Lets see how MLB handles this one....

[asdf]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

I don't know, call them. I'm pretty sure that plenty of pitchers do.

That's right....you don't know....

You stated earlier that...

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

You may have noticed that MLB has directed its umpires to make the correct call and not the expected one lately.

Again, I ask who in the MLB office, not a pitcher, (nice try) wants a 12-6 hitting the ground called a strike? Better yet, when is the last time you saw a 12-6 hit the ground and called a strike?

Never mind... most everyone knows this answer.



There is a reason why you don't see arguments on a ball beating the runner and the tag is belt high after the feet hit the bag. It's the same reason why the neighborhood play is called the way it is.

The spats that occur are when it is perceived that the accepted perameters have been exceeded. (bad throw, attempted evasive action by a runner...etc)

[MikeStrybel]

Originally Posted by asdf

That's right....you don't know....

You stated earlier that...

Again, I ask who in the MLB office, not a pitcher, (nice try) wants a 12-6 hitting the ground called a strike? Better yet, when is the last time you saw a 12-6 hit the ground and called a strike?

Never mind... most everyone knows this answer.



There is a reason why you don't see arguments on a ball beating the runner and the tag is belt high after the feet hit the bag. It's the same reason why the neighborhood play is called the way it is.

The spats that occur are when it is perceived that the accepted perameters have been exceeded. (bad throw, attempted evasive action by a runner...etc)

Grow up. You ask me to answer a question directed at someone else and I honestly addressed it. Stop being a child.

[asdf]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

Grow up. You ask me to answer a question directed at someone else and I honestly addressed it. Stop being a child.

"Contemptable", ain't I ???


You answered my question, which was in response to a claim that you made by saying "I don't know".

When called on it, like always, you name call....

A wise man once said, "when you continuously tell people how much you know, you just told them you don't know very much."

Wear that shoe... I'm sure it fits.

[MikeStrybel]

Originally Posted by asdf

"Contemptable", ain't I ???


You answered my question, which was in response to a claim that you made by saying "I don't know".

When called on it, like always, you name call....

A wise man once said, "when you continuously tell people how much you know, you just told them you don't know very much."

Wear that shoe... I'm sure it fits.

You asked me to answer for someone in a MLB office. I said that I couldn't and suggested you do it, if you are so intrigued. It is hardly name calling to remind you that you are behaving like a child by doing that. As you say, the shoe fits, wear it.

I never once said I know more than anyone else here. I merely stated that expected calls are becoming extinct.

[APG]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

Grow up. You ask me to answer a question directed at someone else and I honestly addressed it. Stop being a child.

It seemed like a very legit question to me. For awhile, you've regaled us about how quality umpires at the top levels are doing away with the expected call (which I do tend to agree with) and are now just "getting it right" which means by the book. Yet, here's an example of a strike by the clear wording of the book, yet umpires almost always call it a ball and have their evulations retoractively corrected to account for this by the powers that be...and everyone in the sport seems okay with this. Is this a case of the umpires putting their rating ahead of the game for their personal gratification as you put it?

I think we as an officiating community are doing away with "expected" calls in all sports not only due to instant replay...as you pointed out, we've had replay for a while now. I think it's largely being done away with because replay technology has improved immensely in the past decade. There are many more replay angles that weren't available in the past. We have HD largely available for most sports fans. We also have almost every game available on TV somewhere...unlike before where you'd only have the "Game of the Week" shown on TV. That means all 162 games by a team in MLB, 82 in the NBA and NHL, and 16 in the NFL are being scrutinized by the average Joe unlike yesteryear.

[MikeStrybel]

Originally Posted by AllPurposeGamer

It seemed like a very legit question to me.

(roll eyes) You think it is legitimate to ask me to answer for a MLB executive? Amazing.

For awhile, you've regaled us about how quality umpires at the top levels are doing away with the expected call (which I do tend to agree with) and are now just "getting it right" which means by the book. Yet, here's an example of a strike by the clear wording of the book, yet umpires almost always call it a ball and have their evulations retoractively corrected to account for this by the powers that be...and everyone in the sport seems okay with this. Is this a case of the umpires putting their rating ahead of the game for their personal gratification as you put it?

