Signs

No that we have learned the different types of stances, lets first review the sign stance. Then we will learn the different areas of the strike zone that you will set up in. We will also cover the basic signs you can expect to give the pitcher.

The Sign Stance

This is the stance we are going to be in before every pitch so we might as well learn to do it well and comfortable.

You should feel stable and comfortable in this stance and be able to hold it for extended periods.

When giving a sign it needs to be between the legs high on the cup. We do not want our fingers to extend below our legs.

Your glove should be finger tips on the dirt outside of your glove side leg with the pocket facing inwards covering the gap in front of your foot and under your shin guard.

The Sign Stance

Lets continue to look at Catching Made Simple as Coach Bougie teaches a player to get in the correct sign stance.

The Sign Stance

Here is the technique to keep your knees in without needing to squeese them in with your thigh muscles.

The Stike Zone

The standard strike zone for us should be from the shoulders to the bottom of the knee and inside the chalk lines. The chalk lines start 4 inches off the plate. The standard baseball is just short of 3 inches in diameter. So a ball that is inside the chalk line can be interpreted as just over an inch off the plate and still be a strike.

Setup Location

When coach gives a pitch call it will include the type of pitch followed by the setup location for you as the catcher. This next image show the location of where you are to setup.

We will transition from our sign stance to our receiving stance as soon as the pitcher begins his motion. This will allow us not to give away our pitch location to the batter or coaches before the pitch.

1-4-7 Are inside pitches to a righty and outside pitches to a lefty

3-6-9 Are outside pitches to a righty and inside pitches to a lefty

1-2-3 are high pitches

7-8-9 are low pitches

5 is down the middle and what will be used for most batters.

Pitch Card

Catchers will wear a card which the catchers will use to translate a pitch code given by coach into a sign that the catcher will give the pitcher. This card will have one of three type of pitches.

F - Fastball

C - Changeup

Curve - Curveball

Fastballs and Changeups will be accompanied by a set-up location. Curveballs will all be in the 5 and 8 location falling out of the zone. Lets look at a few of the symbols on the card. Lets assume a right handed batter.

F5 - Fastball down the middle

F1 - Fastball up and in

F9 - Fastball low and away

F4 - Fastball setup inside

C8 - Changeup low falling to the dirt

C5 - Changeup down the middle falling to 8

Note: These are catcher set-up locations, not necessarily pitch locations. For example if we are calling for pitches down the middle (5) but we notice that our pitcher is consistently throwing inaccurately outside, We will have our pitcher set up inside to lure that pitcher back to the middle of the plate

Pitch Card Example

The catchers pitch card will look something like this. Coach will teach how he gives his calls during practice.

Fastball

Single Finger Down

Tilted towards the direction of where the catcher will set up.

Changeup

Four Fingers Down

Wiggle

Pitch Location Signs

This entire video is not going to apply to us. For this video focus on the different number for the different pitch meaning, 1, 2, 3, wiggle, pitchout. For location we will pat the thigh of our legs for the side of the plate the catcher will set up on. This will allow our pitcher to know which angle to drive their hip. For a changeup inside we will wiggle 4 and tap the left thigh. For location on the fastball we will indicate with the direction of the finger such as using the pinky to indicate an outside pitch, or putting your finger to the left thigh for an inside pitch. The most common pitch though... The good ole' number one down the middle.

For high and low, we will just flash the leather at the start of the pitchers motion and it will not be apart of the actual sign.

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