The "spoken" line
Funny this topic should come up. A few weeks ago I had a game where a pitch came in just above the knees and half on the outside edge of the plate. Being the observant umpire I am, I called a strike.
The kid puts a foot out of the box and looks at his coach. His coach gives him that "Where was it?" look.
I'm just thinking to myself 'tell the truth, kid, don't get stupid." He was the offensive team's catcher, so he knows how to size up a pitch.
"It was low and off the plate, coach." The coach tells him it's okay, he didn't want that one anyway. Oh... That dumb kid.
The next pitch comes in low and off the plate. I call a strike. Isn't that where I called the last one? I gotta be consistent, right? The kid looks at me. I just give him a nod and smile. He got the point and hit a nice Texas-Leaguer on the next pitch.
Funny thing was that he was a pleasure to have behind the plate.
-Craig
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