During a new pitcher's warmup pitches....

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by CoachJM

...what do you do?



What I have done in the handful of games I have worked is:

After the plate conference, as the home team takes the field, I stand on the baseline about a third or half way up the baseline from home. After the starting pitcher has thrown two warm-up pitches, I put on my helmet...

There's your first problem.

I then remove my mask...

That's much better.

Seriously, I stopped getting behind the catcher on warm-up pitches about 8 years ago.

[UmpJM]

Garth,

Setting aside the mask vs. helmet question for the moment, why did you stop?

An umpire I respect has suggested to me that it takes "hundreds" of games behind the plate to establish a good strike zone. My limited experience has led me to believe that there is some wisdom behind that assertion.

I find that doing as I do helps me get focused, helps me establish a rhythm, and helps me get better positioned.

So, why did you stop? Am I doing something I really ought not?

JM

[bossman72]

Honestly, i feel it serves no purpose to watch the pitcher's warm up throws since they are not at 100% effort and they are pretty much all fastballs.

However, i'll probably start to watch the warm up pitchers this year for the ONLY reason: to talk to the catcher. It was suggested at a clinic that we do this. Get to know the catcher's name and tell him how you want things run.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by bossman72

Honestly, i feel it serves no purpose to watch the pitcher's warm up throws since they are not at 100% effort and they are pretty much all fastballs.

However, i'll probably start to watch the warm up pitchers this year for the ONLY reason: to talk to the catcher. It was suggested at a clinic that we do this. Get to know the catcher's name and tell him how you want things run.

I generally agree with this comment. I get the catcher's name, ask if I need to know anything about the pitcher, make some inoccuous comment about the weather, try to make some observation about the pitch ("does his fast ball always trail in like that?"), tell him that F1 can take as many pitches as he needs the first inning, but five every inning after that, and walk away.

The first and the last parts are what's important. Since it's been covered, I don't watch relief pitchers.

[lawump]

Before the start of the game, with the home team's pitcher warming up, I watch the first three pitches as if a RHB was batting, the next three as if a LHB was batting, watch the last two about 15 feet up the first base line, and then hop in and brush off the plate and go.

98% of the time I never watch any more warm-up pitches from behind the catcher. My theory is that once I am in a "groove" watching "real" pitches, I don't want to upset it by watching warm-up pitches that might not be the pitcher's best stuff.

The only time I violate that personal rule, is when the top of the first inning is very, very quick (like a 4 or 5 pitch inning, with 3 pitches being put in play), such that I haven't established a "groove", yet.

I never watch any reliever's warm-ups from anywhere other than up one of the baselines.

[LMan]

I do a stands-check for GLMs.


It was an excellent selection last night....I had no idea there were so many in that little town.....

[UMP25]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

I generally agree with this comment. I get the catcher's name, ask if I need to know anything about the pitcher, make some inoccuous comment about the weather, try to make some observation about the pitch ("does his fast ball always trail in like that?"), tell him that F1 can take as many pitches as he needs the first inning, but five every inning after that, and walk away.

The first and the last parts are what's important. Since it's been covered, I don't watch relief pitchers.

I, too, chat with the catcher and establish a rapport. If it's someone I know and who knows me very well already, then doing this isn't that important, as long as talking with the catcher doesn't lead to dinner and a date.

CoachJM, if you were doing a college game in my area, and the evaluator was watching you, you would receive good feedback for doing exactly what you are doing!

I have called at least 2000 games, and still do what you do.

I would modify a couple of things.

1 - Between innings, go 1st of 3rd baseline extended, being opposit of the team coming to bat, but also up the baseline at the edge of the dirt. When the pitcher is down to 2 warm up pitches, walk up to the baseline, hold up two fingers and inform him "Two more". Make sure he sees you.

Believe it or not, they appreciate not having to think about this, and it shows you are engaged in what is happening out there.

2 - Get the catchers name before you start looking. Ask him whatever you need to find out. I sometimes ask if the pitcher has anything nasty I should know about. They are always glad to explain what their pitcher has, and what it may or may not do. The better catchers will even tell you the guy is a basket case and wouldn't know the strike zone from his locker! I usually take those kinds of comments to mean that I won't have any problems with that catcher that day!

[DG]

As I said earlier, I watch about 3 pitches, 5, 6 and 7, and I don't do it to see what kind of stuff the pitcher has, but to just get focused, and have a few words with the catcher.

[Welpe]

Aww give him a break, it's not like his name is "A$$h***Rat". Judging by his posts, Coach is a standup fellow. Unless of course he had an exorcism performed when he switched to the darkside.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by CoachJM

Garth,

Setting aside the mask vs. helmet question for the moment, why did you stop?

An umpire I respect has suggested to me that it takes "hundreds" of games behind the plate to establish a good strike zone. My limited experience has led me to believe that there is some wisdom behind that assertion.

I find that doing as I do helps me get focused, helps me establish a rhythm, and helps me get better positioned.

So, why did you stop? Am I doing something I really ought not?

JM

Dave Yeast, at an NCAA clinic once said, in his opinion, that it takes 5 years at each level...HS, College, Pro....to establish a solid, appropriate and consistent strike zone.

As far as getting behind the catcher, if you really feel a benefit, go for it. I don't. A few pitches not thrown in the competitive context do not prepare me for anything. And I try to eliminate doing things that have no benefit.