When Comic-Book Characters Field And Pitch

Last time out, we examined the hitting styles of some well-known and obscure ballplayers both. Naturally, what happens on the other side of the ball demands examination as well; it’s half the game, after all (or more, depending on who you believe) ...

Richie Rich

Money might not buy happiness, but it can buy a psychological advantage. Seeing Richie put that extra padding in his glove, opponents are going to think his battery mate throws 20 miles per hour faster than he actually does. Richie clearly has a definite feel for catching. A feel he didn’t have when playing elsewhere on the diamond ...

C’mon, Andy - are you really going to let a rooster on a roller skate score on you like that? You own that plate. Pretend there’s a pile of bamboo on it and that rooster has come to take it from you. Get out in front of the dish and give him a taste of your shinbone. You’ll never tag anybody out setting up behind the plate. And ditto for you, Little Veronica:

Wonder Woman

Good form is just part of the equation for a quality backstopper. Pitch-calling is also a major component and if Wonder Woman is going to grin like a goof when she just called a pitch that’s been hit with such authority, then maybe it’s time to find another position.

Elmer Fudd

The best catchers have take-charge personalities and it’s pretty obvious that Fudd doesn’t. Catchers make things happen - Fudd let’s them happen -- which isn’t to say he needs to be quite as proactive as Billy Bear, seen here.

Woody Woodpecker

“Sound fundamentals” is a hoary baseball cliché, but there are times when there’s really nothing else to say. What can be more fundamental than the correct use of the equipment?

Homer the Happy Ghost

There are two types of outfielders: Those who will go through a fence to make a play and those who won’t. We’ll take the former every time.

Heckle and Jeckle

Backing up a play is good, sound outfielding. Converging on a ball so fast that you’re both there to contribute when it arrives is a testament to speed and positioning. Never forget: It’s a team sport.

Jimmy Olsen

Speaking of positioning, it’s important to start each play exactly where the scouting reports indicate you should be - no matter how rangy one may be. Sure, Olsen made this play sitting in the stands eating a hot dog, but the first time he doesn’t they’ll never let him forget it.

Mighty Mouse

And what good is five-way range (left, right, forward, back, up) if you don’t watch the ball all the way into the glove? Fortunately, Mighty Mouse has no such issues.

Blackie Bear

Write this down, young ballplayers: Ingenuity is no substitute for desire.

Popeye

There’s a right way to make an old school two-handed catch and a wrong way. Popeye = right. Donald Duck = wrong.

Dennis the Menace

Desire, concentration, speed, focus - it’s all there. If he can hit even a little bit, this kid is going to stick.

Beetle Bailey

Here’s a tip for you young hurlers out there: You don’t have to throw a hand grenade on every pitch, but if you chuck one early in the count, batters are going to be over-thinking for the rest of their at-bat.

Robin, Batman and Superman

It’s very daunting for an opponent to look out to the bullpen and see this trio warming up. They all have good form, especially Superman (and Batman’s release point does seem a bit too high). The question here is for their manager: If you’re going to warm up three relievers, shouldn’t at least one of them be a lefty?

Little Dot

Emulating an established star pitcher is not a bad idea in itself. The problems can come if you pick the wrong one. For better or worse, Dot has clearly chosen Dock Ellis.

Blue Bolt

Double B has a nice release, but one look at that ball tells you there isn’t much movement on his pitches. Good mechanics and blazing heat are not enough to compensate for little or no rotation.

Georgie

There’s nothing wrong with using the latest technology to help improve performance, but at some point, you’ve got to rely on your talent. If that’s not enough, this sort of attention to detail might suggest a career as a pitching coach.

Nancy

The name of this game is intimidation. It’s only spring training and Nancy’s already working on her inside game. You don’t think it’s going to get around the league that she’s not afraid to plant one in a batter’s junk?