Mask question
 

I know with more time behind the plate I will work this out but would like some input from the more experienced. My problem is missed low strikes due to the lower bar blocking my view. I've tried adjusting my stance and had a little improvement. Tried adjusting the harness but with my big head there isn't much room for this. As of right now I am using a hand-me down (single bar) Wilson, not sure of the model and will be looking for a new one in the next couple of weeks, so what do I need to look at?

Your mask probably needs to be adjusted. Look in the mirror with your mask on. Your eyes should be in the center of the viewing area.

Your stance head height may be too tall also. Your head height should be just above the catcher's head.

These two corrective measures usually do the trick.

try looking through the bars, not at them. or, punch a hole in that thing. both of those seem to be very handy advice i've heard along the way.

I may be pointing out the obvious but if your mask is a hand -me- down, are the 2 bars that comprise the viewing area parallel to each other or is one or both bent? This can dramatically reduce the viewing area. The single bar Wilson is an excellent mask.

You are quite correct. I failed to mention those corrective measures as well.

I may be stating the obvious also, but if you know you are missing low strikes how about not blaming it on the mask and just call 'em.

I have been told I call 'em low, and maybe I do if you are expecting strikes to be above the knee, which is not the rule, but nobody complains. Consistency is the key.

Lower your zone.

I will contend that you will have MUCH faster games by calling a higher zone! I have proved this time and time again with young umpires I mentor, and prove it to more experienced partners when we work multiple games together. Once I get them away from that "low" strike, and calling anything below the elbow, their games start going much faster, and they are more consistent.

But, call what you like. ;)

The proper head height is your "chin" at the top of the catchers head by the way.

Being too low always has the same effect on the low zone as being too high. There is an optimal height you want to be in. Get too low, people seem to not call enough strikes down low. Get too high, people seem to call too many strikes down low. It is weird. Get your chin at the top of the catcher head and track the ball all the way to the glove. I am betting that you are NOT tracking the ball all the way to the glove, because people that do call excellent games, no matter what experience you have.

Stay focused and tune everything out once the pitcher starts his windup. Your only job at that point is to follow the ball to the glove then rule on it. (yes, I know there are other things to be aware of, but for a inexperienced umpire they just need to focus on the pitch and get that discipline down!)

A new harness is cheap. If you need a bigger one, get a bigger one and adjust the mask to fit properly. Come on, you are getting money to work these games, and you are an independent contractor. YOU provide your tools to work. INVEST! Crap, I have over $1k invested into uniforms and gear!

rei,
How does a game go faster by eliminating the low strike? If a sinker ball pitcher is hitting the hollow of the knee regularly, do you not reward him with the strike? Maybe I am missing something in the way you are wording it.

The hollow of the knee, if in fact pitchers are hitting that, and the umpire KNOWS that is where it is crossing, is fine. But, I see a lot of high school level umpires who think they are calling strikes at the hallow, who in fact are calling in about mid-shin. THAT pitch (the mid-shin pitch) is bad! Calling that and making batters swing at it leads to a lot of contact with the ball that is not conducive to outs! It has to do with the angle of the bat when it meets the ball.

Poor hitters, when swinging at low pitches have the angle of the bat sort of like the bat is standing on end. Thus, only solid contact in the exact middle of the bat produces hits with good lift. The rest of the time, the batter is hooking or slicing the ball because they are not hitting it square. This produces those funky spinning hits that do funny things, which usually leads to bad plays.

Make a guy hit the higher pitch, you know, the one ABOVE THE BELT that many don't seem to call, and you have a batter swinging a LEVEL bat! Hitting a ball slightly off center with a level swing means either a pop up, or a grounder. :) That is better for getting outs.

Too many guys call below the knee, and nothing above the belt. And they wonder why their games are always 22-15! I am not saying that calling a high zone is going to totally get rid of high scoring games, but, it has certainly cut down on them in my experience.

I know many college guys who are stuck at the JuCo level because they refuse to call the higher zone that the NCAA wants to see. All the umpires I see moving up the ranks call higher zones.

Call the higher pitch! It is good for lower level baseball like most of us do most of the time.

I disagree completely.

I want the batters swinging at low strikes, the lower the better. Low strikes, in HS ball, are generally hit into the ground for outs. I like outs.

Low strikes swung at are ground balls.

Lowballer?
 

Most folks start with their right ear over the catcher's left shoulder. Moving left behind the batter a half step gives you a better perspective of the batter's frame. Recommend it when a good catcher frames each pitch for you. Moving right behind the catcher a half step gives you a better perspective of the catcher's frame. Recommend it when a catcher is "pro-posing" a location other than where it was caught. As you work more games, you'll develop a feel for that spot.

YSMV.

Um, how 'bout we call a proper strikezone, and safe/out, fair/foul etc. by the book?



No matter the score.



Like umpires.

Surely you jest!

Not everyone has as great a talent pool like we do here in the So Cal area, I guess. As you know, the majority of the pitchers here can hit their spots pretty well, that's why so many get pro contracts. We don't have the need to alter the strike zone, as the pitchers put it right on the corners and make our jobs a bit easier. The ones that don't hit their spots get yanked out of the game so we don't have to suffer for long.