2 feet in front of the plate.

[Jglopez7]

Having the catcher start deep in the box then creep up!

[Replacematt]

I had this on Saturday...the catcher that comes in relief with a 2-run lead and gives up the tying runs on what would have been the last out. Same catcher had just told me that "...you've got this game moving along..." (jinx) and "I like longer games, since I have no plans tonight."