Need help with strike zone

[Jim Porter]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by joemoore

Originally posted by senior
At first, I felt like I was cheating when not strictly following the book, but then I realized that my job was to allow 2 teams to play their game, and call it the way the people involved want it called.

Joe said what was perhaps the single best paragraph in this whole thread.

Don't be bigger than the game, folks. Allow local custom and practice to dictate your zone. If everyone complains that your strike zone is too low, consider raising it. If they think it's too high, consider lowering it. If they say you're squeezing pitchers, widen it out some. If you're known as having an enormous strike zone, consider paring it down if there's a lot of complaints. It's their game, not yours.

Now, I'm not talking about changing your zone several times in a game. It's more of a gradual evolution. Slowly, you will develop a consistent zone based on what everyone expects. When you do that, you will gain a reputation of plate work excellence.

If all that happens, your next problem will be how to deal with all the assignors who ring your phone day and night.

That's the truth.

[kchamp]

Don't you just love it when the manager tells you "we just want an umpire that's consistant". Well Hell that's the hardest part of it all. Machines are consistant, I'm well, human.

We all have our 'stike zone' and our 'ball zone'. But there's anouther zone --- the grey zone! We all have it, thou few admit it.

[mick]

Originally posted by kchamp
Don't you just love it when the manager tells you "we just want an umpire that's consistant". Well Hell that's the hardest part of it all. Machines are consistant, I'm well, human.

We all have our 'stike zone' and our 'ball zone'. But there's anouther zone --- the grey zone! We all have it, thou few admit it.

Yeah, kchamp,
Those are the ones for which we are paid.
mick

[His High Holiness]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jim Porter

Joe said what was perhaps the single best paragraph in this whole thread.

Don't be bigger than the game, folks. Allow local custom and practice to dictate your zone. If everyone complains that your strike zone is too low, consider raising it. If they think it's too high, consider lowering it. If they say you're squeezing pitchers, widen it out some. If you're known as having an enormous strike zone, consider paring it down if there's a lot of complaints. It's their game, not yours.

Now, I'm not talking about changing your zone several times in a game. It's more of a gradual evolution. Slowly, you will develop a consistent zone based on what everyone expects. When you do that, you will gain a reputation of plate work excellence.

If all that happens, your next problem will be how to deal with all the assignors who ring your phone day and night.

That's the truth.

What absolute heresy!!!!!!!! This sounds exactly like the "Customer Satisfaction" theory taught by an unclean and unwashed umpire over on McGriffs. :o)

You wouldn't be buying into those theories, would you now Jim?

Peter

[bob jenkins]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by His High Holiness

What absolute heresy!!!!!!!! This sounds exactly like the "Customer Satisfaction" theory taught by an unclean and unwashed umpire over on McGriffs. )

You wouldn't be buying into those theories, would you now Jim?

Peter

Peter --

It may sound exactly like that theory to you, but I assure you that Jim's theory and the one posted on McGriff's (and elsewhere) sound different to me.

[PFISTO]

Well I've been carded for 1 season now but I have been invloved with ball for most of my life ( 40 +). I consider myself a student of the game. Besides remembering all the rules the strike zone is no doubt the hardest to get a comfort level with. I have done all the levels 8 thru 18 and adults for a total of about 75 games this year. I have done so much reading books and forumns like this and this post has alot of good advice. When I am on the bases I pay close attention to the PU and see what is working for him and what causes abuse. I have also worked on a couple different stances and right now I am using the Gerry Davis stance. I don't have any real advice except be a sponge and watch the vetern umps and see whats causing the least amount of grief and work these things into your game.
I have attached a link to give a better visual of what IS the strike zone maybe it will help.
[IMG][/IMG]



http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehou...3d91df&ctyp=sm

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehou...557f5e&ctyp=sm

Mike