Strike zone

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by NIump50

so if a pitcher has the ability to throw such a pitch and spot it in the perfect position why would you call it crap? I call it talent and a damn good pitch.

If the pitcher had spotted the pitch in a perfect position it wouldn't have been handled near the dirt by the catcher. A good battery knows this and will work with each other, as well as us to "prove" the pitch. I'll tell you what, the CWS from Omaha will be televised soon. Why don't you watch those games and tell us how many pitches breaking down into the dirt are being called strikes. Hell, they won't even give the pitcher a strike if the catcher turns his glove over to handle the pitch.

Originally Posted by NIump50

Think through your reasoning
a pitch hits the strike zone and you don't call it.
Under normal circumstances I see only 2 possible reasons.
1. You're a lemming. If no one else is going to call a strike a strike neither am I. I'm following the crowd.
or

You're darn right I'm following the crowd. The crowd of individuals I'm following are the traditionalists in baseball officiating who are calling the game as it's intended. The players and the coaches of both teams know that no competent umpire will call that crap a strike in a game played by players over 13 years of age. Why do you feel you're larger than the established tradition of the game?

Originally Posted by NIump50

2. You're a coward. I want to appease the crowd and coaches. The ball is picked at the ankles and the path of least resistance is a called ball, despite the fact that i saw it catch the knee over the plate. I'm going to penalize the pitcher because I don't want to take the heat.

If there is another reason for calling it a ball please enlighten me.

A coward? Maybe, but a coward who understands his place in the game. I'm not going to allow my game to turn into a $hit$torm because I'm calling my strike zone as something they're not accustomed to seeing. Game management 101. When you start calling games for coaches who are paid to coach, and players looking for scholarships you'll come to understand this. Hell, high school is the highest level of ball I work, and the guys you're arguing with work even higher levels than that. They didn't get to that level by inserting themselves into the game.


Tim.