Swinging 3rd Strike Call

[left coast]

Originally Posted by NIump50

I don't, unless it's low and questionable and then I verbalize.

Interesting dropped third happened to me last week.
Varsity game
2 out bases empty 2-2 count.
F2 set up to outside, pitch comes in down the middle knee high tailing to inside. strike 3. Ball goes off F2s glove, (don't ask me why, he was a good catcher) hits my shin gaurd.
As the ball crosses the plate I know it's a strike, as the ball carems off the catchers mitt I'm thinking punch out, but now it's dropped and I have to get out of the way. As I'm dancing out of the way of the catcher I verbalize plenty loud for catcher and batter to hear "STRIKE" but I don't give strike mechanic. Batter plays statue for about 2 seconds, F2 is hustling to retrieve ball. BR then breaks for 1st and is promptly thrown out.
Off. coach comes to me and says I screwed up and did not indicate strike. I say I verbalized loud enough for batter and catcher to hear. He says yea but I didn't hear. I say you don't need to. and he says sure i do, I have to know so I can tell my batter to run.
What a perfect set-up he gave me. But I maintained control and to keep from letting him see me laugh I just turned and walked away.

There may be some around here who believe: The STRIKE ZONE is that area over home plate the upper limit of which is a horizontal line at the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants, and the lower level is a line at the hollow beneath the knee cap. The Strike Zone shall be determined from the batter's stance as the batter is prepared to swing at a pitched ball. (OBR) With that in mind, any pitch that crosses that area at any time should be called a strike.

I have a hard time calling a strike (especially strike three) on a pitch that hits me in the shin guards and the catcher has to run to the backstop to get. That pitch should be called to reflect what it looks like.

[NIump50]

Originally Posted by left coast

I have a hard time calling a strike (especially strike three) on a pitch that hits me in the shin guards and the catcher has to run to the backstop to get. That pitch should be called to reflect what it looks like.

I don't know about you, but I'm watching the ball, not the catchers form.

I personnally am looking for strikes so all things being equal, if the ball is in the strike zone that's what I'm calling. Good technique by the catcher simply allows me to steal a few strikes.

[pdxblue]

Originally Posted by left coast

There may be some around here who believe: The STRIKE ZONE is that area over home plate the upper limit of which is a horizontal line at the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants, and the lower level is a line at the hollow beneath the knee cap. The Strike Zone shall be determined from the batter's stance as the batter is prepared to swing at a pitched ball. (OBR) With that in mind, any pitch that crosses that area at any time should be called a strike.

I have a hard time calling a strike (especially strike three) on a pitch that hits me in the shin guards and the catcher has to run to the backstop to get. That pitch should be called to reflect what it looks like.

I couldn't agree more.

[BlueLawyer]

1. Half/check swing, no matter what the count: "Yes, he did!" pointing first at the batter and then giving my swinging strike mechanic.

2. Droppped third strike with fewer than two out and first base occupied: "The batter's out! HE'S OUT! First base was occupied at the time of the pitch!" This depends, somewhat on the level of ball I'm calling- I expect varsity high school and Legion to know the rule. Then again, I or my partner wind up having to take some kid off first quite often, even in those games.

Strikes and outs!

[rookieblue]

pdx,

You quote, with approbation, leftcoast:

I have a hard time calling a strike (especially strike three) on a pitch that hits me in the shin guards and the catcher has to run to the backstop to get. That pitch should be called to reflect what it looks like.

No quarrel there, but is there a distinction between making the "expected call" on a ball/strike, versus making the "expected call" on safe/out? It seems one may be permissible, while the other is a question of integrity.

I'm not attempting to be a wise-guy, although I may be doing a good job of it! I'm just learning my way, as the name and post count indicate.

Thanks, all, for a tremendous web site.

Bob James
Virginia

Grateful prayers for the repose of all those heroes who gave this nation the last full measure of devotion.

[NIump50]

Originally Posted by rookieblue

pdx,

You quote, with approbation, leftcoast:



No quarrel there, but is there a distinction between making the "expected call" on a ball/strike, versus making the "expected call" on safe/out? It seems one may be permissible, while the other is a question of integrity.

I'm not attempting to be a wise-guy, although I may be doing a good job of it! I'm just learning my way, as the name and post count indicate.

Thanks, all, for a tremendous web site.

Bob James
Virginia

Grateful prayers for the repose of all those heroes who gave this nation the last full measure of devotion.

Great catch Rook!!

[mcrowder]

Originally Posted by left coast

I have a hard time calling a strike (especially strike three) on a pitch that hits me in the shin guards and the catcher has to run to the backstop to get. That pitch should be called to reflect what it looks like.

You and PDX are either idiots (and from other things I read, I doubt this is the case), or are completely or deliberately misunderstanding the sitch posted that got you to respond.

The ball didn't go directly from pitcher, through the zone, to the shinguards. It hit the mitt first. A pitch could be a cockshot and for some reason the catcher flubs it and it hits your shin - you gonna call this a ball?

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by mcrowder

You and PDX are either idiots (and from other things I read, I doubt this is the case), or are completely or deliberately misunderstanding the sitch posted that got you to respond.

The ball didn't go directly from pitcher, through the zone, to the shinguards. It hit the mitt first. A pitch could be a cockshot and for some reason the catcher flubs it and it hits your shin - you gonna call this a ball?

I'm not going to call a cockshot a ball unless the catcher completely bails out and lets me catch it. But pitches that are on the extreme edges of the zone should be stuck by the catcher to get those calls. Their coaches will even tell them that that's why the umpire didn't call it a strike. "Catch that and it's a strike, meat!" or words to that effect are often heard from the dugout.

[BigUmp56]

I couldn't agree more. How the catcher handles those borderline pitches is a critical factor in helping me define my zone.


Tim.

[BigUmp56]

This thread's been up for the better part of the day and I've yet to hear anyone try to explain why we don't verbalize "out" on a routine swinging strike three.


Tim.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

This thread's been up for the better part of the day and I've yet to hear anyone try to explain why we don't verbalize "out" on a routine swinging strike three.

Well, what are you waiting for? I'm sure you're just dying to tell us!

[bossman72]

Yes Tim, please enlighten us.

I have a person i work with all the time that says "Strike 3 batter's out!" all the time and it annoys the heck out of me.

Lay the reasons down on us so i know what to tell him to stop him from doing it! haha

[NIump50]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

I'm not going to call a cockshot a ball unless the catcher completely bails out and lets me catch it. But pitches that are on the extreme edges of the zone should be stuck by the catcher to get those calls. Their coaches will even tell them that that's why the umpire didn't call it a strike. "Catch that and it's a strike, meat!" or words to that effect are often heard from the dugout.

If reds on black or top on bottom I prefer the catcher to stick it
but if it's inside of that it's a strike regardless of what the catcher does.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by NIump50

If reds on black or top on bottom I prefer the catcher to stick it
but if it's inside of that it's a strike regardless of what the catcher does.

Agreed.

[Justme]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

......... But pitches that are on the extreme edges of the zone should be stuck by the catcher to get those calls. Their coaches will even tell them that that's why the umpire didn't call it a strike. "Catch that and it's a strike, meat!" or words to that effect are often heard from the dugout.

That's right. I want to give you the strike, help me by doing a good job of catching the pitch.