Long time reader, first time poster from the United Kingdom. I hope you don't mind if I pick your brain.
Baseball can be boring unless you understand what pitch is being thrown, and why.
To figure out where the ball is supposed to go, I look at where the catcher holds his glove, while the pitcher is throwing the ball.
This method isn’t completely reliable. Sometimes a catcher might intentionally move his glove all the way up from the ground to the batter's knees at the last moment. This is especially true for the one knee down catcher stance, which is in vogue. It may improve J. T. Realmuto's pitch framing, but it has a negative effect on my television viewing experience. I like to know whether a pitcher hit or missed his spot. I was under the impression that less glove movement was better, but anywho. What part of the catcher's body should I focus on when he doesn't give a target with his glove? Do pitchers occasionally aim for the catcher's mask instead of the glove for pitches higher up in the strike zone?
This may be a stupid question, but I have never played the game. How do you read swings? Is it as simple as a hitter who pulls the ball foul is early, a hitter who sprays the ball foul down the opposite field line is late, and a hitter who gets just under the ball and hits the ball back to the screen is on time with his swing.
Without seeing where the ball goes (pulled) can you tell if a batter hits the ball out in front of the plate? It's hard to tell due to the front camera angle. I can only tell if I see a side camera angle of the batter. Also, do you have any nuggets on reading the batter's body language during an at bat.
I look at pitch speeds and what the ball does at the plate to determine pitch type. Do you have any tips or suggestions for me so I can improve my pitch identification? Offspeed pitches can be similar in speed. The changeup is giving me the most trouble, especially when a pitcher throws a cutter or tight slider that subtly moves or an 80 mph curve that isn't as recognisable as a curve in the 70s with a distinct hump.
James: I'm going to answer this as best as I can, but it's a long answer so be patient and I'll probably do it as a post, not a reply to a comment. Good questions and I'm happy to have you aboard. Talk to you soon.
Thank you for your prompt reply. I thought my questions might be in your wheelhouse. I recently got back into baseball after a long hiatus. I now have a deeper appreciation for contact hitters and small ball! Your unique way of covering baseball has enhanced my enjoyment of the game. I'm fascinated with the game within the game. I was seeking a deeper understanding of the game and stumbled across your Judging the Royals blog. With the help of baseball experts you answered many questions I was curious about.
Your articles definitely made me a baseball fan - I used to think it was boring, but after a couple years reading your articles ( and book w/ Jason Kendall), baseball is my favorite sport to watch (and it was just in time for the 2014 & 2015 Royals seasons!). So many things to pay attention to when I'm watching now! I wish I could find the "Lee Judge" of soccer now...
Thank you. Almost all the credit goes to the players that taught me. I was never a big basketball fan, but my kids are, so I made an effort and they showed me some things to look for that made the game more interesting and comprehensible. Don't know jack about soccer, but you'd think these sports that spend so much money to market themselves might spend just a little on people to help explain why their game is interesting.
It's true for me that the more I learn about baseball (A serious thank you, by the way for all the "process"), the more interesting games become. Now I'm going to have to pay attention to how hitters hold the bats! And if that lady in the blue top (did she wear her hair up? Is that the one?) (it annoyed me that they kept showing her, but maybe it was to let us in on the fact that the seats are right there at Globe Life Park. Or maybe she was some Ranger's spouse or relative).
Yup, she had her hair up and because of the way the seat are placed she was visible every time they showed a right-handed hitter. Glad you're getting something out of the baseball stuff. The players and coaches who talked to me made baseball more understandable and enjoyable and I hope to pass that along to others.
Long time reader, first time poster from the United Kingdom. I hope you don't mind if I pick your brain.
Baseball can be boring unless you understand what pitch is being thrown, and why.
To figure out where the ball is supposed to go, I look at where the catcher holds his glove, while the pitcher is throwing the ball.
This method isn’t completely reliable. Sometimes a catcher might intentionally move his glove all the way up from the ground to the batter's knees at the last moment. This is especially true for the one knee down catcher stance, which is in vogue. It may improve J. T. Realmuto's pitch framing, but it has a negative effect on my television viewing experience. I like to know whether a pitcher hit or missed his spot. I was under the impression that less glove movement was better, but anywho. What part of the catcher's body should I focus on when he doesn't give a target with his glove? Do pitchers occasionally aim for the catcher's mask instead of the glove for pitches higher up in the strike zone?
This may be a stupid question, but I have never played the game. How do you read swings? Is it as simple as a hitter who pulls the ball foul is early, a hitter who sprays the ball foul down the opposite field line is late, and a hitter who gets just under the ball and hits the ball back to the screen is on time with his swing.
Without seeing where the ball goes (pulled) can you tell if a batter hits the ball out in front of the plate? It's hard to tell due to the front camera angle. I can only tell if I see a side camera angle of the batter. Also, do you have any nuggets on reading the batter's body language during an at bat.
I look at pitch speeds and what the ball does at the plate to determine pitch type. Do you have any tips or suggestions for me so I can improve my pitch identification? Offspeed pitches can be similar in speed. The changeup is giving me the most trouble, especially when a pitcher throws a cutter or tight slider that subtly moves or an 80 mph curve that isn't as recognisable as a curve in the 70s with a distinct hump.
James: I'm going to answer this as best as I can, but it's a long answer so be patient and I'll probably do it as a post, not a reply to a comment. Good questions and I'm happy to have you aboard. Talk to you soon.
Thank you for your prompt reply. I thought my questions might be in your wheelhouse. I recently got back into baseball after a long hiatus. I now have a deeper appreciation for contact hitters and small ball! Your unique way of covering baseball has enhanced my enjoyment of the game. I'm fascinated with the game within the game. I was seeking a deeper understanding of the game and stumbled across your Judging the Royals blog. With the help of baseball experts you answered many questions I was curious about.
Your articles definitely made me a baseball fan - I used to think it was boring, but after a couple years reading your articles ( and book w/ Jason Kendall), baseball is my favorite sport to watch (and it was just in time for the 2014 & 2015 Royals seasons!). So many things to pay attention to when I'm watching now! I wish I could find the "Lee Judge" of soccer now...
Thank you. Almost all the credit goes to the players that taught me. I was never a big basketball fan, but my kids are, so I made an effort and they showed me some things to look for that made the game more interesting and comprehensible. Don't know jack about soccer, but you'd think these sports that spend so much money to market themselves might spend just a little on people to help explain why their game is interesting.
It's true for me that the more I learn about baseball (A serious thank you, by the way for all the "process"), the more interesting games become. Now I'm going to have to pay attention to how hitters hold the bats! And if that lady in the blue top (did she wear her hair up? Is that the one?) (it annoyed me that they kept showing her, but maybe it was to let us in on the fact that the seats are right there at Globe Life Park. Or maybe she was some Ranger's spouse or relative).
I am glad to read your story in the Star, too.
Yup, she had her hair up and because of the way the seat are placed she was visible every time they showed a right-handed hitter. Glad you're getting something out of the baseball stuff. The players and coaches who talked to me made baseball more understandable and enjoyable and I hope to pass that along to others.