I think we have all seen it - showcase environment or high level summer/fall ball. Catcher gives maximum effort (out of control in my opinion) of throws times 100 and lauches them in the dirt or outfield - yeah it shows a good arm but does it impress anyone?

I've always heard its better to launch the ball into cf then to bounce it to 2nd!

quote:

Originally posted by CollegeParent:
I've always heard its better to launch the ball into cf then to bounce it to 2nd!

It's better to launch the ball into centerfield than bounce it in games or just in showcases? Maybe that's true in showcases because then at least your showing your arm strength, but in games it's much better to bounce it. That way you at least give your 2B/SS a chance to field it and make a play. Or, at the minimum, you give the 2B/SS a chance to keep the ball on the infield and don't risk the runner taking third.

Keep in mind that in showcases its better to hit the fielders glove as all times are pop to pop, glove to glove. Into Cf won't get a time and a bouncer will certainly slow the time to the glove.

It goes without saying it's ideal to hit the SS's glove If cathcer bounces the ball in a showcase he is making it dificult for the scout/coach to gauge his arm strength and gain any type of interest to followup on him, irrespective of the bad throw/(s).

Even the strongest arms can bounce it every once in a while. I think in a showcase if only 1 or 2 go wild you'd rather them bounce, because they already saw your good throws- at least your bad throws keep the runner at 2nd, not have them 90' from home.

I guess if all of your throws are wild you went them to hit the center field wall and get all the strength in there.