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Originally posted by DownTownTonyBrown
My point here is that if the ball reaches a 6 foot apex and lands directly behind the plate (this accounts for velocity of the ball), does that pitch cross the batter above the knee? The clinician said yes. I said I hadn't proven it to myself with the appropriate math (hyperbolic cosine I think).
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My error, thanks.
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Same point as above - did it cross above the knees?
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Yes, it is going to be above the knee unless it was pitched at a high velocity.
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Agreed. But you know as well as I do that the 5.5' pitch that does land behind the plate comes mighty fast. It is difficult to get the delayed dead ball signal and the verbal "illegal" call out before the pitch is caught by the catcher. The 6.5' pitch isn't much slower and again did it cross above the knees?
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That is why I don't worry about extending the arm until after the fact. I get the word out and then raise the arm. The batter isn't going to see the arm anyway. Besides, just as your point above about being above the knee, if it is that fast, the pitcher should be getting a warning.
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You are right again but I'm not talking about the black on the sides of the plate. Leave them exposed because as you said it only makes the strike zone wider. I'm talking the black along the edges forming the point of the plate. Cover those edges so you don't have the batter's argument about that pitch hit the plate. The umpire can point to the mark in the dirt (where the black is covered) and call a strike for the properly arched pitch.
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I avoid pointing to a mark in the dirt at any point. It adds to the myth that the mark on the ground has some meaning. I find that the beveled edge actually makes the call easier for me to determine and players to accept. However, I have no arguments. If it hits the plate, I call ball and give the appropriate signal (dead ball).