Dugout-called pitches? Giants under Tony Vitello might give it the old college try

A quiet revolution may be brewing in Major League Baseball, challenging a century-old assumption about who controls the game’s most strategic element: the pitch call. While pitchers and catchers have traditionally held that responsibility, a growing number of teams are experimenting with having coaches call pitches from the dugout, a practice long commonplace in NCAA Division I baseball.

The Shifting Landscape of Pitch Calling

For decades, the dynamic between pitcher and catcher has been central to the game. Pregame planning and in-game adjustments were largely left to those two players. However, the Miami Marlins have begun a full-scale experiment, utilizing assistant pitching coach Alon Leichman to call every pitch for the final nine games of last season and are committed to continuing the practice. The Colorado Rockies, having hired Leichman as their pitching coach, are also planning similar trials.

Did You Know? Buster Posey, the current Giants president of baseball operations, caught 56 postseason games in his career, winning three World Series titles.

A Giants Experiment

This shift is particularly noteworthy with the San Francisco Giants, given their recent hiring of Tony Vitello, a manager coming directly from the college ranks. Vitello, while acknowledging the evolving relationship between the professional and collegiate game, has indicated he’s open to calling pitches from the dugout at times, potentially relieving catcher Patrick Bailey of that responsibility. This willingness to explore new approaches is fueled, in part, by a desire to learn from past frustrations within the organization.

The decision isn’t being made unilaterally. Conversations are ongoing between Vitello, Bailey, Posey, director of pitching Frank Anderson, and pitching coach Justin Meccage. Posey, a traditionalist who exclusively called his own games throughout his Hall of Fame-caliber career, isn’t dismissing the idea outright, recognizing the potential value of a different perspective.

The Catcher’s Perspective

Bailey himself appears receptive to the possibility, stating he’s focused on winning and willing to adapt. He acknowledges the potential for a more streamlined process, particularly in a game increasingly burdened with information and new rules. However, he also emphasizes the importance of a catcher’s intuition and ability to read a hitter’s tendencies in real-time.

Expert Insight: The potential shift in pitch-calling authority represents a fundamental question about the value of experience and instinct versus data-driven analysis in baseball. While analytics have become increasingly prominent, the role of the catcher as a field general – observing, reacting, and building a rapport with the pitcher – remains a cornerstone of the game.

Other teams are approaching the idea with more caution. Managers like Stephen Vogt of the Cleveland Guardians and Skip Schumaker of the Texas Rangers remain staunch supporters of the catcher’s traditional role. They believe the connection between pitcher and catcher is invaluable and fear losing the “human element” of the game.

What’s Next?

It’s possible that the Marlins’ full commitment to dugout-called pitches could serve as a proving ground for the strategy. If they experience success, other teams may be more inclined to experiment. However, it’s also likely that many teams will continue to rely on their catchers, particularly those with a proven track record of game-calling ability. The Giants, with their unique blend of a college-bred manager and a traditional front office led by Posey, could become a bellwether for how the game evolves.

If more teams adopt this approach, a simple logistical change could be necessary: providing coaches with access to the PitchCom system, currently limited to on-field personnel. The future of pitch calling may depend on whether teams believe the potential benefits of a dugout-driven approach outweigh the risks of disrupting a long-held tradition.

Frequently Asked Questions

What prompted the Miami Marlins to experiment with dugout-called pitches?

The Marlins are committed to the strategy as an organizational initiative, believing it will help their pitchers get better results and provide a competitive advantage. They informed free agents they pursued and signed of this policy.

Is Buster Posey opposed to the idea of coaches calling pitches?

While Posey traditionally called his own games throughout his career, he is open to discussing the possibility and believes it’s worthwhile to explore different approaches.

What is Patrick Bailey’s stance on having pitches called from the dugout?

Bailey has stated he is willing to try anything that could help the team win, acknowledging it would be a significant change but expressing a willingness to adapt.

As baseball continues to evolve, will the role of the catcher fundamentally change, or will the traditional dynamic between pitcher and catcher endure?