batters box (or lack thereof)

[dani]

Umpires have a lot of things to watch before, during and after a pitch is delivered, especially at the MLB level.

On Saturday night, while working a 18U plate, I had it brought to my attention by the catcher that the batter was setting up out of the box.

The first pitch delivered after being told I saw the batter slide his back foot toward the mound as the ball was delivered. He ended up on the line as he swung. The next pitch I missed because I was watching that silly back foot. I think it was strike 3, which if I had called as such I could have got home a few minutes earlier.

The moral of the story is...Worry about the big stuff, like balls, strikes, safes and outs.

It is pretty easy for the announcers using multiple cameras to see things from their air conditioned perch in the press box. They know little to nothing about what it is like umpiring a game.