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.