Catchers for the Future

Bean asked a couple of questions - Are there alot of Catcher's dad's on this board? Are there alot of catcher's dad coaches in the world? Why? and then a sort of unspoken opening to extoll the vitues of the position....(We hear what we want to hear, don't we?)

I was the one who wrote the post about my "catcher son" moving to the dark side.......he wants pitch. (Several therapy sessions has allowed me to say that without a twitch), and I will take every opportunity, real or imagined to explain to anyone who will listen why catchers are better people than everyone else :)

My 11 year old is a catcher. He blocks pitches better than anyone on the face of the earth and in the history of the game. I was a catcher...not nearly as good, but "played" Div 1 college ball. (PLAYED is a little bit of a stretch, but boy I warmed up ALOT of relievers, let me tellya!)

There is a pride of persecution, I think. You get less BP than everyone else, you report early to practice, but you know it's really just for the pitchers, you are "iced" more often and on more parts of your body as any other players, and as a kid you are the first one required to wear a cup. You are allowed to be blasted on a play at the plate (rarely or never happens anyplace else on the field) and there is no stat for one of your most important jobs - blocked pitches. Your job is to make the YAHOO on the mound look good. You are also the guy that CANNOT argue with the ump and have to create harmony when the idiot on the mound does. I also get "dinged" for the stolen base that the pitcher allowed. (it's fun for me to call pitchers names, but I promise, I do not have the animosity it sounds like I do -- good natured and I hope it is taken that way). So many catchers take great pride in that persecution....I think this theory is born out by various ethnic histories!

Besides the pride of persection, we are smarter, stronger, faster, tougher, funnier, better dancers and snappier dressers than anyone else on the field. We have a clearer grasp of social, political, religous and economic issues than our teammates and make better husbands, fathers and community leaders. We can also whip up a mean crepe suzette.

With all of that said, I am unable to walk without a cane 3 days out of the week and when my son, at 5 said he wanted to be a catcher, I told him "no". Smart, huh? Raise your hand if you think my son thought to himself, "My dad's a pretty smart guy and I'm sure he knows best so I'll do what he says." NOPE, that was the point that he decided that he simply could not live another day without being a catcher.

He's been great and as I think I mentioned, very effective, but I am trying to move him to other positions as well. For health reasons, but even more importantly for the varied exposure and experience that will make him a better player....as long as he doesn't pitch!