Strike Pitch - Do you still call it?

[LakeErieUmp]

L-Man -
Post #4 "unless I need a stike in that situation"
Post #6 "the batters haven't yet earned the right to be connoisseurs. Swing or sit."
Post #14 "let your gamess move along a lot smoother"
And my personal favorite, Post #13 where the strike zone moves depending on "your current level". I missed that page in my Fed book - in that one the strike zone is the same from 6th grade to Varsity

I accept your apology.

As to "foot outside" that was from a post a couple weeks ago.

My point was, YES we need to get younger players to swing the bat and pitchers to hit the plate. But if a batter has to "earn" the right to not swing at balls, we better be able to call that trapdoor curve a strike and spectators be damned. After all, my best friend on the field the CATCHER knew it was a strike to - and I've never seen a spectator or a rat come out and throw themselves in front of high close one to keep me from getting hit!

Thanks for listening and for the responses - this is a terrific group of professionals!

[BigUmp56]

Please tell me you don't really think the strike zone is, or should be the same for 6th graders through varsity ball. Like it or not we hold the younger batters to a higher standard in regards to the strike zone, and the pitchers to a higher standard in upper levels of baseball. I would suggest that you discuss this with your association's senior members if you don't believe this and see what they say.


Tim.

[C'monBlue]

I would never advocate calling a strike on a pitch a foot outside. If you give 'em more than 8 or 9 inches, coaches start to get suspicious.

[LMan]

Originally Posted by LakeErieUmp

I accept your apology.

ROTFL! Thanks for making my day, that's a rich one You should be Rumsfeld's new press agent

Hmmm....a post a 'couple weeks ago' ...not in THIS thread: check.

"Make games move smoother" hmmm....has no bearing on calling a strike a ball: check.


If you call a zone as tight on 6th graders as you do in varsity as you say, you must be a hated man amongst the middle schools in your area....in fact, I'll chalk this intemperate statement to more exaggeration.

Nothing/no one you listed said anything about a foot outside or a ball instead of a strike speeds the game (as you said)...even after all this time to 'research' your answer.

My apology will stay in my pocket, thanks

[nickrego]

Originally Posted by LakeErieUmp

I understand your perspectives, but I am really troubled by the idea of calling a STRIKE a ball to "speed the game up"

Nobody is saying we are doing what has been talked about to Speed Up the game. We are talking about an umpires Credibility, in the way they call pitches.

When I was instructed to take up the pitch calling techniques being talked about, I spent many nights tossing and turning about it. But I had a lot of respect for the umpire that pulled me aside, so decided to try it. Lowe and behold, it actually felt better.

Yes, we are there to uphold the rules of the game, to call what we see, and to be impartial. Be we are also expected to do what is expected of us. I would rather argue a call to the 2% who expect a strike called on pitch that 'actually' was a strike, than to the 98% who saw a ball.

How many times have you seen a runner called out on a tag play because the ball got there way before the runner, even though the runner may have the base just before they are tagged (usually a high tag) ? Same thing. The 'expected' call, is the call to make.