[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally posted by greymule
"Deep" is not in the rule book, and where it came from I don't know, but the term is widely used and universally understood at the higher levels, at least here in central NJ. It means that the pitch did not make the back shoulder. It went over the zone. In baseball parlance, it was "high," but "high" means something else in SP.

Unfortunately, many players (and some umpires) think "deep" means that the pitch hit too far behind the plate. I've had catchers, before the first pitch of the game, ask me where my "line" is. Some umpires even draw a "strike line" before the game starts. But of course there is no line—the ball has to pass through the zone, and where it can hit and be a strike varies with the height of the pitch.

"Blue, you calling the player or the plate today?"

"Yes"

In my experience, there is significant variability by region. Pennsylvania and Delaware teams invariably think our umps call too tight a zone. New Jersey teams think Delaware and Maryland umps give the pitcher too much.

Well, I can speak for Delaware umpires. I teach them to call a true strike zone. Does that mean they do? Nope, but I do my best to get it into their head. One of the best complements DASA umpires received was a few years ago at the Nat. School in Chester, PA. One of the PA player/umpires complained that when they play in DE, the umpires didn't care where the ball landed when the worked the plate. Delaware umpires believe PA umpires (SP) do not call high pitches, period! Meanwhile, go to VA and see what 10' pitches look like

Another regional variation: absolutely no SP umpire in this area follows the ASA mechanic and bends at the waist as the pitch is on the way. I tried that for a little while, but pitches that I normally would have called as deep/over the zone/high looked like strikes.

This is exactly what was reported to me after a school in Bergen County a couple of years ago. The umpires would bend their back (as opposed to their knees) in FP, but wouldn't bend anything in SP. Using the proper mechanics means you will see more strikes clearly. Just because you wouldn't normally call them strikes from your other position doesn't mean they are not strikes.

As for height on pitches, I've never been able to use the brim of the hat or trees beyond the outfield fence or any other such markers. A slight difference in stance seems to change the perspective drastically. To me, if there's doubt, it's high. You will have far fewer problems if you enforce height right from the beginning. The pitchers may gripe in the first inning, but if you start letting them get away with high pitches, the game can get out of control quickly.

Unless there is another focal point available, I will use my hat brim, but when I set it up, I use the box on a basketball backboard and stand a little pass the top of the key. Yes, it is not a full 12', but it gives you a good idea. BTW, at the schools, you will usually be told to use 7-11 as a starter so if you miss a close one, you will still be inside the 6-12 range.

The good pitchers know that high pitches, as well as "deep" ones, are very difficult to hit. So at the beginning of the game they routinely test an ump they don't know to see what they can get away with.

rwest, my advice is "make the pitcher throw strikes."

I don't make the pitcher throw anything. If any part of the ball passes through any part of the strike zone, it's a strike. And I call a rule book strike zone, not the players.