Quote:
Originally posted by Tap
I would appreciate any suggestions re: being more consistent calling balls and strikes. I call league SP only, and a combination of ASA and USSSA.
Also, how do you handle pitchers who whine about balls and stikes? Ignore, tell the catcher to speak with the pitcher, warn the pitcher, or some combination thereof? Ejection is obviously an option at some point. I know umpires need to let many criticisms roll off their backs and not be over-sensitive, and I don't want to eject someone prematurely, but at some point players need to realize that they need to shut up and play the game.
I guess I let people ask me where a ball is if they do it politely, and a spontaneous burst of whining/iritation is ok usually, but if a pitcher (or any other player) won't let it go, they're going to be ejected.
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Speaking ASA.
I call a true strike zone. The mechanics are the same as FP with the exception of the timing of moving to the set position. In SP, you need to make sure the pitch is legal, then move to your set position. I drop far enough so I can look up at the ball through the top of the strike zone. I could care less where the ball hits the ground, the only reason I am looking down is to make sure the ball doesn't hit the plate. I track the ball to (or pass) the catcher, then make my verbal while in the set, then come up to the hammer if necessary. If working the big boys were stealing is permitted, staying in a set position is secondary to getting out of the way of the ball.
As for pitchers, I don't talk to them. I will talk to the catcher the entire game and will direct him to handle the pitcher. I will even give him the words to say to get the message across to the pitcher. If confronted by the pitcher, I tell him to talk to his catcher. Just like the pregame. If the manager cannot provide me with someone who can simply pass a message along to his/her teammates, you're wasting my time.
As Steve said, if I have to handle the pitcher, they are not going to like the outcome.