Yes. The WUA demanded the concession.

No, not everyone in the sport is 'okay with this'. A number of pitching coaches, catchers and pitchers have spoken out regarding the strike that isn't called.

I think we as an officiating community are doing away with "expected" calls in all sports not only due to instant replay...as you pointed out, we've had replay for a while now. I think it's largely being done away with because replay technology has improved immensely in the past decade. There are many more replay angles that weren't available in the past. We have HD largely available for most sports fans. We also have almost every game available on TV somewhere...unlike before where you'd only have the "Game of the Week" shown on TV. That means all 162 games by a team in MLB, 82 in the NBA and NHL, and 16 in the NFL are being scrutinized by the average Joe unlike yesteryear.

Thanks for agreeing.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

No, not everyone in the sport is 'okay with this'. A number of pitching coaches, catchers and pitchers have spoken out regarding the strike that isn't called.

Really? People in MLB want strikes on breaking pitches where the catchers get dirt? Or when the catcher sets up on the inside corner and has to dive back to stab it on the outside corner?

Well, the old saying is true. You can't always get what you want. Those pitches aren't called strikes at ANY level, so why would they all of a sudden want them at the top level of the game?

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Really? People in MLB want strikes on breaking pitches where the catchers get dirt?

No, they don't. Pitchers don't throw that pitch for a called strike, they throw it to get the batter to swing and miss. When was the last time you saw a pitcher argue for a ptich in the dirt to be called a strike? They aren't as clueless as some internet umpires.

Anyone trying to convince that you that professional umpires have been told to call that pitch a strike has not spoken with professional umpires or their evaluators, or is lying.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

No, they don't. Pitchers don't throw that pitch for a called strike, they throw it to get the batter to swing and miss. When was the last time you saw a pitcher argue for a ptich in the dirt to be called a strike? They aren't as clueless as some internet umpires.

Anyone trying to convince that you that professional umpires have been told to call that pitch a strike has not spoken with professional umpires or their evaluators, or is lying.

In case you couldn't tell, my post was an attempt at sarcasm.

[asdf]

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

No, not everyone in the sport is 'okay with this'. A number of pitching coaches, catchers and pitchers have spoken out regarding the strike that isn't called.

Why don't you list the names of the "many" or "a number of"?

Give us a source where we can see who spoke out.

[zm1283]

Originally Posted by lawump

Nearly this entire debate, however, is an academic exercise in historical matters. Whichever reason one choses to assert as the cause of the "expected call" being used by umpires, for the most part (but not entirely), the expected call has died in professional baseball. I assert (as stated above) that this is a direct result of instant replay's evolution. I would also argue that the "expected call" is dying in lower levels partly because of instant replay (as it is used in college games), but mostly because whatever happens in MLB usually filters its way down to lower levels.

It is?

Originally Posted by MikeStrybel

(roll eyes) You think it is legitimate to ask me to answer for a MLB executive? Amazing.



Yes. The WUA demanded the concession.

No, not everyone in the sport is 'okay with this'. A number of pitching coaches, catchers and pitchers have spoken out regarding the strike that isn't called.



Thanks for agreeing.

This is a complete lie. I know this because those same people don't want that pitch called a strike when their team is batting, so they don't expect it to be called when they are pitching.

[lawump]

Originally Posted by zm1283

It is?

What I meant is: as instant replay is used on broadcasts of college games. I don't know what part of the country you are in, but we have a lot of games broadcasted where I live. I'm in the heart of SEC/ACC country.

The use of replay in these broadcasts has led many top-level college umpires to adopt the "get it right" mantra (especially on the bases) just like their MLB counterparts. They don't want to get burried on a broadcast, either.

Haven't met one yet, though, who will intentionally call a strike on a breaking ball in the dirt that may have touched the strike zone over the plate.