Question for Plate guys

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Poosey

I am generous to the inside pitch.

This is generally a good idea.

Too many umpires (imo) describe their strike zone as something like "I give nothing in the inside, but 2 balls on the outside." This leads to batters crowdng the plate and more hit batters (on which the umpire must decide if teh batter is "getting out of the way.").

Instead, make the zone 1 ball inside and 1 ball outside (or so). It's the same width, but you'll have fewer problems.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Poosey

Do you mean one extra ball wide or one ball wide being the one that crosses the black?

Either. Whatever "your" zone is, it should be the same inside and outside, imo.

[L.A. Umpire Guy]

I hear the comment after most games: "You were really consistent today, Blue."

And sometimes that comment is made by someone who early in the game said, "You're squeezing us, Blue."

My favorite comment I ever had was from a former pro catcher in the wood bat league: "It was the easiest four at bats I ever had in a game. I was sure what a strike was and what a ball was because your zone never changed all day."

I guess that when I go reaching for a strike (which is rare), I don't know where to stop, so I just don't reach very often. So the only time there's any daylight on a strike I give, it always seems to be a sharp breaking ball that finished right, and it is always an inch or two outside and never inside. It's also always up a little above the knee or better. If it's on the corner, I don't care how it's caught, but if it's an inch or two off, then it has to be caught right. I just feel like a pitch ever-so-slightly off the outside corner is very hittable, but the one off the inside is a foul ball off the foot. I'm a hitting guy and a pitching guy, but I'm more of a hitting guy.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Poosey

I find two balls wide (one a strike by the book, the second not) about 1/2 ball too much, ymmv.

Fine. But the thread / my posts were about symmetry, not absolute width.