"Ball...inside."

[BktBallRef]

Has something changed? I was always told the call is "Ball!" or "Strike!" never "Ball...inside," or "Strike...corner!" Yet, these CWS umpires who are wired are constantly expounding on the location of the pitch. What gives?

[oneonone]

I don't even call out "ball". If its a strike, I'll stand upright and hammer a strike, and announce the count. If its a ball...I stay set and quite and I'll give the batter and catcher the count and its play on.

[UmpJM]

BktBallRef,

You may want to peruse the recent discussion on your question in the thread linked below:

plate mechanic

Personally, I found it both surprising and illuminating.

JM

[TussAgee11]

Call balls balls. Big saying of a clinician I trust. Verbalize balls, maybe not where they are. But say ball. Otherwise you're not calling anything.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

Call balls balls. Big saying of a clinician I trust. Verbalize balls, maybe not where they are. But say ball. Otherwise you're not calling anything.

Agreed, you should always call something. As the immortal Bill Klem said, "it ain't nothin' till I call it."

[ctblu40]

For the reasons listed by SDSteve, you should be verbalizing "ball."

Also, one of the most difficult aspects of officiating is timing. IMO calling every pitch will help keep your timing consistant.