[deeno27]

We all have slight variations in our strike zones (primarily in slo-pitch it seems). Remember, a good pitcher will adjust to your strike zone. The pressure is on the pitcher to adjust his/her performance. There is no pressure on you to make changes. You only need to remain consistent and do what you have done since day one--call balls and strikes consinstantly.

A pitcher who is whinning is obviously having difficulty adjusting to your strike zone (his/her problem) or complaining that you are not being consistent (possibly your problem). Either way, many times the pitcher is just trying to "get into your head" and make you call some of the more "questionable pitches" that could go either way in his/her favor. There are many mental aspects to the game, and this is one of them.

In these cases of pitchers asking about pitches, I deal with the catcher. Let the catcher "correct" the pitcher instead of you. The only time I will answer the pitcher is if he/she asks "was that pitch outside/deep/plate/ etc...." and they are correct, I will nod my head yes. If they ask why the pitch was not a strike, I tell the catcher.

Hope my opintion was useful.

Diana