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By Jeff Todd | at
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NickinIthaca
It amazes me how much pitch framing has entered into the conversation. You would think that it wouldn’t have as large an effect on MLB umpires as executives, scouts and writers are making it out to be recently.
Jeff Todd
My totally amateur opinion on the matter, as someone who has caught for ~15 years in totally amateur baseball and read somewhat on the topic, is that there is little an umpire can do not to be “fooled,” if you will, by framing. Read about and watch the stuff that guys like Lucroy do: it’s all about being quiet, maintaining a certain body position, etc., that changes the perception of the ump relative to what he sees from other catchers on similar pitches.
The guys that do it well are extremely subtle, and really do make borderline pitches look more like strikes to those peering over their shoulders. Nearly as importantly, perhaps, they don’t try to make bad pitches look like strikes. It is highly dependent upon the particular pitcher, umpire, and individual batter, over the course of a game. The best receivers create an overall effect of honestly presenting pitches, but then shade some slightly in their own favor, and it adds up over a season.
homer 2
Regarding pensions. Sad actually, while players get millions and millions that they could never spend all the support people making 40K are at risk to lose their pensions. If this is to save more money to give to players the next step is layoffs. Who will wash the players clothes and carry their bags….Then the union will bitch because the players are inconvenienced.
Mikenmn
One wonders why MLB needs to take away pensions from ordinary working people. I had no idea that the league was in such financial distress.
Wek
No money for pension for those at the bottom of the heirarchy because the one on top are getting paid millions. Selig’s salary alone was $22mil. Now that he will finally retire, do you think his pension would be taken away as well?
formerdraftpick 2
Pleased the Pirates signed LHP Yao-Hsun Yang to a minor league contract and invited him to Spring Training.