[cowbyfan1]

Where this has gone!! I am offline for a couple days and it is all over the place. My point was pitchers hitting their spots, not what is the strike zone. It was also not ripping into Texas umpires by any means. That is why it is titled "If I didn't know any better.."

Tim thank you for your posts. Per usual you were on the mark. I think scguy is actually there as well in reading all this, just not really coming accross as he is.. He keeps saying 17" but if I am reading him right he will call that inside edge of the ball on the outside white edge of the plate.

In responce to what was asked of me before. In theory my strike zone is "17 inches" wide but in practice no. If the catcher is set up inside I will give the inside edge "the black" and even an inch more, but I will not let the catcher dive back across the plate to the outside corner, even if it pass over white a little. Everyone in the park see him diving out and expects it will be a ball. Conversely I do the same if he is set up on the outside corner. However if he moves that glove out a couple inches I will ball that pitch as it is too far out and basically unhittable. I will not be Eric Greg. Example, 0-2 count and the catcher slides outside just off the plate. The pitch hits the catchers mit square. It will be a ball as probably 95% of the coaches realize that it is a ball. They are just trying to get the hitter to chase that pitch. Works great with a decent slider/2 seam that breaks off the plate. 4 seam, not so much. Now if the pitcher "misses" his mark a little and the catcher reaches a little back towards the plate but catches the ball inside his frame, I will call that a strike, as it was there on the plate.

As far as the catcher catching it and how he catches it, yes it is important but not critical. If the pitch is borderline low and he turns his fingers down, it is a ball. If it is a "cock shot" and he drops it, I will stike that pitch. If he is on a corner and he drops it but keeps it in front of him, I will strike that. If it goes to the backstop, ball. If he rises up and blocks my view ball. If the coaches asks where that pitch was, I simple tell him the catcher thought it was high and came up to where I could not see it, so I have to expect that the pitch was high. Ususally is folled by the coach telling his catcher to stay down on those pitches.

In theory, a bad catcher may cost his pitcher 4 or 5 pitches per game, at the most (ok some may do even more). A great catcher will help his pitcher a few pitches a game by making those borderline pitches look great, usually with a good stick.

As well, if a catcher is set up in the middle of the plate. I will give a little bit of a reach to the corners and even let the catcher lean a bit. In warmups I tell the catcher if he wants to stay behind the point, I will give them the reach to get that inside corner or to make sure they slide back a bit if they do set up inside, whatever it takes so I can see that inside pitch. Outside corner I don't tho as they can set up there and I can see the plate without a problem.

Also don't miscontrue me either. I am not saying a pitcher has to hit the glove exactly where the catcher puts it. He needs to keep it basically in the catchers "frame".

wheeew.. Sorry so long but I think I hit on all that was asked of me or commented on..