Not sure if anyone reads this, but just in case...a question: why doesn’t the fact that catchers see so many more pitches than other players translate into catchers being above average hitters? Seeing curveball after slider after change up while defending should make it much easier to identify these pitches when hitting, no? Instead, catchers can have long careers without ever hitting that much. I know they get physically worn down, but they don’t hit that well as a group (Bench, Piazza are exceptions). Why doesn’t seeing so many more pitches live help them?
Not sure if anyone reads this, but just in case...a question: why doesn’t the fact that catchers see so many more pitches than other players translate into catchers being above average hitters? Seeing curveball after slider after change up while defending should make it much easier to identify these pitches when hitting, no? Instead, catchers can have long careers without ever hitting that much. I know they get physically worn down, but they don’t hit that well as a group (Bench, Piazza are exceptions). Why doesn’t seeing so many more pitches live help them?
Terrific article by Ty Kelly. You guys need to get him to share his experiences & thoughts more often - like weekly if possible.
Where did Mason Williams come from? If he was so hot in minors and can play center why wasn’t he brought up sooner?
I hate to be "that guy", but I need to fact check Ty Kelly on something...
Ruben Tejada was no longer with the team during the 2016 regular season - he had been released late in spring training.
If Kelly was going to fill in for the regular shortstop, it would've been Asdrubal Cabrera.