[jicecone]

Originally posted by phumbeutel33
What follows is a little lesson in baseball:

Anyone watching the White Sox game? Well, top of the second, 2nd out is SO on a pitch clearly out of the strikezone. Batter (Veritek? Can't recall.) barks at umpire. Piazza, doing color announcing, says "They all knew it coming in. Hirschbeck has a wide zone." This is after first inning commentary on the strikezone where it was said "well, it's consistent, but the strikezone is wide. Hirschbeck wants them up there swinging the bat."

Okay, with a known wide zone, it's a big factor. When batters are forced to swing at things merely close, perhaps 4 inches above the 'true zone', four below, four outside and four inside, you see a lot of ground balls, a lot of questionable SO's, a lot of flies that wouldn't otherwise occur.

In other words, it can contribute to lower scores and poorer offensive numbers.

So after an inning and a half, the commentary has already twice talked about the fact that the home plate umpire's strikezone is known in the league, is exceptionally wide, and will be a factor in the game. But I guess all of you know more than Mike Piazza, a catcher, dealing with the umpires, for what, 15 years now? Or perhaps Piazza, like me, is just an idiot. What fool thinks umpires have tendencies, that umpires call games certain ways, and that, god forbid, they can be quantified and contribute to the outcome of a game?? Fools, we are!!!

As an earlier post said, yes, knowing the umpire is for betting. It is one factor. Not the end all and be all factor, but a factor. There is no factor that is the only factor to consider when betting baseball. There are probably 10 crucial ones, and knowledge of all of them leads to an educated bet. Knowing the umpire is one of them.

No guarantees, though, of course. Clement comes out, hits the first two batters, can't get anywhere around the strike zone, and therefore the umpire becomes moot. Hey, it happens, and that's why they play. Anything can happen.

No, you will not get rich on betting on umpires, but it is important, especially if betting overs and unders. Wide strike zones generally bring about low scores. Tight zones, especially with a team like Boston that is known for patience at the plate, play into a higher score for a hitting team like Boston. Wide zones detract.

As far as what umpires I'm curious about and reading my mind, I don't know how that was so ambiguous. If you had an answer or a site to point me to, I imagine they'd review all the MLB umpires. I can find all the playoff umpires from there. I would think a site that reviews umpires would review all of them.

But your real answer was: You don't know.

Another post that says it's a dumb question because "every umpire is going to call the strike zone defined by the rules as consistently as possible." Well...I guess I'd have to say that that's not only a dumb reply, but...well, I won't go further. I suggest watching a little more baseball. The umpires have as distinctive a strike zone as batters have stances. Yes, they keep within the "theory" of the rules, but if you think their zone is defined by the rules and consistent with the rules, you do not follow the nuances of the game. And the nuances of the game are what make the game.

At any rate, I appreciate the hostility and arrogance to my very simple, very innocuous, very politely asked question. I thought I even said "thank you in advance", and was greeted with innane, insulting, and ridiculous commentary.

So without further commentary, I bid all of you respondants a fond "**** you!" Enjoy the playoffs, you ****ing forum dorks!

See Here Carl......

ANOTHER SATISFIED CUSTOMER.

Don't worry though, I'm already committed to the multi-year plan. It just might be me and you shortly.

I wonder if he happen to read T's article.

Oh, excuse me phumblelia33, that is Mr. Forum Dork to you.