Let's have a thread about strike zones!

[johnnyg08]

Originally Posted by Umpmazza

Yea cause we have never talked about the strike zone here before...

Hey try to use the search feature.

feel free to not participate then

[jkumpire]

Hi folks,

Yesterday I was working a college game, turned into a blowout. F2 for the team up 10 runs got lazy, and there were at least two hooks that were right across the plate thigh high that he made look terrible. They were flat out strikes, and got ripped by the other team because the F2 made the pitches look so bad. He grabbed and pulled on one, then caught another and dropped his glove and moved it all around. He made himself look like a HS JV guy.

Then of course, the team down 10 rallies. Now the F2 has to work again, and I don't hear boo from the dugout. It was frustrating to say the least.

[ozzy6900]

Many years ago, I arrived at the conclusion that I will call the pitches and not the catcher. I don't care what F2 does with the pitch, if it cuts my zone, it is a strike. Now remember, I am not calling Small Ball, most of the catchers that I deal with are competent.

When I get a complaint (rare, but they do come) I just inform the coach that I am calling the same strike for his pitcher.

[mroyal]

You could even get into a discussion of catchers "framing" pitches to get the call. I think it's a slippery slop to allow a catcher to influence an umpire to get a strike. Call it like you see it. Even if you allow a catcher to help you make a call/no-call, why would you admit it in public? It should never be about persuasion, but about the rule. That keeps the playing field level.

[Welpe]

Properly framing pitches is something a good catcher should be doing. Now pulling pitches...that's a different story.

[DonInKansas]

Originally Posted by Welpe

Properly framing pitches is something a good catcher should be doing. Now pulling pitches...that's a different story.

Agreed. A "framed" pitch is a pitch that's caught well. A "pulled" pitch just looks terrible. Good coaches, catchers, and umpires can tell the difference. These two terms are definitely not interchangable.

[nopachunts]

Originally Posted by Welpe

Properly framing pitches is something a good catcher should be doing. Now pulling pitches...that's a different story.

When doing the plate, if a catcher starts pulling pitches, I will tell him quietly: "Stick 'em, but don't pull 'em". Normally no problems after that. YMMV

[mroyal]

Originally Posted by Welpe

Properly framing pitches is something a good catcher should be doing. Now pulling pitches...that's a different story.

Maybe that's playing the word game. To me, framing is an attempt by a catcher to make a pitch look like or bring it to a location giving it the appearance of being a strike. Framing is a negative for me (whether you pull, push, pluck or yank).

[UmpJM]

Originally Posted by mroyal

... Framing is a negative for me (whether you pull, push, pluck or yank).

mroyal,

I would not consider any of those actions "framing".

Framing is when the catcher "sticks it" without moving his glove afer the catch and holds it for a "scant second" to show the PU that's exactly where he wanted the pitch to be.

JM

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by mroyal

Maybe that's playing the word game. To me, framing is an attempt by a catcher to make a pitch look like or bring it to a location giving it the appearance of being a strike. Framing is a negative for me (whether you pull, push, pluck or yank).

A good catcher will frame a pitch by folding the glove and holding it for the umpire to get a good look. The only movement is the folding of the glove.

Any catch that is moved other than the above is framing the umpire.

[GerryB]

Ozz, absolutely, what works for you.
Just this weekend I had the opportunity (?!) in a college game to work behind a catcher sunday and then see the very same team/catcher tuesday with me on the bases and one of the best umps in our area on the dish. This particular catcher did get lazy as both games went on so I had the chance to reflect on how these get called/accepted.

[waltjp]

Originally Posted by GerryB

Ozz, absolutely, what works for you.
Just this weekend I had the opportunity (?!) in a college game to work behind a catcher sunday and then see the very same team/catcher tuesday with me on the bases and one of the best umps in our area on the dish. This particular catcher did get lazy as both games went on so I had the chance to reflect on how these get called/accepted.

And your conclusions?