Catching too much plate--what a great phrase. I tend to think of that as sinful, but also believe it depends on the situation. Sometimes you can absolutely get away with it if you have the batter guessing.
Last night, Tuesday, against the Jays I saw a fascinating. sequence. 8th inning, man on base, 2 out, Vazquez catching, and Kelly brought in to get the last out. Righty at bat. It takes Kelly 8 pitches and a 3-2 count before he gets the K. He throws several heaters and at least a couple knuckle curves. Finally, he throws an 88 mph slider low in the zone which Grichuk absolutely hammers--foul line drive into the left field stands. So what does Vazquez call for? A knuckle curve, with a little more break, in almost exactly the same spot--swinging strike three. I swear that pitching is as much art and artifice as it is muscle and coordination and hitting charts, etc.
These guys know more about baseball than we ever imagined existed.
It's a mere moment in a man's life between the All-Star game and the Old Timer's game.
-Vin Scully