Okay, let’s talk about getting some work in, focusing on that low stance behind the plate. Called it my “Josh Crouch” session today, just trying to really nail down staying compact and strong down there.
Getting Started
Headed out to the empty diamond early this morning. Felt a bit stiff, gotta admit. Haven’t done serious catching drills in a bit. Grabbed my gear – mitt, mask, the whole nine yards. The main goal today? Just pure repetition in the crouch. Setting up right, receiving, and trying to stick it.
The Grind
So, I started just by getting into the stance. Over and over. Felt awkward at first. My knees were complaining pretty quick. You forget how much it takes outta you just holding that position right. Focused on keeping my back straight, butt low, giving a good target.
Then I had my buddy throw some easy ones, right down the middle. First few, I was popping up too soon. Habit, you know? Had to consciously think: stay down, stay low. Watched my glove hand – trying to keep it steady, receive the ball clean without yanking it.
We moved on to some pitches slightly off the plate. This is where the real work started. Trying to shift my weight, frame the pitch back into the zone without looking jerky. Dropped a few, felt clumsy. It’s tough making it look smooth when you’re fighting your own body telling you to stand up.
What I Noticed
- My balance felt off initially, especially shifting side-to-side.
- Getting tired made me lazy – started standing up taller. Had to fight that.
- Consistency is key. The more I did it, the more natural (and less painful) the low crouch started to feel.
- Really had to focus on just watching the ball into the glove. Simple, but easy to forget when you’re thinking about stance, framing, everything else.
Wrapping Up
Spent a solid hour just on this. By the end, my legs were burning, but I felt better about it. Managed to stick a few low pitches nicely, and the framing attempts felt a bit smoother than when I started. Still got a long way to go, obviously. You don’t perfect this stuff in one go. But putting in the time, doing the reps… that’s what it’s all about. Felt good to put in the effort. Probably gonna feel it tomorrow, though.
