Umpires come with all personalities and outlooks on life, including ideas of whether laws and other regulations in life are rules or merely guidelines. That approach to life carries over onto the field as well, whether coaching, playing, or umpiring. Nothing new there.
However, even the rulesniks should have no confusion about the "any part of the ball" notion on the high and low pitch. We are not to call those strikes. It says so in the books, and in any school / clinic you will go to that addresses the topic of the strike zone.
Going by the book, and assuming this batter is next to the plate and in her normal batting stance, neither A nor C are strikes.
Quote:
ASA Umpire Manual (2004)
SECTION 2
PLATE MECHANICS
FAST PITCH AND MODIFIED PITCH MECHANICS
Set Position
...
In calling balls and strikes, it is generally most accepted to bring the pitch down or up into the strike zone, and widen it out, making sure to give a good corner....
|