[IHSAIllini]

Coach, I'd be irate if I didn't just feel sorry for you. Honestly, how long have you been coaching? My advice for you, sir, is to understand that the umpire will call the zone the way they call the zone, and that's the way it is going to be. Until they bring QuesTec into Little League I plan on calling the zone the way I always do - first consult league rules, then governing rules, then realistic age of players.

Balls and strikes are just one of many calls you DON'T get to argue. That's why they are called judgement calls.

--What is your tight or small zone, and then defend it with a rule! They say coaches can be jerks, but aren't umpires setting themselves up by calling a "tight zone" and making parents and coaches on both teams upset.--

Once, a minor league umpire called a perfect pitch a ball. When asked why, his response was ''that's the way I called it.'' Umpire's calls are a part of the game, and if you don't like it, switch to video games. That's the only time you'll find the umpire you want. And quite frankly, I think you'd argue with them too.

No-one likes having a strike called that they didn't think was a strike, but it's part of the game. And until you put on a blue shirt and work our side of the line, you're not going to understand it. Sorry.

[Edited by IHSAIllini on Jun 27th, 2003 at 12:20 PM]