Deciphering the Signs

Because there was no catcher for summer ball his sophomore year in high school, Denis volunteered to catch, to be the backstop. Green though he was, he was a good enough athlete to please the pitchers, befriend the umps, and control the tempo of the game. He loved the mental game–the mood of his pitcher, calling the pitches, deciphering the signs of the opposing team. It was a full time job.

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Having a good relationship with the umpires was important–close pitches often went his way–but if he …