Strike Pitch - Do you still call it?

[3appleshigh]

i have a couple of questions for those who want to argue.

1) have you ever seen a Fork ball in the show called a strike without someone swinging? I'll tell you right now some of those are Strikes per rule. NEVER EVER Called a Strike.


2) What about the curveball in? The one at the batter, that the batter flinches or in some funny cases hits the dirt, but the catcher catches clean on the inside. I think Roy Halliday and may others might be out of a job if this is not a strike.

3) Also remember this is about the close pitches - the either way pitches. Out of curiousity, are you the same guys who on a stolen base pitch that is taken all the way will call a close pitch a ball?? Just curious.

On a side note, If I was a coach I'd take a Great Catcher and an OK pitcher before a Great Pitcher and an OK catcher. One of my favorite stories from an Ex- MiLB ump, was about Gregg Zaun. He would catch every ball (he could) bring it to his chest and throw the ball back to the pitch in one fluid movement. He didn't let anyone get an idea where the ball was up, down, in, out. Every pitch ended up hitting his chest. The umpire simply called the pitch. No *****ing about anything. I think the plate grows a bit in this instance, what do you think?

[nickrego]

Originally Posted by 3appleshigh

3) Also remember this is about the close pitches - the either way pitches. Out of curiosity, are you the same guys who on a stolen base pitch that is taken all the way will call a close pitch a ball?? Just curious.

A close pitch on an attempted stolen base that is taken is ALWAYS a strike, unless it's caught really ugly by the catcher.

Why ?

Because nobody is looking at the pitch, they are all looking at the runner.

[Carl Childress]

Originally Posted by nickrego

A close pitch on an attempted stolen base that is taken is ALWAYS a strike, unless it's caught really ugly by the catcher.

Why ?

Because nobody is looking at the pitch, they are all looking at the runner.

I used to think that was true - and taught it in my clinics back in the early 70s.

But you can't ever do it in an NCAA game because there's an off-duty pitcher whose only job is to chart pitches. He doesn't give a damn about the stolen base.

And, if you have a good catcher, he'll know whether your screwed him or not, even as he prepares to throw out R1.

As you move down in baseball, your dictum is still right.

[LDUB]

Originally Posted by Carl Childress

And, if you have a good catcher, he'll know whether your screwed him or not, even as he prepares to throw out R1.

You screw the catcher by calling the pitch a strike?

[LMan]

A close pitch, by definition, could go either way

[mcrowder]

I thought a close pitch, by definition, was a strike.

My main problem, by the way, with including catcher's actions in your determination of the ball/strike call, is that the batter is not watching the catcher, and doesn't care what the catcher does. You give one borderline ball because the catcher blows the catch, and then later on that same batter, call it a strike because the catcher was better, and you're putting batters at a disadvantage. The batter deserves a consistent zone just as much as the pitcher does.

[Carl Childress]

Originally Posted by LDUB

You screw the catcher by calling the pitch a strike?

Yeah, there is that. The catcher will enjoy that trip to Brokeback Mountain, if you call the "ball" a "strike."

What I was trying to say is that you have someone from each side watching the pitch, so you'd better bear down and call it what it is.

Sorry about looking stupid, but I doubt it will be the last time.

[Tim C]

The name of my column on this website is:

Strikes & Outs

I guess that defines my feelings on this thead.

Regards,

[DG]

Originally Posted by Tim C

The name of my column on this website is:

Strikes & Outs

I guess that defines my feelings on this thead.

Regards,

What does it mean? Is how the catcher receives a pitch on the edge not a factor ?

[LMan]

Originally Posted by Tim C

The name of my column on this website is:

Strikes & Outs

I guess that defines my feelings on this thead.

Regards,

"Strikes mean outs, outs mean games, games mean money."