Catch This If You Can?
The role of catcher is a pivotal role on the diamond and has a number of very important jobs.
The first job is to make the pitchers look as good as possible. This is not a Carson Kelsey like role, but rather involves stopping everything that the pitcher throws in the general direction of the batter and home plate.
The second job is to help the Pitcher work out what sort of pitch he is going to throw. Catchers are supposed to research their opposition (the Bulls feel this can be done from the bar the day prior to the game) and work out what the hitters like to hit and what they can't hit. Once this extensive research is completed on opposition players, the catcher will make a wild guess as to the best pitch to throw to the batter. If the pitcher agrees and throws the pitch correctly, then the ball either hits the glove or bat squarely. Results can vary. If the pitcher does not throw the pitch correctly, the ball can either hit the back fence , mascot, umpire (hopefully) or be slammed over the home run fence.
The third job catchers do is protecting and helping the umpire. The catcher protects the umpire by catching the ball before it hits the umpire (or his guide dog). The catcher helps the umpire by providing verbal indications for strikes....
Catchers also take a 'beating' behind the plate from wayward pitches and foul tips. For this reason, catchers are protected with the mask, chest plate and shin pads. Of course, one of the most important protection items is the 'box'. The box is there to protect one of the catcher's most treasured body parts. Rumour has it that some of the Alice crew of catchers do not wear the box. Is it that they do not treasure their bodies or is it that this treasured body part is of little use and no longer 'treasured' by either the individual or their partner?
The coach also has a role in protecting players and keeping injuries to a minimum. Does this mean coach Watta-bull will be undertaking box checks? If so, how will he administer the check? If there is an injury to this part of the body, how will coach Watta-bull administer first aid treatment?
The squad going to Alice has 5 (do you believe that) blokes that can play behind the plate and judging by their photos, they will make everyone look good just by standing next to them. This lot also has some enthuiastic researchers. Several of them have been know to spend hours researching the opposition from the bar.
Our catchers include
- "Rocket" Ron Taylor - was looking good for 4 or 5 games behind the plate in Alice, but has recently been hamstrung. Will require intensive physio or a new leg to be able to walk by Alice.
- Greg "Erecta-Bull" Milburn - State junior catcher and still a cunning catcher. Doesn't wear a box - obviously has enough kids, but sadly can't catch anymore since the bionic knees where put in.
- Danny "Banka-Bull" Langley (right) - Good catcher - eats anti-inflammatory drugs like smarties , after a day behind the plate and has been known to use a milking stool when in the squat. Danny is also imfamous for not being able to fit into a "one size fits all" baseball cap. It seems that while the rest of Danny may be adult sized (and Nessy will have to verify one particular adult sized claim), Danny's head is to small for a "one size fits all" cap. It seems he packs his ample intelligence into a small space.
- Bruce "Testi-Bull" Lucas - Wiley old catcher of great skill and enomony of movement. Looks like he could sit behind the plate all day. Tends to use quality red wine to dull the pain of catching.
- AJ "Networka-Bull" - Alice rookie and youngest of the lot. Quality of knees and catching ability is unknown. Is an enthusiastic researcher who appears to adapt well to the Bull researcher methodologies. Needs to learn to catch the ball in the glove not his bare hand.
Read "Bulls Hit Weekly" for more breaking news as the lead up to the Alice Masters intensifies.