Strike Zone...

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

The pause is a built-in buffer that some umpires might need to fully evaluate a borderline call and deliver it without appearing inconsistent. Not everyone here is a master.

The pause is a rubber crutch. It does not provide time to see or evaluate a pitch. It that wasn't done by the proper use of the eyes, it cannot be done by pausing.

I know a pause was taught for years to amateur umpires, mostly by amateur umpires. Never the less, it is BS.

One does not have to be a master to work correctly. That's another crutch.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

The pause is a rubber crutch. It does not provide time to see or evaluate a pitch. It that wasn't done by the proper use of the eyes, it cannot be done by pausing.

I know a pause was taught for years to amateur umpires, mostly by amateur umpires. Never the less, it is BS.

One does not have to be a master to work correctly. That's another crutch.

Okay, Mr. Umpire. I will make sure never to give a broadly based point of view around you.

[LDUB]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

Okay, Mr. Umpire. I will make sure never to give a broadly based point of view around you.

I'm sure pausing is a broadly based point of view....I see a whole lot of guys at a wide range of levels that have no idea what they are doing.

[Kevin Finnerty]

No, I was presenting a viewpoint that considered others. I do that. I think of others. You think of yourself a lot.

I suppose if I were of such lofty stature as you claim, I might be unable to think of anyone other than myself.

What a relief I am not.

[UmpJM]

Kevin,

Take a deep breath.

I wonder if you and MrUmpire & LDUB aren't closer to "violent agreement" than you realize.

Earlier, you said,

The pause is a built-in buffer that some umpires might need to fully evaluate a borderline call and deliver it without appearing inconsistent.

That is almost correct, but not quite. And, I believe gets to the heart of the matter.

ALL umpires need a "buffer" to call a pitch - but not just "borderline" pitches, every single pitch. But, the "pause" is not something you "do", it's the natural result of "proper use of the eyes".

When you don't use your eyes properly, you tend to call the "easy" pitches too quickly, the "nut-cutters" too slowly and indecisively, and you miss "easy" pitches that turned out to be not so "easy" as you had anticipated before the ball reached the plate.

As MrUmpire eloquently stated earlier with regard to inserting an artificial "pause",

Never the less, it is BS.

It most certainly is.

However, with proper use of the eyes, there will definitely tend to be a consistent "pause" between the pitch reaching the catcher and the umpire calling the pitch. Every pitch, not just "borderline" pitches.

JM

[Kevin Finnerty]

Hey, a broad-minded guy!

Nice change of pace. Thanks, JM.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

Hey, a broad-minded guy!

Nice change of pace. Thanks, JM.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

Okay, Mr. Umpire. I will make sure never to give a broadly based point of view around you.

The "broadness" of the point was not at issue. The inaccuracy was.

[Klokard]

Not sure what alot of the hubub is here. Timing is essential to calling a consistent zone. As mentioned earlier the obvious strike doesn't really require good timing. HOWEVER, by evaluating the borderline pitch, I feel a few more strikes can be given in a game. There have been a few times I have needed to slow down a bit to get that borderline pitch depending on the level I was working. I don't care about the backlash I will get here but the level you are doing will determine your zone. I cannot give the 2 ball outside pitch in a D1 game but I better give it in a HS Var game or I will only invite a walkathon. Just my dos pesos.