PORT CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Major League Baseball made game-calling more difficult for catchers this winter when it changed the rules governing mound visits. For backstops with the Tampa Bay Rays, things got even trickier when the club announced plans for a four-man rotation to open the season.
Pitching coach Kyle Snyder had an idea to help, and catchers Wilson Ramos and Jesus Sucre were eager to hop on board -- quarterback-style wristbands loaded with information designed to help with pitch calling.
The Rays are joining the Indians, Mets and some others as teams arming their catchers with data-filled forearm sleeves.