Was it a Strike?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by BoomerSooner

Just wondering how often you guys have batters ask you if a pitch they swung at was a strike? Also how do you respond? Does it depend on age/level of play? What about the attitude of the player? Actual pitch location (close vs. way off the plate)? Are there any other factors?

I ask this because it seems that more batters are asking this question this year than in years past. It typically only comes up on strike out pitches. At the lower levels I'm pretty okay with letting the batter know as it is part of the learning process. As players advance though, I feel they should have a good idea of the strike zone and that by answering it could be seen as "coaching". Also if there has been alot of disgust at my strike zone and players start making the "I'm sure that would have been a strike comments" in the process of asking me, then I'm not giving much of a response at all except to eject if it goes to far. For the most part, however, I do try to be cordial with the players when they are looking for this type of info, but I don't think its my place to be putting on a strike zone clinic for every batter that strikes out.

"As soon as you swung, I stopped caring where the pitch was."

[waltjp]

I answer honestly, "I don't know." Unless the pitch was in the dirt or a foot over the batter's head I just don't know.

[archangel]

Originally Posted by waltjp

I answer honestly, "I don't know." Unless the pitch was in the dirt or a foot over the batter's head I just don't know.

A swing and a miss, and you dont know if the pitch was a strike/ball?? Either you prefer not to answer, or actually dont know (?), in either case, I think that answer might make an umpire look somewhat foolish/inexperienced. I just answer yes/no, and leave it at that...

[greymule]

Batters ask me once in while, and I've never had a problem answering honestly. Nothing negative has ever come of it. In fact, I've had first basemen, after failing to scoop a throw in the dirt, ask, "Did we have him?" Never had a problem with that one, either.

Of course, there are times when my focus shifted and I can't remember the pitch, and I just say so. In four decades, this has never been any kind of issue.

[waltjp]

Originally Posted by archangel

A swing and a miss, and you dont know if the pitch was a strike/ball?? Either you prefer not to answer, or actually dont know (?), in either case, I think that answer might make an umpire look somewhat foolish/inexperienced. I just answer yes/no, and leave it at that...

On a swing and a miss there's no need for me to judge the pitch. The batter has already made my judgment moot.

[gordon30307]

Give them an honest answer. Although sometimes I don't remember because I'm focusing on the game.

[DonInKansas]

Yes it was a strike. Always. If it was close enough to ask, and close enough to swing, that's good enough for me.

[ManInBlue]

Have you said wht age group/level these kids are? I missed it if you did.

In regards to reaching the line...that line isn't very far away for a 12 year old, but HS varsity might have some more room. What I mean is one look from a 12 yo and I've got the warning issued to the coach - I'm not taking any disrespect from a kid of that age, period.

[JPRempe]

You guys are taking their question literally, and by the letter. What they are meaning to ask is really whether or not the pitch was in the "official" strike zone, or if they chased a pitch that would have otherwise been called a ball.

[bluezebra]

In an adult league, I gave an honest answer. In HS down, the pitch was always in the strike zone. They had to explain why they swung when they returned to the bench.

Bob

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by JPRempe

You guys are taking their question literally, and by the letter. What they are meaning to ask is really whether or not the pitch was in the "official" strike zone, or if they chased a pitch that would have otherwise been called a ball.

I think most of us have played enough ball to understand why the question.

Were just negotiating the response!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

[archangel]

Originally Posted by waltjp

On a swing and a miss there's no need for me to judge the pitch. The batter has already made my judgment moot.

I'm not saying that the pitch needs to be "judged". I'm commenting on the fact that you didnt know if it wouldve been a ball/strike if no swing by batter. Again, how can that be? Why wouldnt one know, since the catcher caught the ball? How hard is that?

[ManInBlue]

Originally Posted by archangel

I'm not saying that the pitch needs to be "judged". I'm commenting on the fact that you didnt know if it wouldve been a ball/strike if no swing by batter. Again, how can that be? Why wouldnt one know, since the catcher caught the ball? How hard is that?

What walt is trying to say is that once the batter swings his attention is not to the details of where the ball crossed the plate, or where it was caught - it doesn't matter any more. He's saying that the batter has allowed him to pay attention to other details, like did it touch the bat, did he hit the catcher's mitt...whatever, but where it crossed is not important.

He's not saying he doesn't know what the pitch would have been. He's saying that once the batter swings he no longer concentrates on where the ball is in the zone (or out), so he doesn't make that judgment, he doesn't register "that was a strike" as he would had the better not swung.

When I'm asked, I answer. I don't have a problem with that. I don't have a probelm with walt's reply either, or anyone else's for that matter - except the OP reference to an EJ for asking - that's way over the top.

[waltjp]

Originally Posted by archangel

I'm not saying that the pitch needs to be "judged". I'm commenting on the fact that you didnt know if it wouldve been a ball/strike if no swing by batter. Again, how can that be? Why wouldnt one know, since the catcher caught the ball? How hard is that?

At least 4 other posters agreed with my answer - and yet you have issue with what I had to say. I'm not saying I'm right or wrong on this but to single me out makes no sense at all.

I don't have to know if the pitch was a ball or a strike. The batter took that decision out of my hands.

[SanDiegoSteve]

When a player asks if the pitch he swung at was a strike, he's not trying to be a smart aleck, he is looking to improve his idea of the strike zone. They have been asking this question in the majors for a long time now, and occassionaly players ask me "was that a strike?" I will tell them the truth. If I am sure the pitch was a strike I tell them yes, if not, I tell them no. If it was a really close pitch, and they foul it off, I may say something like, "pretty close pitch, good thing I didn't have to call it," and laugh. That usually gets a chuckle out of the hitter, and it's all good.

If anyone else wants to do it their own way, great. It isn't questioning the umpire to ask where a pitch was if it was swung at.

Now try to ask me if a called strike was a strike and see what happens.