If you’ve never heard of CAGE Catching, there’s a very good reason. It’s a simple concept/system to help players understand the catching position that I developed over the years and have recently begun to teach my players. CAGE stands for simply: Catchers Always Give Effort. Something we can all agree on right?
The way I explain it, is very much the way I viewed the position when I played, which I know triggers some delicate souls out there but doesn’t everything these days? The idea is that when you’re catching, you can view the area as your own cage.
Now this is when I explain to players, we’re thinking puppy kennel, or a safe haven, not prison cell. When you first get a puppy, using a kennel gives them a break from having to worry about the big world around them and lets them relax and feel safe. As long as they don’t do anything they’re not supposed to in their kennel, they’ll have very few problems right? The same can be said about being behind the plate.
Behind the plate, you have the ump shielding you from the fans. Everyone is watching the pitcher and the hitter, and when things are going well, you can almost hide back there until it’s time to do something cool, like throw a runner out. The space will continue to be that way as long as you always give effort and do the fundamental things to help your pitcher as best you can.
So what does that entail?
At the heart of CAGE Catching is the principle that you are in a position of service, for the team and for your pitcher. Everything I teach, from positioning, to throwing, blocking and receiving, to tags and backing up, to communication, calling pitches and helping out your infield communication, is designed to do ONE basic thing: Get you (the catcher) out of the gear, in the dugout, so you can enjoy some water and get ready to hit like everyone else. It’s really that simple.
Now that being said, there are a few things to learn that will immensely help young catchers behind the dish. Let’s start with a simple list:
You’re there for the pitcher & you set the tone for your team.
That means hustling in and out, getting your gear on quickly after AB’s, and having good body language. It also means talking, even if you’re a naturally quiet person, your team needs you to talk.
There is a right and wrong way to do everything. Doing them when it’s 100 degrees and you’re tired is going to be part of the challenge, embrace that fact now.
I don’t believe in cookie cutting how players do things. Learn the fundamentals, then learn what works for you and what adjustments you need to make (if they make you better).
Not everything at the major league level is made for youth players. When you get to The Show, do whatever you want, but until then, high school and college coaches, and pro scouts are watching certain things. You need to be aware of this if you hope to play at the next level.
Not saying don’t do what big leaguers do at all here, but understand there are reasons for everything.
Like, one-knee catching was intended to help MLB catchers 6’3”+ get underneath 95mph sinkers, not high school fastballs at 80mph.
Did you know conventional stances allow the fewest passed balls and wild pitches? Followed by the one-knee stances. Third is actually trying to do both, which has shown to be problematic. I suggest pick conventional or one-knee down (OKD) and do it all the time, that way you can find out if it works for you.
MLB catchers sometimes start with their glove on the ground, to try and work up through the ball. I can assure you, no pitcher in history likes not having a target, figure out how to receive normal pitching first.
Moving through the ball when receiving is a good thing. Moving the ball after you catch it because the pitch pull your glove to the side, up or down, is not. Umpires are scouted at the MLB level, and catchers’ receiving styles may change from umpire to umpire based on what works - on that umpire. More importantly, if you’re playing a high school game, or a travel tournament with a time-limit, the umpire is not going to want an argument with the opposing coach after you move the ball 6 inches. You’re better off catching the ball 3-4 inches off the plate and holding it. People can see high or low, they can’t really see in or out.
When the ball doesn’t hit the backstop often, and you secure everything you’re catching, and you’re throwing out most attempted base-stealers…then you will be able to experiment more. If you’re not good at blocking, the one-knee stance probably isn’t for you. If your arm strength isn’t the greatest, throwing from your knees probably isn’t the best option. Then again, maybe it is, but you’ll have to prove it.
Good catchers work hard to make it look easy. It starts with securing the ball, blocking everything and keeping your pitcher in rhythm.
This is the start of what will be many articles about catching, because there is a lot to unfold. For those hoping to catch at the next level, here’s a BONUS:
Straight from college coaches I’ve talked to about HS Players, here is the order of importance for Prospective Catchers:
Hip Flexibility - as you get stronger in college this will either stay the same or get worse, if you have poor hip flexibility now, it needs to improve. Sitting in your primary stance 20-30 min a day is a good start.
Catch the ball - you can throwing every cool receiving tip out the window if it causes you to miss 3-4 balls off your glove a game. The goal of my catchers is nothing hits the backstop during a game, doesn’t matter if runners are on. Why? Keeping the pitcher in rhythm.
Hitting - keeping the backstop clean will help your pitcher’s rhythm, which means more strikes, which means fewer pitches. This will keep your legs as fresh as possible.
Throwing - No one cares how good your pop time is if you drop the ball too much, let balls hit the backstop, or don’t make contact.
Blocking and quickness behind the plate - are you aggressive when you block? Do you control free bases by keeping the ball close to you after you block it?
Command of the field, communication, and doing the little things - if you have bad body language, don’t talk, or are lazy, you’re making it harder for a coach to like you.
Receiving - it gets a lot of publicity in the MLB, but that’s largely because of the reduction in the running game. At the youth, high school and college levels, stealing is much more common and more runs are given up by passed balls, and bad throws than anything else. As one coach said, “We can work on your receiving once you’re our starting catcher, no one moves ahead of everyone else who hits, blocks and throws better because of how they frame pitches.”
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