Get a Grip On Release Times

Andy Ferguson: Another Day, Another Double Play

Last time I was working out catchers at one of our events, I heard plenty of stopwatches beeping in the stands. The dad cross checkers (or maybe mom cross checkers) were out in full force, filing away their own reports of the catcher release times. There isn’t anything wrong with that, though usually one of us has significantly lower times recorded than the other....

By now you probably know I am down on the standard measurable that most people like to live and die by. If not, just read back a bit – I have denounced both the 60-yard dash and fastball velocity over the last couple of months. Well, maybe not denounced…how about, I have been trying to put them into a meaningful context.

So, this week I would like to look into why catcher release times (I also hate the term “pop times”) are important. Since we all know the most basic reason in this case, I will skip that part and move on.

Lets do a little math to help this make sense. But first, I’ll introduce the term “steal time.” A steal time is the amount of time it takes a base stealer to reach second base from about a 12 foot lead. The watch starts on his first move, and stops when he reaches the bag.

Our first example will look at Major League standards. An approximate average steal time at the Major League level is 3.30 seconds. At the Major League level, the pitcher is expected to get the ball to the catcher in 1.3 seconds or less. The watch starts on his first move (in the stretch) and stops when the ball hits the catcher’s glove.

Now for the math (don’t worry, you shouldn’t need a calculator).

3.30 seconds = average Major League steal time
1.30 seconds = desired Major League pitcher release time
=
1.90 seconds = desired Major League catcher release time

I know there are 2.0 seconds leftover in this example, the 1.90 is an approximate desired release time at the Major League level. It just goes to show that if the pitcher and catcher both do their jobs, runners with solid average or maybe even above average steal times can be caught regularly.

It is important to note, the leftover 2.0 seconds above must include the throw and the tag. Any throws that are off line must reach the bag quicker in order to accommodate a tag.

Now, hold on a minute before you panic and run to the ballpark with a bucket of balls and a stopwatch. Remember that the above example was based on Major League standards. There are not too many guys running 3.30 at the high school level, and it is still pretty rare at the college level.

Below are similar examples*, with more realistic numbers for each level.

HIGH SCHOOL

3.70 seconds = steal times of 3.70 and up can be regularly caught
1.50 seconds = pitchers maximum release time
=
2.20 seconds = time remaining for throw and tag

COLLEGE

3.50 seconds = steal times of 3.50 and up can be regularly caught
1.40 seconds = pitchers maximum release time
=
2.10 seconds = time remaining for throw and tag

*As usual, I should point out that the examples above are simply my opinion. You will most certainly find different interpretations of average, and I only share mine to help explain the relationship between the factors.

I strongly believe that an ACCURATE throw of around 2.05 will result in more out calls than safe calls. I really don’t care what level either. If the pitcher gives you a chance, and you come out and throw 2.05 right on the money and the guy is safe…blame it on the pitcher…just kidding. There isn’t much more you can do. That’s why base stealers are so valuable, they require us to execute beyond our normal expectations in order to keep them from changing the game in the favor of their team.

Though I know everyone loves to talk about throwing from behind the plate, I have to finish with a reality check. If you can’t catch, you can’t catch. If you can’t block, you can’t catch. If you don’t understand the game, you can’t catch. If you can really throw, but can’t catch, you should pitch. If you can really catch, can throw a little, but can’t hit a lick, look into coaching....

Andy Ferguson is currently the Senior Director of Baseball Operations with the Baseball Factory. Ferguson joined the North Carolina State baseball team as a walk-on, and went on to solidify his role on a team that participated in four consecutive NCAA Regionals. He later coached with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League, and then served as an Associate Scout with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Diego Padres.