[WhatWuzThatBlue]

Tim, not only can I, but I have and continue to call pitches that pass through the zone as strikes. I am not casting aspersions, some people feel it is okay to ignore a missed base or plate, others think that a 'technical' balk at the end of a tight game is not conscionable. I was taught to call what I see and ignore the consequences - umpirs are always right. Over the years I learned that I may not always be right, but I'm the final word. About eight years ago, I met a few guys who were positing a theory that we should do all we can to ensure that the correct call is made. When I proposed this online, I was ridculed. I didn't fall out of the idiot's tree and strike every branch on the way down. The Pros, NCAA and Fed have all adopted some form of doing what we can to correct bad calls or conference to make the right one in the first place.

That said, I asked two questions that brought it to light for me. Go back and read them. In every disagreement I have ever had regarding the big bender that nips the dirt, no one has ever been able to get around those questions. The onus is on the pitcher, not the catcher. I don't know how many partners I've talked to that say, "I finally got the catcher to glove it up in the zone - he was costing his pitcher five strikes an inning." I usually shake my head and ask what his criteria for calling a strike is. Does it have to pass through the zone? "Yes, of course". Well then, does the catcher have to cleanly catch it? "No.", is the usual reply. So why do you allow an uncaught third strike but not allow the ones you were letting go today? "Uhhhhhhh." It's okay, the fact is that we all have to call our game. I don't require a catcher to save a pitch that qualified as a strike.

By the way, a great 12-6 bender is hard to find. More likely you will see a lefty that tosses a great 2-8 deuce to a right handed catcher. The ball never seems to track into the webbing though. I've got plenty of dings on my shoes from these pitches that were strikes.

Again, if you don't feel the need to call what you see and not what is expected, then that is your judgement. I've been around long enough that the coach doesn't bark that my eyesight must be going. They usually yell at the catcher or batter. For what it's worth, I used to ask for every ball that hit the dirt - just like in the pros. I would exchange baseballs and give the old one a quick rub and use it later. It slowed the game down and made me look like I was being too authoritative. The reason I bring that up, is the other night I worked a rec game with a bunch of guys I used to see in High School and College ball. After the first one nicked the ground, the catcher instinctively reached back with the ball and I chuckled. I told him that his arm was stronger than mine. He turned his head and asked if I wanted to give him a new ball. I smiled and said that if his thirty six year old battery mate can make that little scratch do something, I'd buy them drinks afterwards. He laughed and tossed it back to the guy - the hurler lasted two innings before his elbow started throbbing!

Call what you see and don't worry about what the coaches think should be called. We've had enough threads about coaches and umpires. I've gotten to the point in my life where I don't care if they don't like that ninth inning balk or missed tag when the ball was there five steps ahead of the steal. Call what you see and let the game decide itself.