Why does the catcher call the signals?

Question

Does the pitcher have no mind of his own? Is he just a robot that cannot be left to his own strategy?

thank you very kindly gentlemen. Awesome answers - I finally understand.

Answer 1

There are a number of parts to this answer.

First, the catcher is the only player on the field who sees the whole field. Therefore, he's the only one who can adjust the plans, at any time, in response to what's in front of him.

Second, the pitcher can and usually does take these signs as suggestions. A pitcher can change this, and hopefully, does so after consulting with the catcher, either by a conference on the mound or by signals back to the catcher. If you've ever noticed a pitcher moving his gloved hand across his abdomen or his thighs, you've seen a pticher changing the plan by adding to or subtracting from the numeric sign given by the pitcher. Of course, if the pitcher doesn't let the catcher know this, he can "cross up" his catcher, and that really means that he's crossing up himself.

The catcher will also give signals that indicate that the defense should shift, or be alert for this or that. You see that when a catchers stands and moves his arm around in front of his chest protector.

As well, the manager can signal things from the dugout, either for a fielder or for the catcher to signal to the pitcher.

Some pitchers get so involved in their game that they don't always realize that the situation overall has changed. In such cases, the catcher is there to keep the pitcher focused, bit not so focused that nothing else exists.

Some ptichers simply don't think on the mound, while others tend to think too much. Both of them need their catcher to guide them through the game.

Yes, part of a catcher's job is to handle his pitchers. And the best of them think in just those terms - the team's pitchers are HIS pitchers. But part of a catcher's job is to handle the rest of the team, to read and handle the batters and to handle the plate umpire. (My apologies to Ryan R for that one, if I've offended you with it, but you do know that it's the truth.)

Then, of course, there's Casey Stengel on the need for a catcher. When the Mets were granted a franchise and going into their first draft, he was asked which player the Mets were planning to draft first. He responded that they would take a catcher first, because without a catcher, you have a lot of passed balls.

Dude was wrong when he generalized about young catchers. There are catchers who are there because they can hit (MIke Piazza is one), there are catchers who are there because they can throw (Pidge Rodgriquez, Benito Santiago come to mind) and there are pitcher's catchers, catchers who get into their pitchers' heads and work with them.

Don Sutton had nothing but the best to say about Charlie O'Brien. He tells a story about going to Oakland, and working with O'Brien when O'Brien was a raw rookie. In his first start with O'Brien behind the plate, in one of O'Brien's first starts as well, Sutton called his own game for the first couple of innings. Before the 3rd inning started, O'Brien went to Sutton and said that he felt he knew what Sutton was trying to do on the mound, and asked if Sutton would allow him to take over calling the game. Sutton said OK, figuring he could always add or subract, or if necessary, return to calling his own game. Sutton went seven innings in that start, and never shook off O'Brien.

This is what a pitcher's catcher, no matter how much major league experience he may or may not have, is capable of doing.

Answer 2

Actually MLB pitchers do call there own game. Catchers put down signs because they want to know which pitch is going to be thrown by the pitcher. The catcher is actually the only player on the field looking the same way as the opposing team. So he can make decisions based on defense and situation better than another player. When you see a catcher look into the dugout it is either to get a pitch sign from the coach or manager or to find out what he is going to do with the ball when the pitch is thrown. If he is getting pitch signs from the dugout it is usually to let the pitcher know what the manager is thinking. Veteran pitchers do shake off signs. Sometimes the catcher and pitcher disagree and that causes timeouts to be called and meetings on the mound.

Answer 3

Because if the pitcher called the signs then the hitter would know what is coming. There has to be some communication between the pitcher and catcher.
Also, pitchers, and pitching in general, are emotional. Therefore you don't want them steering the game. Catchers are usually level headed and have alot of knowledge about all of the hitters they face on a given day and about there pitcher. The catcher kind of settles down the pitchers and steers the game.

Answer 4

Well there are two ways to answer this question. The catcher doesnt call the signs, however, the coach does. The catcher just relays the signals to the pitcher for a number of reasons:
1.) Like Jon T said, since the catcher needs to know whats coming.
2.) The pitcher can see the signs more easily.
3.) Finally, that way the other team can't pick up on signs by just looking at the coach/manager.

Answer 5

Well actually the pitcher does have a mind of his own and makes the decisions on where the pitch will be located and the type you can that when the catcher signals to him he may shake his head or nod to confirm he wants that pitch.

Another reason is discretion the batter cant see what signals the catcher is giving if the pitcher was to give signals after a while they could be easily read. So there u go.

Answer 6

Two reasons:
1. Because the catcher has to know what is coming. You don't want to get crossed-up out there. Pitchers can shake off a sign if they don't like it.

2. A lot of the strategy on hitters (where they are most and least effective, what they look for in certain counts, etc.) is done by catchers as part of their game prep.

Answer 7

First of all, the catcher does not always call the signals, many times if it is a young or inexperienced catcher, the pitching coach will call the pitches and relay them to the catcher who relays them to the pitcher. If the pitcher is young (for MLB) , then yes, he is normally a robot who listens to what the pitching coach or catcher calls, if he is a veteran he will normally have the control of shaking off a sign ( another way of saying no to the sign) given by the catcher.

Answer 8

Reasons

The catcher is close enough to tell what the batter is ready to hit, so he calls for a pitch. He knows the weakspots of the hitter, and can estimate where he wants to hit when the pitches come.

Another, the catcher has to know what's coming at him. If he thinks its going to be a fast ball, but then comes a curve ball (or worst, an eephus!) then he won't be ready for it.

The pitcher does have a mind of his own. He is able to shake his head if he wants a new sign.

So in a way, it is both the pitcher and catcher deciding what pitch to throw.

Answer 9

Many pitchers do call their own signals. It is sometimes done by the position of the glove against their body. Also, managers sometimes call all the pitches from the dougout and the catcher just relays the signals. Baseball is a complicated game, and there is a lot going on that we sometimes don't realize. I love the sport!

Answer 10

Actually, sometimes the manager will call pitches from the dugout. I think the catcher mainly calls the pitches, though, so that the pitcher can just concentrate on pitching. And to be fair, the pitcher DOES give his approval (or shake off) to the catcher. He won't throw a pitch unless they both agree to what pitch to throw.