How much longer is Brad Ausmus going to be allowed to be our everyday catcher?

A guy is taking three or four steps during Roger's stretch to maybe one or two during a Maddox's stretch. So, yes, that big slow move to the plate *does* make that big of a difference. Also, I've seen *several* guys get into 2nd standing and beat the throw by more than a step. Seriously.

 

we dont have guys with big slow moves to the plate....limiting a guy's lead is a huge factor...otherwise they wouldnt bother throwing over so much to keep him close

 

I don't agree with you at all, but I understand and respect your opinion.

 

Part of the incredible symmetry of baseball is that ALL of those factors matter. If the distance between the bases was 85 feet, stealing them would be commonplace. If it was 95 feet, it would be almost impossible. At 90 feet, every split second counts. If the runner can get 5 or 6 steps up the line before the pitch is delivered, whether because the pitcher lacks a good pickoff move or because he has a slow delivery, then the base is stolen on the pitcher. Nothing that the catcher can do. If the runner is only 3 or 4 steps up the line, and the pitch isn't a slow curveball or changeup, the catcher has a good chance to nail him. At that point, his arm does come into play. And not just the arm, but the reaction speed for him to read the situation, come out of his crouch, and come out firing accurately.

It is in those latter categories that Ausmus has shown some concession to age. He's still accurate to 2nd, but he comes out of the crouch a little slower and his fastball has a little less zip than it used to. These aren't failings on his part, they're natural results of the thousands of innings catchers of his age have caught. He used to be incredibly swift in his transition and delivery, but he's not anymore. That's not to say that every stolen base, or even most of them, are his responsibility.

 

"I'm never going to demand that a pitcher, whether he's 42 or 22, throw the pitch I call. If he says he can throw another pitch, even if I know it's not the one he should, I go with it. If he threw what I wanted him to, he might not throw it with the same conviction ... and it may work. But generally what happens if it doesn't work, I give him a day to stew over it, and then I talk to him about it." -- Brad Ausmus, Spring '05

Da, shaking off pitches is not equal to "calling their own game", it's not nearly that cut and dry. ALL PITCHERS will shake off the catcher from time to time, but you absolutely DO NOT want that to be a regular course of action - overthinking is not a good thing for a pitcher. What do you think Clemens ment when he said working with Ausmus was like "pitching on auto-pilot"?

As far as the general discussion of Brad's presence in the catcher's box, there are many, many other quotes from the pitchers themselves describing the pitcher-catcher battery dynamic on the Astros staff, the complete trust the pitchers have in Ausmus' calling of the games, immense value in their joint study of hitters & gameplanning pitch sequences to specific hitters & specific situations, etc...and I value their opinions much more than ours.

 

He admitted as much this spring, saying his footwork was not right last year & he had to make a few adjustments.

Great post, Sam.

 

They use stopwatches to time these things, you know. Clemens & Oswalt (and to a lesser extent Backe) are all below average in delivery time to the plate. High leg kick (never a slide step), lots of waist-level torque (bringing the front leg well past the rubber, full extension with the ball do not make for a quick delivery.

Clemens is one of the slowest in the league. His decent move to first can't compensate for that, and his age of course is a factor. Look up his SB #s over the past 8 years or so...last season was actually the best CS% since '99.

 

The thing that I hate about Ausmus is not Ausmus's fault. When the team is down in the bottom of the eight inning or later, Ausmus should be pulled for a pinch hitter if a catcher and a hitter are available. I still have enjoyed the way Garner has coached.