Every umpire is not the same. Each has his own ability and understanding of "the zone." It's possible that an individual umpire's ability (apparent consistency) may change within a single game. Much of the appearance of consistency is truly dependent upon the ability of the pitcher. If the pitcher can consistently place the ball where it needs to be placed for either called strikes or to get the batter swinging, the umpire's job is much simpler. It is when a pitcher cannot find the plate/catcher/zone etc. that the umpire's job is difficult because he is searching for a reason to call a strike. "PLEASE, GIVE ME A STRIKE."
Understand Dad, umpires want to call strikes. Balls are monotonous and boring. We want to call strikes and have batters swinging.
As pointed out earlier (by Dakota, Tom) if your daughter has the ability to precisely locate her pitches she is going to dominate... unless SHE CHOOSES TO PRECISELY LOCATE THEM OUTSIDE THE UMPIRE'S STRIKE ZONE. "Ball, ball, ball, ball, Please give me a strike, ball, ball, ball, ball. Please... a strike? Please?
As someone else pointed out, a pitcher cannot start outside the zone and expect to get strike calls. She must start with pitches in the zone and then, not challenge the umpire to make calls outside the zone, but entice the batter to swing at those outside pitches. Now the umpire can reasonably expand his zone... if that's the way he works - call the pitches strikes, at which the batter's are swinging. But understand Dad, as several have pointed out, the umpire is never obligated to call a strike for a pitch that is delivered outside the zone. Most of us here try not to do that. We are, however, obligated to see that the batter has opportunity to hit the ball (that it is in the zone).
The umpire does not conform to the pitcher. The pitcher must conform to the umpire's strike zone. Anything else would be unfair.
A humorous story... and I don't remember the names.
McGillicudy, a powerful, confident batter, known for his excellent batsmanship, comes to the plate. Pitcher and catcher are a more that a little anxious. Catcher calls for a pitch on the inside edge of the plate. McGillicudy stands there calmly. Ball, yells the umpire. Catcher thinks well it might have been a little bit in. Okay, let's try the outside edge of the plate. McGillicudy stands there again. Ball, yells the umpire. Catcher thinks, wow, that looked pretty good. Perhaps it was out. Better call for one down the tube. McGillicudy never even moves a muscle. Ball, yells the umpire. Catcher is flabbergasted now. He asks the umpire "What the heck does it take to get a strike call?!!"
The umpire's response, "McGillicudy will let you know when it is a strike."
I find it kind of funny. But in summation, there is one thing that makes a pitch a strike; the umpire must call it a strike (or McGillicudy has got to swing at it). Your daughter must convince the umpire (and the batters) that she is throwing strikes. End of story.
