Dillon Dingler is growing into one among baseball’s higher catchers. Taking part in in his first full massive league season, the 27-year-old Detroit Tigers backstop banged out 13 residence runs whereas slashing .278/.327/.425 with a 109 wRC+ over 469 plate appearances. Furthermore, he was value six DRS and posted well-above-average framing numbers. His 4.1 WAR ranked third finest amongst junior circuit catchers.
Dingler’s defensive chops prolong to his game-calling, which is completed in collaboration with Detroit’s pitching group. Preparation is a group energy — final yr’s pitching chaos didn’t succeed accidentally — and never simply because pitching coach Chris Fetter is broadly considered an adept game-planner. The whole teaching workers is thorough, and so too is the previous Ohio State Buckeye, who squatted behind the dish in 115 video games this season. (Dingler additionally crammed in on the DH place on occasion.)
The pregame pitcher conferences that precede each recreation was on my thoughts once I sat down with Dingler on the ultimate day of the common season. I used to be primarily enthusiastic about studying how the Tigers go about them, together with simply what position the catchers play within the dissemination of data. What I came upon is that the Tigers — ditto Dingler himself — differ considerably from most different groups. Not having each catchers within the room, which is the widespread observe, is an instance.
“We do it because the beginning catcher, the pitcher, our catching coach, Ryan Sanko, Chris Fetter, and [assistant pitching coach] Robin Lund,” defined Dingler. “That’s just about it. It’s often a smaller group.”
After which there may be the preparation he does earlier than the assembly even begins.
“I love to do my homework beforehand,” Dingler instructed me. “I’ll go on True Media — I discovered a system that I like — and take notes on the opposing lineup. I at all times write issues down earlier than the assembly, then suppose by them in order that I can convert it to reminiscence. As soon as we’re in there, Fet will undergo their lineup. We mainly undergo every man and decide the way in which that we’re going to pitch him.”
Fetter often does “a lot of the speaking,” however there may be back-and-forth all through. For example, if the starter feels that one thing else might work — he could have a powerful choice for a sure pitch — he’ll talk that to the group and the concept will likely be mentioned. Dingler additionally chimes in, together with his degree of familiarity typically dictating how a lot he has to say. Whether it is recreation three or 4 of a collection, or if the Tigers have already confronted the group a number of occasions on the season, he can “communicate from reminiscence” on what he’s noticed behind the plate. After which there are his notes, which “are at all times in entrance of me.”
The homework he does earlier than the pitcher assembly stays contemporary in his thoughts as soon as the instruments of ignorance have been strapped on, as does the data that was communicated to the events at hand by Fetter. However though diligent number-crunching and game-planning play a giant position in how the Tigers go about attacking hitters, pitch-calling is much from a paint-by-numbers train. Dingler acknowledges that.
“We’ll do a fast little abstract of the hitters proper earlier than we go on the market, however that’s extra so to ensure that we keep on with our strengths and don’t attempt to get too cute,” Dingler mentioned. “You in all probability don’t need your pitcher to be throwing his fourth-best pitch in lots of conditions. As soon as the sport begins, you’re additionally seeing the swings, seeing what the hitter is making an attempt to do. You’re seeing his takes. You’re seeing what your pitcher has good command of, what he has really feel for. You piece all of it collectively from there.”
However once more, detailed game-planning is the Tigers’ manner of going about it, and their studious catcher has the identical type of mindset. Not everybody who performs his place walks right into a pregame assembly with a notepad of data that he gathered himself, however Dingler does. It’s a giant a part of how he prepares.
“It’s a type of issues the place it’s not one measurement matches all,” Dingler mentioned of his observe. “You’ve received to determine what works for you, identical to you’ve received to determine what works for the workers. I like writing issues down, as a result of I can convert it to reminiscence. It makes me really feel extra snug once I’m again there. After I’m uncomfortable is once I don’t know what to go to, and I don’t like that feeling. I wish to be as ready as potential.”
Due diligence will likely be to the nth diploma for Dingler and the Tigers at this time. When the group will get collectively for the pregame pitchers’ assembly, they are going to be evaluating notes for a winner-take-all Wild Card Recreation 3 towards the Guardians in Cleveland. The extent of preparation will likely be excessive. It should come all the way down to how properly they execute the plan.