Strike Pitch - Do you still call it?

[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.