[GarthB]

Originally Posted by scott1231

Her: "Well ... It's really slow."
Me: "Slow? What do you mean?"
Her: "It seemed like it took you forEVER to call a strike."
Me: "Nah, hon ... it just seems like forever."
Her: "Really. I've never seen that before. It made you look like you were hesitant, not sure of your call."
Me: "Well, kinda hesitating. I look at the pitch, retrace it quickly, quietly say "yes" to the catcher and hitter, and bang it."
Her: "It just looks stupid, you calling a strike when the ball is going back to the pitcher. Didn't anyone else complain?"
Me: "No, in fact the catchers liked it that I said 'yes' before banging it."
Her: "Well, it looks stupid, but you must have had good game. I didn't hear anyone in the stands say anything about your zone."

Okay, maybe that wasn't word-for-word, and more of a compilation of conversations we had this past season ... but you get the idea.

Did it make me aware that the perception was that our mechanic is slow? Yes.
Did I change my timing because of her perception? No.
Did I get batters running off or head-whipping? No.

I'm pretty sure it was actually my wife writing that article under a pseudonym.

The thought that, by using proper timing on ball/strike calls, we are trying to draw attention to ourselves or that we are adding to the time of the game is ridiculous.

Timing is proper use of the eyes...not hesitation.