catching your kid

[Bill_B]

I'm in my 60th year and still catch my kid usually three times per week. I've removed the plate and have painted the outline of a plate on the ground in the cage in the backyard. That dang drop ball hitting the wedge of the plate can really rearrange some health records. I use shin guards but no face mask. I have to say that I had more pain a couple of years ago when I was not sure where the pitch would be or how it would break.

[upurbox]

THE WORST IS WHEN SHE IS WORKING HER CHANGE UP, THEN SNEAKS IN A FASTBALL ... ..YES TWISTED !!!

[Rotatorcuff]

My story:

Warming my dd up before a pitching lesson on the grass two seasons ago. Clumpy grass. We were working on the drop. She got one to work..........bottom dropped out.......hit a clump of grass......the ball changed direction................went under the glove......bounced up and between my legs...........and glanced off one of the jewels. Luckily it was a glancing blow, most of the force was absorbed by the inside of my thigh. But it still scared the crap out of me so bad I started sweating

I now catch sitting side-saddle. When catching the drop, I'm on my toes so I can bail out if necessary. I also keep my bare hand in a fist in front of the jewels.

What I learned: We don't do drop balls in clumpy grass and that lip on the plate can be pretty nasty.

[anonlooker]

Hilarious you would post this today cuz I was thinking the exact same thing last night... it was getting into dusk and the lights had just started to come on, so with my aged eyes I wasn't picking up the spin / movement on the ball very well - bang on my toe, instep, shin, forearm - it was more like self defense than helping the kid work on pitches! (And hardly the first time I've had that feeling.)

We decided to take a break until the lights were powered all the way up, and it was during that break, I couldn't help but wonder how many dads across the country go through the same thing every day. I couldn't be alone in this quandary!

So your post made me feel a bit better. No less sore, but better - maybe it's knowing the balls hitting me aren't thrown with quite the velocity as those hitting you!!

And the "feet up" thing? I can totally relate. Luckily, I've only fallen over backward once. Much less painful than a whack on the shins.

Anyway, during that same break she asked me what I wanted for Christmas. It took me under a second to reply "Shinguards". She laughed and said "No, really."
No.
Really.
Honey.
Shinguards.

[3'sDad]

I still have the lump on my jaw from DD hitting the corner of the plate with a fastball, having it jump and catching me on the jawline.....it hurt for about 3 months.

I have done the matador when DD's pitching coach called for a change-up and DD threw a fastball...that is no fun.

[NumeroUno]

Sometimes I forget to bring my catcher's gear. Stupid. DD threw a drop that hit me in the ankle. Made a grotesque "THWACK!" sound. Other coach looked up and saw the tears in my eyes. Now he won't catch her either.

I have seen your kid throw.......OUCH

he's so tough he can catch his DD with a slice of bread in the palm of his hand.

[Tucson]

My son refused to catch his sister w/o a cup. What are you guys thinking? Amy

[cazzy]

The pitching post got me thinking:
I have always caught alot of my kid's pitching sessions, since she was 6 yrs old.
Up until recently, it was pretty safe and easy..
But these days, it takes alot more concentration, and I don't feel as safe as before.
Especially drop balls...and my left thumb hasn't been right for about the last 2 months.
anyways, alot of it is her growing (she's 13 now), but also, me getting fatter, older, and less reactive.
I am always happy when there is a catcher at her lessons these days.
So, anyone else going through this, or have gone through this?
Any bad-hop horror stories?

Here's a good one:
About 3 years ago, back in rec, whenever I was catching her, I would always trick passerbyers into catching for me.
I would say, "hey check out this new pitch". they would start catching, and I would keep them talking, until they finally realized they were doing my dirty work.
It became a game for me...
So one day, just after my kid had learned the peel drop, I convinced another coach walking by to check out the new pitch.
He gladly did, and she threw a doozy. It went under his glove and caught him square on the shin.
Within 2 minutes it looked like a 2nd kneecap and was turning a beautiful shade of midnight blue....
I think he still has a mark on his shin 3 years later...

Yeah that was a great pitch and I still have a knot of hard tissue where it hit me. Thanks Sammy

[SB drama]

I was catching my DD last night. She was throwing a fastball and just as she released, the lights went off. I closed my eyes and prayed for the best. It must have been a good pitch because I felt if hit off the bucket and bounce back toward her. She asked why I didn't catch it, I responded "because my eyes were closed".

[3rd Base Coach]

Perhaps 'Sam' will come in later & tell about his 'experience' in San Clemente.

I have too many stories to tell but the shin guards come on when my pitchers reach 55 mph & the mask goes on at 58 mph. Although the drop balls are bad, the 'rise' has given me the most trouble. The 'rise' (which most of you say doesn't rise), somehow glances off the tip of my glove & 'sneaks up' behind me by glancing off the pole behind my bucket as I turn to see where the ball went.

Lefthanders are the worst because of their 'unnatural' (crazy) extra movement on the ball. An above 58 mph rise ball with a little 'backwards kick' can be scary.