2

In baseball, 2 could refer to the catcher. The catcher is the one responsible for catching the pitches of the pitcher. He places himself directly behind the home plate and in front of the umpire to make that catch.

The catcher is as essential as any other player in a baseball team if not the most important. He often suggests pitches to the pitcher through hand signals between his legs so the other team does not know what the pitcher would do.

Other Duties of a Catcher

The catcher is at a good point where he can see the whole field. He should direct the other players on how the gameplay should be. He must also look out for fouls, bouncing balls, and runners’ contact during the whole game.

With these skills of a catcher, it can result in diminishing the effectiveness of the other team’s offense.

The Qualities of a Catcher

Unlike a pitcher, catchers do not get the recognition they deserve even if they do so much to succeed in a game. That is why a catcher who is selfless and willing to make the pitcher look good is necessary.

Another good trait of a catcher is to have a high threshold for pain. Catchers have to wear protective equipment, including a mask, chest and throat protectors, shin guards, and a padded catcher’s mitt. The reason here is because the catcher will take the foul balls, and the batters can hit them during a backswing or when the batter throws the bat on his way to the first base.

The catcher must be physically fit, too, because they have to dive and leap and even collide with the runners.

Keeping the Umpire Happy

The catcher is the baseball player who can most likely notice the tendencies, uniqueness, and quirks of a home-plate umpire. Being the closest to the umpire, the catcher must make sure he has a good relationship with the umpire because this can affect the umpire’s calls in the game.

The Catcher Must Calm Some Players Down

The catcher must also work to affect the emotional state of the players, particularly the pitcher. The catcher should try to calm the pitcher down when he becomes frustrated or talk to him when he struggles to make a good pitch.