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Originally Posted by mbcrowder
Not watching the glove doesn't mean we are necessarily using tunnel vision.
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It absolutely means you are using tunnel vision.
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I do stress with younger umps that they MUST watch the pitch ALL THE WAY through the zone - not just at the front, and definitely not just when it's way out front before the plate as some want to do.
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In order to be proficient as a plate umpire, you have to track the ball all the way to the mitt. YOU HAVE TO TRACK THE BALL ALL THE WAY TO THE MITT. Did I mention that
YOU HAVE TO TRACK THE BALL ALL THE WAY TO THE MITT?
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Proper timing will allow you to absorb what you saw without calling what you THOUGHT you were going to see when the pitch hadn't even arrived yet.
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That is why,
YOU HAVE TO TRACK THE BALL ALL THE WAY TO THE MITT.
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But at 70's and low 80's, I think there's a bigger danger in missing pitches if you DO watch it past the back of the plate. Both erroneous strikes and erroneous balls.
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EEK. I'm not going to say it.
More pitches are missed due to not tracking the ball completely than by just watching it through the zone.