Outside Corner

[Mrumpiresir]

Get rid of looking for dirt and track the ball into the catchers glove, pause and call the pitch.

[jsblanton]

I had a problem mainly with left-handed batters. I was squeezing the outside low corner. I started working a little higher and it opened up my view of the corner for me. I was a little ashamed that I didn't figure this out by myself but I had a good umpire tell me what he thought I should do. I didn't have a lot of chirping about my zone but I knew I was missing some close pitches. also,I never understood why but slowing down also helped me. I track the ball from the pitchers hand through (or not through) the zone, call the pitch in my head, and then call the pitch to everyone else. Seemed like it was to long of a pause but now it is very natural and flows very well. Just goes to show you that timing is everything.

[canadaump6]

Thanks for the pointers. The positive is that I'm pretty good at making adjustments to my strike zone and plate mechanics. The negative is that I may have to wait over 8 months to make these adjustments, depending on whether I get any more plate games over the next two to three weeks of the season.

I think my feet placement is decent; I actually got with only half of a heel-toe as it helps me balance, and my feet don't get inverted with a left-handed batter. Timing has been good, and tracking with the eyes hasn't been great but hasn't been a big problem either.

I tried that drill you mentioned about having someone holding a ball above the plate, and just as I thought, the pitches that look like they clipped the outside edge of the black from the slot are only one to two inches off the plate when looking at the ball directly overhead.

Although there were a few complaints in the 2 games my partners were referring to, and a total of 5 ejections, (but only one was due to arguing the outside pitch) the players were able to adjust to the more generous outside corner. It does seem odd to me how a catcher can frame a pitch that is 18 inches off the plate, because those pitches that are apparently that far outside are often perfectly framed and held there by the catcher.

[ctblu40]

5 ej's in two games?!? Maybe your strike zone is setting them up for the big melt down?

Also, most good F2's will not frame a pitch they know you won't call.... I've NEVER EVER had an F2 frame a pitch that was 18" off the corner!

[mick]

Originally Posted by ctblu40

5 ej's in two games?!? Maybe your strike zone is setting them up for the big melt down?

Also, most good F2's will not frame a pitch they know you won't call.... I've NEVER EVER had an F2 frame a pitch that was 18" off the corner!

Few, but some, F2s have been hit by too many foul balls.

[UmpLarryJohnson]

5 ej in 2 games
frames a foot n half off plate
canuck6 is making things up here methinks.

but interesting thread any how!

[Interested Ump]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

It does seem odd to me how a catcher can frame a pitch that is 18 inches off the plate, because those pitches that are apparently that far outside are often perfectly framed and held there by the catcher.

If he's holding that glove any time longer than a flash 18" off, we're going to have a conversation.

[mcrowder]

I had similar comments early in my career, so I had a fellow blue video me calling pitches at a practice, from behind the pitcher, and then also from high in the bleachers behind me.

I then watched it - it was helpful. I grant that this view is not ideal, but it did show me that I was a bit loose in the middle of the outside zone and too tight at the bottom of the outside zone. Can't hurt.

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by Interested Ump

If he's holding that glove any time longer than a flash 18" off, we're going to have a conversation.

Heh, yeppers the ole' "brush the plate, chatty watty with catchy".

"I hope you're hand is frozen in ice b/c if it's not, then I expect you to hold every single pitch as long as you did that one."