# The Catcher's Game · Baseball Level 4: Intermediate

Baseball · Level 4: Intermediate · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/baseball/level-4/the-catchers-game/)

Calling a game, receiving, the one-knee stance, throwing out runners, handling pitchers, signs and PitchCom, plays at the plate, the catcher's health, pop-ups near the backstop and the catcher as a leader.

## Test 1: Calling a game

- Most catchers call pitches, sometimes with signals from the bench. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A coach with scouting data may signal the pitch to the catcher. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The plan, made with the pitcher before the game, guides each at-bat. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A hitter moving his feet or hands can tip what he expects. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Calling the pitches that work that day keeps the pitcher alive. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A shake of the head asks for another call. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Fresh notes help plan the next meeting. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Study, meet, plan, then call and adjust. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Some teams give the catcher full control; others call from the dugout. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Some teams relay pitch calls from the dugout to the catcher. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 2: Receiving pitches

- A quiet, firm catch helps a borderline pitch look like a strike. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Catching under the ball and lifting it slightly keeps it looking like a strike. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Stabbing makes a strike look like a ball. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Quiet hands present the pitch where it was. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Studies show elite receivers gain dozens of strikes a season. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Framing numbers estimate extra strikes a catcher earns on borderline pitches. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Sharp, late breaks make clean catches harder. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Target, track, catch under, hold. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Quiet catches win calls; stabs lose them. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Catching under a low pitch presents it in the zone. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 3: The one-knee stance

- Many modern catchers put one knee on the ground with nobody on base. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Being lower helps them frame pitches at the bottom of the zone. (Source: General baseball reference)
- From one knee, popping up to throw or block takes longer. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Runners on base call for a stance ready to throw and block. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Less squatting saves wear over a long season. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Being low lets him catch under low strikes. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Situation decides between receiving, blocking and throwing. (Source: General baseball reference)
- One knee is lowest; standing for a pitchout highest. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A runner on base brings him up into a crouch. (Source: General baseball reference)
- With a runner on he needs a stance ready to throw and block. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 4: Throwing out base stealers

- It compares runners caught to steal attempts. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A quick jump turns the body without wasting steps. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A throw to the bag lets the fielder tag at once. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Most steals come off the pitcher's delivery time. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Top catchers pop under about 1.9 seconds. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Strong-armed catchers can throw without standing. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A snap throw after a pitch can pick off a careless runner. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Catch, pivot, release, accurate throw. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Lower pop times are quicker. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Throwing from the knees cuts out the time to stand. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 5: Handling the pitching staff

- Some pitchers need calming; others need firing up. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Small mechanical slips show up in the delivery. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Slowing down stops a bad inning snowballing. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Some pitchers, like knuckleballers, work with one regular catcher. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Knowing how each reliever's pitches move helps in games. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Calling his best stuff in big spots builds belief. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Pitcher and catcher together form the battery. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Notice, pause, talk, simplify. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Prepare, call, review. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A word and a hand on the shoulder can calm a struggling pitcher. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 6: Signs and PitchCom

- The catcher presses buttons and the pitcher hears the call in an earpiece. (Source: General baseball reference)
- MLB allowed the electronic signals in 2022. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Electronic calls are harder to steal than finger signs. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Only one sign in the series is live. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Runners on second can legally try to read signs; electronic stealing is banned. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Touches can change which sign is live. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Some fielders wear receivers so they know the pitch. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Button, earpiece, delivery. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Simple finger signs came first; electronic signals are newest. (Source: General baseball reference)
- PitchCom lets the catcher send the call electronically. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 7: Plays at the plate

- The collision rule stops catchers blocking the plate before they have the ball. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Runners may not go out of their path to hit a catcher. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Serious injuries from collisions led to the rule. (Source: General baseball reference)
- It was Rule 7.13 in 2014 and became Rule 6.01(i) when the book was renumbered. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A sweeping tag meets the sliding runner. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A slide to the edge avoids the tag and the catcher. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Close plays at home are decided by fractions of a second. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Catch first, then tag. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Blocking was common, then the 2014 rule; reviews of plays at home followed. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Without the ball he may not block the plate. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 8: Foul tips and the catcher's health

- A sharp tick that goes straight into the mitt and is caught is a foul tip. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Tipped balls can strike catchers at full speed. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Repeated knocks to the mask can cause concussions. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Hiding the throwing hand keeps it away from foul tips. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Squatting through many pitches wears the knees. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Catchers usually get a regular day off each week. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Moving off the position extends a career. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Every hit to the mask gets checked. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Catching is the most punishing position; the DH the least. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Tucking the bare hand away keeps it out of harm's way. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 9: Pop-ups and fouls near the backstop

- Backspin makes them drift towards the infield. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Tossing it away from where the ball will land prevents tripping on it. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Facing the backstop puts the drift in front of him. (Source: General baseball reference)
- First or third basemen help call and catch near the dugouts. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A catch made reaching into the dugout counts if he does not fall in. (Source: General baseball reference)
- The backstop stops balls getting into the crowd. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Short backstops mean wild pitches bounce back quicker. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Find, mask away, turn, catch. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Pops near obstacles are hardest. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Pop-ups behind the plate curl back towards the field. (Source: General baseball reference)

## Test 10: The catcher as a team leader

- Being in every play gives catchers a leading voice. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Calling games teaches the whole game. (Source: General baseball reference)
- They plan the next inning together. (Source: General baseball reference)
- A respectful catcher can ask about the zone without trouble. (Source: General baseball reference)
- An experienced catcher can steady a young arm. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Some catchers are prized mainly for calling games well. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Defensive value and handling pitchers can outweigh hitting. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Signs come on every pitch, mound visits a few times, a caught stealing rarely. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Study, meet, warm-up, game. (Source: General baseball reference)
- Pitcher and catcher plan each inning together. (Source: General baseball reference)

Sources: General baseball references, WBSC and league material, coaching manuals; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered rules belong to the Rules category.

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