Quote:
Originally Posted by DG
Good umpires also get involved in game situation thinking, when is a hit and run most likely, sacrifice bunt, steal, pick-off, etc. It helps to know enough to anticipate what might happen and be ready for it but call whatever does happen.
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Even before I was an umpire, I think about the situation of any baseball game I watch. I'm strategizing between every pitch. I think it's why some of us can watch baseball and others think it's boring.
It's like how football drives me crazy because instead of allowing me to see the personnel groupings coming on and off the field, the broadcast shoves replays down my throat that I don't really care about. I saw the play the first time! If I want to see it again, I'll rewind it!
I've never umpired for someone throwing over 90 mph, but in general if pitchers are throwing sub-85 mph, there really is no fooling the umpire. There is enough time to adjust.
I wish some catchers had better reflexes though. I'd rather have the catcher thinking fastball and get a curve instead of the other way around. Why do those always seem to go straight at my mask?
Also, on another point, the strike zone doesn't move, so it doesn't matter where the catcher sets up. If it's over the plate, it's over the plate. Grab all the strikes you can. Managers can't argue balls and strikes anyway. I was watching yesterday's Red Sox v Mets game and that plate umpire was calling a ton of strikes as balls simply on how the catchers were setting up. He should lose his job! It was the worst plate call I've seen in a while and I've watched CB Bucknor call a game.