What are the best catching camps out there?

[Fredegar]

You're asking if anyone has studied this. It would be very difficult. Too many factors. How bad is the pitch? How good is the catcher's arm? How good is the catcher at scooping/blocking? So, we'll have to stick to hypothetical numbers. And that's where we disagree:

Your numbers suggest that blocking vs. scooping is only a 15% advantage. I disagree. A good blocking catcher will keep a lot more balls in front that a catcher relying on scooping. You're also saying that 70% of runners take off when dirt flies. I disagree. Only the fastest runners on the team will take off. Medium-speed runners won't take the chance of getting thrown out (or don't have the green light from their coach), unless the ball is by the catcher. Obviously, this is JMHO.

But even if your numbers ARE closer to the truth, there's still the issue of coaches/scouts being impressed by good blocking while feeling that scooping can appear lazy. Again, this is JMHO, since I've never seen a poll/study on how TB coaches and College coaches feel about this.

[redhotcoach]

This is one of the dumber conversations I have read. Scoop? cause balls in the dirt are so predictable. Scoop? To stop 1 more out of 20 stealing 1st to 2nd. Scoop? Do it with a runner on 3rd on any team over 12 and take your reserved seat on the bench.

[DunninLA]

^ why thank you redhotcoach, that's helpful. I don't suppose you would have any stats about the best method to use with a quick lead runner? Perhaps you didn't read that we are NOT talking about a runner on 3rd.