#3 best recognizes the order of precedence. #1 and #2 kind of have a "cart before the horse" mentality.
Yes, of couse seeing (#2) the ball and judging it's location (#1) are important aspects of properly making ball and strike calls... but it is the call (#3) that determines whether a pitch is a strike or a ball.
If an umpire does not incorporate the perspective of #1 and #2 into the final action of #3, he will make bad calls and eventually get run out of town. But it is #3's perspective that is most mature and that is a step beyond the perhaps 'unrecognized' fallible positions of #1 and #2 ==> intelligent?
We all occasionally miss pitches... but every pitch must be called (even if it is by remaining quiet - ball). I guess I'm working my way into saying that #3 best recognizes the situation of the plate umpire and therefore espouses the most intelligent outlook.
I guess I could have wound some more philosophical mumbo jumbo into my answer but it looks sufficiently muddled.
