I watch high school baseball and yes, the catchers do miss the ball when its a hard breaking ball, wild pitch, or windy day. You cannot tell anything from these pictures.
As a Rangers fan, I have watched my share of pitches go past the catcher as well.
It’s also a playoff game so it would be counter productive for the catcher to just let it go by. But he is clearly ducking, a sure sign that he lost the ball and was protecting himself.
The first picture shows the glove in the strike zone, after that he was all over the place.
Has no one seen a ref get hit by a pitch? They do wear protective gear for a reason.....pitchers dont always throw strikes, catchers cant always handle the pitch.
How many of you have played the game? Geez
Yes, and it is usually a tipped ball that strikes an umps mask. If it is a wild pitch, the catcher is usually moving towards the ball and just misses it, instead of diving towards the ground on a high pitch. The only explanation I could understand is if he lost it in the sun or something. The explanation that the catcher expected a breaking ball but the pitcher threw a fast ball seems a little far-fetched from the video.
How many of you have played the game? Geez
Yes, mostly third base though and not catcher.
The pictures don't give you much information. Watch the video at the source, it looks strange.