Question for Plate guys

[jkumpire]

Guys in my area must have a communicable disease these days, since everyone from College on down has at least two or three kids who are right on top of the plate.

I have no slot at all to work with on these guys, and it is frustrating. then F2 sets up for an inside corner pitch, and I'm looking over F2's head or through BR's hands.

How do you guys deal with the problem? I will use a Davis stance, but I am old school and I prefer heel/toe in the slot. Does anyone else have this problem where you work?

[BigUmp56]

I think we've all been in this situation many times. The best advice I can give you that, works for me, is to move up and back when a catcher takes away your view from the slot.


Tim.

[UmpJM]

jkumpire,

I concur with Tim. "Up and back" when you get "squeezed" out of the slot working H-T-H-T. Try it. You'll like it.

JM

[Steven Tyler]

By up and back, you mean higher and further back right?

[UmpJM]

Steven,

Zackly!

JM

[bobbybanaduck]

open question, not just for the OP...is your definition of the slot the same as the umpire school definition of the slot?

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

By up and back, you mean higher and further back right?

Yea, and it usually won't be huge adjustment that you'll have to make.


Tim.

[Rags 11]

bobbybanaduck

open question, not just for the OP...is your definition of the slot the same as the umpire school definition of the slot?

BBD:

Slot: The area between the batter and the catcher. The entire plate (outside corner) should be visible. PU's head height shouldn't dip below F2's head.

That being said, since the Academy may one day be my mid-life crisis indulgence, I'd like to hear the pro school version.

Thanks,
AR

[DG]

I tell the catcher he is crowding the plate and I can't see it so I will call the pitches based on where I think it is. They generally back off when they hear that. Doesn't matter much though, because I do know where it is.

[griff901c]

Originally Posted by DG

I tell the catcher he is crowding the plate and I can't see it so I will call the pitches based on where I think it is. They generally back off when they hear that. Doesn't matter much though, because I do know where it is.

Really? What do you tell the guy who is 6'2" and just sets up big with runners on and stolen base situation? If you can't see it how do you know where it is? Is this the ole 'sounded like a strike' drill?
Just curious...

griff

[DG]

Originally Posted by griff901c

Really? What do you tell the guy who is 6'2" and just sets up big with runners on and stolen base situation? If you can't see it how do you know where it is? Is this the ole 'sounded like a strike' drill?
Just curious...

griff

"Sets up big?" Is that another way of saying he is crowding the plate? I already told him he is crowding the plate so if he keeps doing it I just call it where I think the plate is. It hasn't moved since I arrived at the park, so I know where it is. If the pitcher has any velocity on his pitches at all the extra 3 feet he gets by crowding the plate is meaningless.

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by Poosey

I am generous to the inside pitch.

How much so?

Tim.

[SanDiegoSteve]

It was non-descriptive, vague and generally evasive in nature.

[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.