Last pitch in the 2010 NLCS
 

I don't want to necessary argue balls and strikes, but I am curious to what people have on that Howard called third strike. I thought the pitch was there, but I wasn't really paying to close attention to the umpire's strike zone throughout the game.

Bases loaded, two outs, full count and the entire season on the line: swing the bat.

Concur!
 

When I coached I used to tell my players - in these circumstance, regardless of what YOU think, if it's close you've got to swing. Don't get punched out with the bat on your shoulder! JMO

As replays and pitchFX showed, at the knee and over the plate. What's the problem?

One of the first things an umpire is told after learning the "Big 6" mechanics is the importance of T I M I N G. Here are 2 examples: one of of bad timing and one of good timing.

First, the bad. Here's the call where Buster Posie reaches first on an error

Baseball Video Highlights & Clips | NLCS Gm 6: Huff scores on a Polanco throwing error - Video | MLB.com: Multimedia

In contrast, here's Hallion's call on Howard's called 3d strike to end the game (and it WAS a strike):

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?co...ic_id=14871772

T I M I N G is everything

The perception that the catcher did not think it was a strike or he wouldn't have pulled it up and a good portion of the game, the umpire called the pitches pulled up by the catcher a ball.

Not saying it wasn't a strike, looked good to me. Then again, IMO, Howard is not the person I would want in the box with the game on the line.

Yep!!!

Peace

Yeah but unlike Ryan Howard, they weren't trying to hit off Fidel Castro either with the season on the line.

Nah, Wilson does a much better job on the beard with the Grecian Formula than Fidel :D

It simply amazes me how many ML batters will take a called 3rd strike. In this situation it only amazes me even more.

Great pitch! I can't say it was a great call, because it was what it should be.

Don't understand hitting eh? :D

Taking called 3rd strikes in critical situations ain't hitting.

I was taught, have taught, and call: On something and 2, if it's close, you better be swinging.

Then I guess neither is flailing away at a breaking ball out of the zone when you were expecting a fast ball.

The pitcher won the battle. Give credit where it's due.

Pitcher threw a great pitch and the umpire rewarded him by calling it properly and correctly.