Outside Corner

[ChucktownBlue]

Originally Posted by mick

Using your rule of thumb [dirt between the ball and the black of the plate, it's not a strike] I am guessing that you may be missing a lot of outside strikes at the top of the zone.

Exactly what I thought when I first read the post. Get a friend and go to the plate. Assume the slot position with a ball on the ground, with 1/4 of it on outside white. Have your friend lift it straight up two feet. You WILL be seeing dirt between the ball and the plate. Not may or might, WILL. IMO, worrying about this "dirt view" is best used to build judgement during drills, not calling strikes during a game.

And I wouldn't worry about a partner saying you were calling strikes that far off the plate. If it were true, you'd have a raving lunatic coach telling you way before your partner ever could. This "partner" isn't helping you with these exagerations.