Your right, but I encourage you to go beyond the rule books, there are many, many other articles and books both on and off the internet that talk about umpiring mechaincs, techiniques and phlosophy. Seek them out and read them with an open mind and develope a style that works for the leagues you work and associations you work for.

Good Luck

Well, Rei, I've been calling this for almost 30 years and I've never received a complaint. I do not do as some of our former (MLB) brothers have - almost 2 feet off the bag is not where I call it.

The best description I can give you is about a step off the bag. Pretty much what was taught in the late seventies in pro school. I've called this from HS through adult levels and never gave it much thought. Again, in this area, it is the expected call and the players work hard at getting just close enough.

Let's say it's not much different than a good F3 who pulls the foot off the bag to keep from getting "nailed". We've all seen that in pro and amateur baseball. Or how about that marginal strike that is really off the plate but still in the black. We all "give" a little whether you realize it or not. The only times I have ever seen the game called "pure" is when the Knickerbocker Games come to the area. There the Caller (umpire) sits to the side in his top hat and tails, nursing a beer and judging whether the "called-for" pitch was correctly thrown! ;)

In the 70s there was no FPSR
Old dogs need to keep up with the game:D

Yeah, I guess you are all correct in that statement! I should come up to speed, let's see:
I need to meet with my partners for every other call.

1. I need to go to my partner every time a coach challenges me.
2. I need to stop using the scissors when my back flairs up.
3. I must hold "church service" at the plate meeting and explain every detail of the game and how it will be called.
4. I need to justify my strike zone.
5. I need to accept that there are rising fastballs.
6. I need to understand that the batter may be frustrated with himself as he yells about my called strike three.
7. I need to stop using the double safe signal and figure out another way of emphasizing a close play.
8. I need to stop ejecting people for using "urban language" because this is the way they were brought up.
9. I need to stop using the neighborhood play because it was taught before FPSR.
10. I need to stop wearing my plate coat because no one else wears one.
11. I need to stop using my indicator on the bases because it is "unprofessional" even though I have CRS.
12. I need to be exactly where the CCA manual says to be because I am too stupid to decide for myself I need to be deep instead of shallow.
13. I need to make my calls faster because I have too much of a delay.
14. I need to accept IR in baseball because it will make the game more enjoyable for MLB fans and players. I should not be concerned with what it will do to the amateur side of the game.
15. I need to be nicer to other, younger, inexperienced officials because I am a crusty old fart that needs to come up to speed and have a better attitude.
16. I need to review this entire list and add more corrections each year.

And if you all hold your breath, I will accomplish these things in a quick and orderly fashion! Wait for it!

I call those every time.

Bottom half of the letters? often ;)

..and yes, I've caught some grief for both. Meh.


I never said that, in fact, my post implies I would not. I won't call a dirt ball a strike whether it nicked the zone or not. Eeeeeeeeehhveryone knows a dirt ball is too low, Blue! ;)


I will agree with a bit of your philosophy regarding the strike zone being a matter of interpretation, whereas the pivot man in a DP either touched the bag, or he did not.

However, I would reject your stated rationale for your zone...it all reads as coaching to me, and I don't see a consulting fee tacked onto my game check. {puts on his Rut hat} I could care less what's 'hittable' and what's not, and it's not my job to care about the players learning baseball techniques. That's the coaches job. If the teams learn a little about the rules along the way, its a bonus.