Steve Soliz peppers the Angels catchers with fastballs from the pitching machine each morning. They start at 60 feet 6 inches.
After every three each player secures, they take two steps up, until they are within 45 feet of the machine. It is, more or less, a pitch-framing drill. The intention is to quicken the time in which catchers can react come game time by limiting the time they have in practice, said Soliz, the Angels' catching and information coach.
"We are creating that unnerving moment where you have to stay soft, you have to be efficient with your movements," he said.