Cameron Rupp works on sharpening tools behind the plate

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Every morning, the seven catchers in Phillies camp haul their duffel bags of equipment from the clubhouse at Spectrum Field more than 100 yards to the indoor batting cages at the Carpenter Complex. This is where, for 15 minutes, machines fire baseballs at them in the name of defensive improvement.

But it's not just balls in the dirt, the quintessential catcher's drill.

"We put the machine on tough pitches," Cameron Rupp said. "That ball that's down and a borderline strike. You work on trying to make that a presentable pitch. It's a big pitch for guys. It can fluctuate a 1-1 count to a 1-2 count or a 2-1 count. Now it's in the hitter's hands or the pitcher's hands."

This…