How to Catch a Pitcher

Series Summary

Baseball, the great American pastime, is actually considered the official sport of the United States, though it is enjoyed by fans in several countries throughout the world. Developed in the late 18th century, the game of baseball was probably derived from older British bat and ball games and then brought over to America. Today, baseball teams consist of eight players and a pitcher. Baseball enjoys great popularity as both a professional spectator sport, and an amateur or youth league sport. Strike three! Two words that are a pitcher's second best friend. Double play is a pitcher's main best friend. In this free video series on baseball, learn how to throw the baseball pitches to hear those two magic words from the umpire. A former major league baseball pitcher explains how to catch a pitcher and throw a curveball, fastball, slider, change-up, screwball and splitter. He also discusses how to throw a four-seam and two-seam fastball, a knuckle curveball, a cut fastball and a forkball.

Video Transcript

"Hello, I'm Riedling, and today I'm going to talk with you about how to catch a pitcher. As a catcher, the important thing of catching a pitcher is giving him a big, big target. To give him a big target, you want to sit up straight. Not slouch over. Sit up straight. You also want to have a set up target. You know, have it nice and wide. As that pitcher's able to throw strikes down the middle, you can start moving around. Corners of plates is where, ideally where your pitcher wants to throw the ball, and having a nice, nice frame set up, and splitting the plate, will give him a nice solid target. Same thing on the left side. Nice big target. I'm John Riedling, and that's how you catch a pitcher."