Author Topic: Cubs in '22  (Read 43820 times)

craig

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Re: Cubs in '22
« Reply #2040 on: September 30, 2022, 09:43:54 am »
....I don't see how technology would have any effect on that talent.

My impression is that these skill consists of qualities like understanding specific batters' strength and weaknesses, even as they are manifested within a current game; understanding how to assist the pitcher not only in the pitcher's mechanics but very much in the mental side as well. And as the catcher has the unique perspective of seeing the entire field, the catcher can become in essence a field manager as well. Seems like these were specific roles that Ross played for example. Lester used to say that Ross knew how to get the best out of him, and Ross talked about knowing when to get in Lester's face and when not to.  ...

Thanks for your thoughts and input, Ron.  You may be completely right, and the Cubs may see it that way too. 

I guess I was wondering whether a coach could get in Lester's face; and that maybe the in-game clubhouse video might see if a batter is cheating to cover his weakness as well, or maybe better, than a catcher can, and could thus revise the approach as well as a live catcher can?  Whether with good live video, whether coaches might be able to recognize whether a guy's cutter isn't cutting well today, as well as a live catcher, and could revise the attack plan as well as a live catcher can? 

Hard to know.  After the Houston cheating, are teams even allowed to be having live high-quality video in the moment?  Even if so, is the quality of live video really that good?  Or does a real live Gomes experience each pitch in a way that video and Rapsodo just can't fully capture?  Or perhaps there's something about a teammate mental-gaming you, or getting in your face, that a coach just can't do?  Manager Ross just can't do it the way that teammate Ross could, or it doesn't get received in the same way? 

Maybe all that stuff should be the catcher, and it's worth losing a bunch of offensive runs to let the catcher do it rather than trying to have a coach do it?