Let's have a thread about strike zones!

[Durham]

Last week during a mid-week DI plate job I had a curve ball that split the plate both ways, up-down and side-side. The catcher jumped, dropped, then raised slightly and got hit in the chest protector on the pitch. The 3rd base coach, yes an assistant who caught in college, said, "Come on Ken, you can't reward him on that." I responded, "Reward!!!! You tell me what part of the strike zone you think that missed? Because I have it splitting both ways. It's not a catching contest!"

Then this weekend, I had a really good kid catching for Dartmouth. He was real chatty, but a good kid. In the 2nd he pulled down a belt high fast ball and I called it a strike. I told him, "Just catch it! That is a good height and I can work there." He didn't pull another pitch all day in any direction.

As was stated in a previous post, they don't throw enough strikes for us to ball the ones that the catcher screws up. If the dugout wants to get on ya, ackownledge, warn, eject.

Have a great season and good luck heading into conference play in both HS and College.

[DG]

Originally Posted by Durham

The 3rd base coach, yes an assistant who caught in college, said, "Come on Ken, you can't reward him on that." I responded, "Reward!!!! You tell me what part of the strike zone you think that missed? Because I have it splitting both ways. It's not a catching contest!"

I don't have conversations with assistants, unless it is between innings about how this is a beautiful day to play baseball, and that will be brief.

[Durham]

Originally Posted by DG

I don't have conversations with assistants, unless it is between innings about how this is a beautiful day to play baseball, and that will be brief.

I don't have aruguments with assistant coaches, but the occasional conversation is no problem for me. Don't get me wrong, assistants try and argue at times, but they get warned and then ejected if the continue. In fact I had one this weekend that wanted to argue and then continue arguing after causing his team to get a team warning for arguing balls and strikes.

I just did a PDF search of the NCAA rules and I don't remember it mentioning anything in OBR about umpires not being able to answer a question or converse with an assistant coach. I know it says that they can't leave their position to argue, and I know that I am not going to allow one to yell at me, but ask a question, if asked correctly I will more than likely answer beacuse I fell confident enough about what I am doing and my understanding of the playing rules to answer his question. Just my two cents and I know that to many of you they don't exisist, but my father always taught me to give respect if I expected to get it.

Ok, now let me get my mask and chest protector on before you guys reply.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by Durham

Last week during a mid-week DI plate job I had a curve ball that split the plate both ways, up-down and side-side. The catcher jumped, dropped, then raised slightly and got hit in the chest protector on the pitch. The 3rd base coach, yes an assistant who caught in college, said, "Come on Ken, you can't reward him on that." I responded, "Reward!!!! You tell me what part of the strike zone you think that missed? Because I have it splitting both ways. It's not a catching contest!"

I realize I've only called NCAA ball for 25 years and may not have your experience, but that conversation is about four times longer than any I've had from the plate with an assistant.

Tell Bob that Carl says "Hey" if you see Dartmouth again.

[Durham]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

I realize I've only called NCAA ball for 25 years and may not have your experience, but that conversation is about four times longer than any I've had from the plate with an assistant.

Tell Bob that Carl says "Hey" if you see Dartmouth again.

I don't see Bob or his boys on the schedule any more this year, I think they are done with their west coast swing and conference play has begun, but if I do see him I will say hi for ya. And if you see him say hi for me, I am the guy that ejected his first baseman for trying to fight the entire dugout of the opposing team, but I got the kid that he was primarily fighting, verbally, with as well. Oh, and I got my warnings in first.

Oh, and KF dump some old PM's so I can send ya one.

[BigTex]

Originally Posted by Durham

.....but ask a question, if asked correctly I will more than likely answer.....

Originally Posted by Durham

"Come on Ken, you can't reward him on that."

That is not a question.