Sore hand

[om21ed]

This just struck me as a little bit funny, but potentially serious. My son, almost 10 years old, a lefty, wants to pitch. I don't know how, so i signed him up for lessons with a former minor leaguer. Well,a casual game of catch is now an exercise in self defense. But the real problem is my old Ken Griffey Jr glove doesn't have much paddding. The kid is throwing about 43 miles per hour (some control isssues)and it HURTS. Also, I notice when I go to play mandolin at night I really have a hard time loosening up my left hand.I guess I better get a catcher's mit--any reccommendations ? What about hand exercises, I've never been one for stretching but I don't want to get arthritis in my hands--or give up catching the kid (at least while I can)

[DryBones]

yep, get a catchers mitt and a face mask and enjoy your time with your son while you can, they grow up fast!

[JGWoods]

Can you fit a gloved hand into your mitt? I see lots of guys with a (padded?) glove on the inside.

[mishima]

Hello: Get some Thera-putty.
Squeeze it in your hand, with your finger tips and between your fingers.

[MikeVB]

I've had the same problem for 6 years of coaching Little League in a baseball crazy town. My solution - focus on learning to only catch the ball in the pocket. I'm serious.

I think after a while it also toughened my hand back up to the way it use to be when I actually worked for a living. Then I got better on the instruments.

The real killer - chainsaws and hedgetrimmers.

[Jim Roberts]

As a former catcher, I can't strongly enough emphasis the need for a cup. #You get hit in the huevos with a forty-three (soon to be fifty!) mph fastball without a cup and you won't be playing the mandolin for a week or so! #You will, however, be singing an octave higher than usual! #Get a pro-level catchers mit for your hand. #I'll bet your minor leaguer will know where to get one.

Enjoy!

[Roydw3]

I used to be a catcher. I caught a couple of serious fast ball pitchers when I was younger. After the games, my hand would be blue for two or three days. They didn't have the great big huge mits with all the padding and that were designed to catch the ball in the pocket. They used to teach you to catch it in the palm of your hand. Now, they have huge gloves with good padding and huge pockets. I recommend you get a good glove. At that age you probably will not need a face mask, helmet, or cup yet...but as he get's older you will need those items. Also, if you notice him starting to throw junk (which I don't recommend until he is older...much older...and stay away from the curve ball...throw fast ball related movement pitches). Good luck and have fun.

Denny

[Jim M.]

I used to be a catcher too. My violin teacher was always annoyed that I wouldn't give up sports to focus on violin, and he'd get really annoyed if I hurt my hand. He said I'd never make it to Carnegie Hall if I didn't get serious and give up games. I guess he was right.

Anyway, if you're being a catcher for your son, you should definitely get a pro glove and possibly other equipement. If you're just playing catch, it probably wouldn't hurt to get a better glove, but learning to catch in the web is a very good idea. The other thing to be careful about is your throwing arm. If you haven't been throwing regularly, it's pretty easy to overdo it.

For hand strength, I've always liked these things. Also, the vibration really seems to help loosen up my whole forearm.

[om21ed]

Thanks for the feedback. I've been shopping mits today, there's a Rawlings that looks pretty good at a reasonable price. I am thinking a face mask too,or new glasses --had some pretty expensive dental work I'd hate to mess up. He wants to throw up to 3X a day so the speed is likely to increase. Fortunately, the he takes the lessons from is a reputable guy. He's only working on fastballs . I'll try to catch "in the pocket" and work the hands with a powerball. Guess. its time to work on "Take me out to the ballgame"

[chuck.naill]

It'll only get worse. Get as much protection as possible includeing shin guards and a helmet. Before long you will have a batting cage and Jugs pitching machine in the back yard. I agree with using the padded glove inside the mit.

Chuck

[gnelson651]

I used to catch for my daughter who played fastpitch softball. She could throw hard and fast!(In fact, she was one of the few top B ball pitchers in the city). I also coached softball so I would catch for the other pitchers on the team as well.

At the minimum find a well padded coachers mitt and use a batting glove inside the mitt. Also get a pair of shin guards, they'll save your knees and shins. I found that I didn't need a mask/helmut because it can limit your vision, especially if you are coaching your pitcher.

I found that a good softball catchers mitt with an oversize pocket makes it easy to catch even a hardball. I used a SSK Medal Pro but just about any brand will do.

