Okay, here’s my blog post about tracking catcher stats in 2024, written in the style you requested:
Alright, so I wanted to get a better handle on how my catchers were performing this year. I mean, beyond just, like, watching the games. I wanted numbers. So, I dove into this whole “catcher stats” thing, and let me tell you, it was a bit of a journey.
Getting Started (A Bit Clumsily)
First, I just started scribbling stuff down in a notebook. You know, the old-fashioned way. Every time a catcher threw someone out, I’d make a note. Every passed ball? Yep, that went in the book too. Stolen bases? You betcha. It was messy, but hey, it was a start, right?
I quickly realized that my chicken scratch wasn’t going to cut it. I needed something…more organized. So, I moved everything over to a spreadsheet on my computer. Much better! I could actually read my own notes now.
The Spreadsheet Struggle
I started with the basics:
- CS (Caught Stealing): How many runners did my catcher nail trying to steal?
- SB (Stolen Bases): How many times did a runner successfully steal on my catcher?
- PB (Passed Balls): Self-explanatory, how many pitches got past the catcher?
I put in every game which I played or watched, one by one. Plugging in all those numbers was a bit tedious, I won’t lie. But seeing it all laid out there, starting to form some actual data, that was pretty cool.
Leveling Up (A Little)
After a while, I thought to use the caught stealing percentage (CS%). It’s simple math, really. I used: CS / (CS + SB). That gave me a percentage, which was a way easier way to compare my catchers.
Then I added a few more columns to my spreadsheet:
- Game Date
- Opponent
- Catcher playing
I fill them all and I finally can get more information. I also started tracking some basic framing stuff, just making notes on whether I thought the catcher was doing a good job “selling” the borderline pitches to the umpire.
It’s not super scientific, I just write down my thoughts after watching them.
It’s Still a Work in Progress
I’m still figuring this all out. Looking at those numbers gives me a much better idea of who’s performing well behind the plate and who needs some extra work. It’s not perfect, but it’s way better than just going by my gut feeling.
My next step? Maybe find some software or an app that can automate. There’s gotta be something out there that can do all this number-crunching for me, right?
