Athlete of the Week: In His Own Hands

Catchers are very much the quarterbacks of baseball because they’re not just managing the pitchers; they manage other team players as well. senior catcher Ryan Sullivan succeeds because he operates much in the same way. He stays calm, levelheaded, and is able to control the game when his pitcher is not sharp that day. He’ll even go as far to tell him how his approach is wrong and what steps can be taken to correct it. That energetic mentality allows him to stay in the moment and brush off failure when it’s easy to strike out from it. Pun intended.

As Northborough Patch gets ready to cover the spring season, Sullivan is equally as eager to put on his mask, hold out his glove, and watch balls pass seamlessly through the strike zone. 

Northborough Patch: How far in advance do you prepare for the baseball season?
Ryan Sullivan: I start going to the gym as soon as football season ends and then I start hitting the batting cages in December.

Patch: Not only do you spend time playing one of the most difficult positions in the game, but you’re required mentally to be aware of all pitcher and hitter tendencies. Is it easy to lose track?
Sullivan: To be honest, sometimes it is easy to lose track. But, we have player cards that we use to see where players are hitting the ball. That has definitely worked to my advantage!

Patch: While we’re on the topic, how important is it for the catcher to be in tune with the pitcher?
Sullivan: It’s very important for the catcher to be in tune with the pitcher because different pitches break different and it makes it easier to see where curve balls will drop if you’re familiar with the pitcher.

Patch: Do you always have a pretty good idea of how you’re going to attack the opposing team’s batter?Sullivan: Yes, you can always tell the first time you see a batter face the pitcher what his tendencies are - whether he likes inside pitches, or a fast ball, or curve ball.

Patch: Much has been made about baseball players and their psyches. Do you have any superstitions before/on game day?
Sullivan: Not really, I just like to enjoy sitting and relaxing before a game. I don’t have any weird rituals (laughs).

Patch: If you could compare yourself to one catcher in the MLB, who would it be? What similarities do you see between yourselves?
Sullivan: I would have to say that I’m more like Alex Gonzalez - a contact hitter and decent arm.

Patch: Who’s your favorite baseball team?
Sullivan: The Boston Red Sox

Patch: What’s the best compliment you received from a coach or player after a big win?
Sullivan: My coach told me I didn’t look out of place my sophomore year on varsity (laughs).

Patch: How long do you plan on playing baseball? What are your plans for when you go to college?
Sullivan: I have been talking to a couple of college coaches over the winter. I have committed to Keene (State) so I plan to try and walk on there.