Catching Ettiquette

[UmpJM]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

Wow. Did someone move the strike zone away from over the plate and not tell us?

Rich,

Not that I'm aware of. Why do you ask? I certainly didn't suggest any such thing.

My comment was in reference to the proper way to track a pitch and proper timing in calling a pitch.

Of course, since you're a coach, I wouldn't expect you to understand any of that.

Josh, on the other hand, suggests that he is an umpire. He needs to understand the proper way to call pitches if he hopes to be any good at it. And, based on his post, he does not understand.

JM

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

Rich,

Not that I'm aware of. Why do you ask? I certainly didn't suggest any such thing.

My comment was in reference to the proper way to track a pitch and proper timing in calling a pitch.

Of course, since you're a coach, I wouldn't expect you to understand any of that.

Josh, on the other hand, suggests that he is an umpire. He needs to understand the proper way to call pitches if he hopes to be any good at it. And, based on his post, he does not understand.

JM

Nonsense. You track a pitch through the zone. You don't have to see it or follow it after that ... kind of what Josh said. And he said he used the slap of the mitt as a timing mechanism. That isn't mine, but what's wrong with doing that?

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Nonsense. You track a pitch through the zone. You don't have to see it or follow it after that ... kind of what Josh said. And he said he used the slap of the mitt as a timing mechanism. That isn't mine, but what's wrong with doing that?

Where the catcher catches the ball is evidence of the path of the pitch. Why not consider all the evidence? Maybe you thought the pitch missed the zone, but the catcher caught it waist high over the middle of the plate. If you don't consider that evidence, you will call that pitch a ball (erroneously).

Timing is proper use of the eyes, period. Waiting for the slap of the mitt, counting, and other such "mechanisms" may serve to delay the call, but they have nothing to do with timing.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by dash_riprock

Where the catcher catches the ball is evidence of the path of the pitch. Why not consider all the evidence? Maybe you thought the pitch missed the zone, but the catcher caught it waist high over the middle of the plate. If you don't consider that evidence, you will call that pitch a ball (erroneously).

What? If the pitch missed the zone, and the catcher catches it waist high over the middle of the plate, it was a ball. Where it is caught is completely irrelevant. Just like Davidson's fair ball last week - what happens AFTERward doesn't tell you anything about what happened before.

Timing is proper use of the eyes, period. Waiting for the slap of the mitt, counting, and other such "mechanisms" may serve to delay the call, but they have nothing to do with timing.

Again... what? Timing is timing. Proper use of the eyes is crucial, but has nothing to do with timing. I don't use the slap of the mitt ... but so often the cause of missing pitches is calling them to quickly. ANY mechanism that makes you wait gives you that split second to confirm that your mouth is about to say what your eyes saw.

[UmpJM]

mbcrowder,

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Huh? Do you know this Josh guy?

Only from his posts on this board.

Where did that come from?

It came from the misinformation he posted and the personal instruction I have received from...

Jim Evans
Dick Nelson
Fran Burke
David Uyl
Derek Crabill
Dan Bellino
John Gelatt
Brad Purdom
Shaun Francis
Dave Buck
Mike Conlin
Sal Giacomantonio

among others.

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Nonsense. You track a pitch through the zone. You don't have to see it or follow it after that ... kind of what Josh said.

Nonsense. Where'd that come from? Your innate knowledge of umpiring?

In my experience, most umpires who espouse this type of nonsense actually are "tunnelling" and lose sight of the pitch 5-10' in front of the plate.

And he said he used the slap of the mitt as a timing mechanism. That isn't mine, but what's wrong with doing that?

Because it is an artificial pausing mechanism and has NOTHING to do with proper timing.

Proper timing is simply waiting to allow your senses to gather and deliver ALL the available information to your brain before starting to make a decision on a call.

JM

[Mrumpiresir]

It is difficult to determine the height of a big curve ball as it crosses the plate. If you see the pitch all the way to the catchers glove you will have a good idea of where the pitch was.

Everyone will agree that a straight fast ball must be caught just below the knee. but a curve ball, on the way down during its trajectory could be caught maybe 6 inches lower and still catch the front of the strike zone.

Newer umpires tend to call low strikes because they don't see where the ball was caught.

The straight fast ball at the belt is a strike but the high curve ball must be caught considerably lower.

Bottom line, in my opinion, it is essential to see the catcher catch the pitch so you can determine the true trajectory of the pitch. I believe this will make you much more consistent. It works for me.

[briancurtin]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

Sal Giacomantonio

Man there's a name I haven't seen in a long time!

[jicecone]

The basics I have always followed is to watch the ball into the mit. Lower level ball, it is probably better to concentrate more on the location than the total picture because of the inexperience of the catcher and because your probablby using a bigger stike zone for that level.

Higher level, VHS and above your using all the tools to get as much information as possible to get a solid consistent zone. And whether you want to believe it or not the benches get some indication of the pitch from how it is caught. A catcher straight up center on the plate usually, can't catch a fastball just below the knee for a strike , without turning his glove over. Is it a strike? Maybe? It probably doesn't look that way though. Up in front of his mask is probably a ball, along with any thing outside his shoulder width.

Not hard fast one's but, little tools or indicators I have used to help me stay consistent. Catcher sets up inside and pitcher throws outside corner. Ball or Strike? A duce catches the front part of the plate/corner and is caught outside. Ball or strike?

You decide but, for sure, if your truly calling what only crosses the plate and passes through the straightup stike zone, I suggest that at more advanced levels of ball, you may consider more tools to help make your decision or your in for some long and noisy games. JMO