I didn't forget about the guy behind the dish! So many times we forget about arguably the most important position player on the field, the catcher.

The guy who takes control of the game and leads by example. In this episode, we bring on Xan Barksdale, the founder of catching-101.com. Xan is a former division 1 college baseball coach at Lousiville and East Tennessee State.

After coaching college baseball for nine years he decided that in order to help more players he needed to take advantage of the internet and spread his wisdom though books DVD, Camps, and speaking engagements.

He hosts a catching conference every year called Catcher Con in Nashville Tennessee. We go over technology and how it has helped evaluate catchers, pitch framing, blocking, drills, and the importance of the bullpen.

•  Running catching-101.com and Catcher Con
• Recruiting a defensive first catcher.
• Technology has now allowed us to evaluate catchers.
• Receiving is #1, blocking and throwing would be #2 and #3
• Can't put a metric on pitch framing at younger levels. Trained eye.
• Some coaches like players to be raw behind the dish, can mold them.
• Coaching at Louisville and East Tennessee State
• Coaching college baseball for 9 years.
• Why Xan decided to stop coaching at the college level.
• Can reach a lot more people online
• Joining USA Baseball
• Consulting with organizations
• Catchers Conference in Nashville, Tennessee
• Do Catchers need to be the loudest player on the field?
• The importance of the bullpen. Coaches force catchers to be active
• No more than two pitches go buy before catcher speaks
• Applying 'feel' to work with pitchers
• Drills - keeping it simple. Should be focused on one specific thing

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