Good luck to your son, you are now officially a "Bucket Dad" (whether you use a bucket to sit on or not). Its great fun to watch your son/daughter pitch, especially if you work with them regularly. I took my daughter out 5 days a week for about 30-45 minutes. But softball fastpitch is not as demanding on the arms/shoulders as overhand pitching.

Just remember to let your son have FUN and keep the coaching comments to a minimum or you'll burn him out quickly.

[MikeVB]

Best way to build up his arm? Six words: long toss, long toss, long toss!

Have fun it goes by fast. And, despite what all the other Dad's say about why it's ok for a 10-yr-old to throw curves, he'll be better in the long run if he focuses on consistently spotting his fastball D&A and U&I (down and away, up and in).

[harleymando]

hello, if he is on a team, get him to work with the catcher from the team, the more they work together, the more they can get batters out!

[chuck.naill]

Quote:

And, despite what all the other Dad's say about why it's ok for a 10-yr-old to throw curves, he'll be better in the long run if he focuses on consistently spotting his fastball

Excellent advise

chuck

[ShaneJ]

One more....catch it in the web, that's what it's there for. If you want to catch it in the palm of your hand, you don't need a glove.

If you're just catching, and there's no batter, you shouldn't need all the other gear. If he's a little wild, but not throwing curves, you will likely survive with no major injuries (read: you'll likely not need the cup). Just squat at a slight angle. I usually end up down on my right knee with my left forearm resting on my left knee. (I'm lazy!) At least in that position, the worst that can happen is getting one in the shin. If you have a nice level patch of grass or dirt in front of you, you won't get many bad hops.

Now...off to the ball field. It's my day to work the concession stand.

[gnelson651]

Best way to build up his arm? #Six words: long toss, long toss, long toss!

Have fun it goes by fast. #And, despite what all the other Dad's say about why it's ok for a 10-yr-old to throw curves, he'll be better in the long run if he focuses on consistently spotting his fastball D&A and U&I (down and away, up and in).

I agree on staying away from the off speed stuff. At 10-12 years he should be working on hitting his corners and change up.

Although my (at the time 12 years old) daughter could throw several off speed softball pitches (drop-ball, curve, knuckle curve, screw ball) her meat and potato pitches were fast balls to the corners and a killer change up. I would use her other pitches sparingly mostly as a waste pitch (see if the batter will chase the ball). She was highly successful in strike outs, ground outs or pop ups by hitting her corners and change up pitches. The key is knowing what to throw your batter.

If you email me, I have a chart that shows what pitches to throw to what type of batter. Although it is for softball, it can be used in hardball as well.

[chuck.naill]

Lets start a forum for new parents entering the world of youth baseball and softball. I could write a book on what to do and what not to do...just kidding.


chuck

[red7flag]

Ex Catcher too. Glove helps, but hated the feel, I put a sponge in the palm then the glove.
Tony

[Roydw3]

One other thing...make sure you warm up...after not throwing for years, I went out to throw with my son and really hurt my shoulder throwing too far, too hard, too soon. It has been two years and it will not heal. Be careful...us old guys need to take it slow

[om21ed]

well, wouldn't you know it, got the catcher's mit, started breaking it in, and the darn kid has a skateboarding accident and sprains his wrist. Luckily he should be okay in a week. Skateboarding days are over (at least until after Fall ball) But my hand is recovering and maybe getting a little stronger. Thanks for all the suggestions.

[Clyde Clevenger]

I had the pleasure of catching for my son from T-ball through college. It's too important to miss, the hand will heal. My son developed great velosity, but the control was never great. Kept the old man on his toes.

[mandroid]

heck maybe a palm padded bicycle glove inside the catchers mitt, for good measure.
BBC had an old recording of the last Castrato soprano, Im glad they got over requiring that procedure and started hiring Women instead..

[GVD]

Jim Roberts Posted #

As a former catcher, I can't strongly enough emphasis the need for a cup. #You get hit in the huevos with a forty-three (soon to be fifty!) mph fastball without a cup and you won't be playing the mandolin for a week or so!

So now you tell me! I used to be a second baseman but once and only once I talked my coach into letting me catch at practice. Big mistake. Let's just say I didn't start playing the mandolin for about 20 years after that and even then it was probably too soon. #

GVD