Squeezed by catcher, interaction

[JHSump]

In a varsity HS game I had the other day I am on the plate. Catcher is somewhat large, and sometimes sets up near/on the inside part of the plate. Some of the batters are also crowding the plate. I'm doing my best to get some view while remaining in the slot.

 

At some point as I am sweeping the plate before an inning starts I say to the catcher, "Jared, you're leaving me no view of the plate when you go inside on a batter crowding the plate. Let me get a look." He says, "Gotcha."

 

But nothing changes.

 

I tried telling him again, in a different way. He still made no adjustment.

 

I could not get down and in enough on one batter to see the plate/glove (a technique I have been using lately). So, I moved back and up, and --- here is my mistake --- I leaned just a bit over so my head was above the catcher's head. Sure enough, a foul glances off the outside of my mask, twisting in on my head. It was not a direct hit and not a problem. But it made me think I was over-adjusting and setting myself up for possible injury.

 

What should I have done? Start calling balls on pitches I could not see, then explain to the catcher why I had to do that? Talk with his coach? I am not putting myself in harms way again in such a situation. I will likely see this catcher again.

 

How have you handled this situation? What were the reactions of the catcher/coach?

[ricka56]

I don't think there is a single solution for this. I have seen PU getting lit up by coaches when PU tries to get the HC to get F2 to adjust...the PU needs to adjust.   The batter crowding the plate is only problem, I sometimes have. Sometimes I get lower in the slot, sometimes I get higher, sometimes I lean across into the kill zone as F1 releases a pitch and then move back to my usual head position (not recommended).

 

 I'm doing my best to get some view while remaining in the slot.

 

The thing to do is what you already do...adjust to get a view of the pitch.

[umpstu]

I let the catcher know that the inside pitch is mine and the pitcher's bread and butter pitch and I need him to make sure I see it so I can call it.  I will also tap him on the shoulder as soon as he sets up inside to let him know he's blocking my view.  There are only 4 people who have a great view of that inside pitch and the batter doesn't matter.  I let the catcher know that I want the pitcher to feel like he can throw that pitch and get the call.  If the catcher blocks me he better stop blocking me really quick because I will let the coach know between innings about the situation.  I'll adjust some, but not to the point of putting myself in an unhealthy position.

[Tksjewelry]

I'm short and do mostly youth ball so if telling F2 doesn't work I go to the head coach and quietly tell him his F2 is not allowing a slot and I'm too short (in most cases) to go high. They usually laugh and talk to the catcher.

[catsbackr]

In shaving aged baseball, most of the time talking to the catcher will work. For this age, if the catcher won't give me a look, I start balling the pitches. If the head coach asks, I will tell him what I've got and he will usually fix the problem. For this age, I'd let the coach ask me, after I've already talked to the catcher or I'd talk to him under the guise of asking about a lineup change or something.

I don't know about little kids.

[Majordave]

I had this happen the other day in an NAIA game. Catcher shifted and blocked my view after I locked in as the pitch was delivered. Pitch was called a ball. Might have been K3. F2 apologized for shifting late and said "I cost us that one didn't I?" I said "If I can't see it, I can't call it". "Sorry blue. I won't shift inside late again."

[labguy1971]

Good question as I have this problem from time to time and just try to squeeze in the tiny spot to see the pitch.  Going into the kill zone is something i will not do anymore as I got nailed (knocked my mask off and hurt like hell).

[BillKen]

I won't go into the kill zone anymore thanks to this site...I will drop to a knee and find some little seam to try and get a look. I will ball pitches if needed. LOL...after two uncaught 86+ pitches to the bicep and bruising under my UE CP last week, I'm not sure there isn't a kill zone anymore!