Marginal pitches

[fairump]

I have listened to two different school of thoughts about the marginal pitch. If I have had a marginal pitch it has always been a ball. Some people have voiced opinions that calls for these pitches a strike. What is your opinion on this? Why is this your opinion on this?

[refman]

First of all, does your definition of a marginal pitch mean that it's actually close enough to be a strike, or is it simply "close" to the zone?
My theory, at the high school level, is that pitch will be a strike. I've learned that most of today's prep players struggle to throw strikes consistently, and consequently if you don't call the close (marginal) strikes, the kids will take more pitches, the games will drag on, and you'll be there all night.
Coaches will tell their players to adjust to your strike zone, and when they do.....they'll be swinging the bat, putting the ball in play, and the games will be a lot more fun for everyone.

[JRutledge]

Any time you are doing a HS game or lower, call as many strikes as you can. Coaches usually do not get upset when strikes are being called. So call strikes on "marginal pitches" when you can. That does not mean that you throw out your training, principles or what you have been calling all game. Do not just start calling pitches you think are close, just to call a strike. But if you call the "marginal" pitch early, keep calling that pitch the rest of the game.

Remember, umpires are not perfect. Sometimes we also need a competent pitcher that tries to throw strikes, rather than trying to nibble the corners or the knees for example. It can be very difficult at times to call strikes when the pitcher has no clue what kind of pitches he wants to throw. So calling the marginal pitch for a pitcher that has very little control can be difficult. Usually the pitchers that get the most strikes that keep throwing the ball around the plate and in the same places. If a pitcher is wild and cannot find a groove, it can be difficult to call a "marginal pitch" when they have not been close all game long.

Peace

[dak1611]

I have to agree with the guys who say..." Think strikes" But if you use this philosophy....use it the whole game. If you are doing youth ball....then this philosophy will keep coach and parents quiet, plus keep the game more exciting and FASTER!!!!

[Whowefoolin]

Every pitch should be considered a strike unless proven different. Think strikes all the time, and those marginal pitches will stop being marginal and start becoming strikes.

Marginal pitches are just that because your frame of mine is thinking about calling it a ball instead of strike.

[chris s]

STRIKES AND OUTS!!!!

[greymule]

Obviously, at higher levels you have to set a zone, call the pitch, and let the chips fall where they may. Even so, I suspect that more than a little "adjustment" is done even at the MLB level. Does anyone really think the zone was the same for Ted Williams as it was for Marv Throneberry?

Generally, in youth ball I stretch the zone depending on what the batter does. If the kid doesn't budge for two pitches right down the middle and then stands like a statue for another a few inches outside, that's strike 3. His coaches will then lecture him about swinging. If he swings at the first 2 and then holds up for that outside pitch, it's a ball. No one has EVER complained.

Similarly, if he is crowding the plate and has to back away from a pitch a little inside, that's a ball. If he's away from the plate and the pitch is perfectly hittable, it's a strike.

Remember that a lot of kids take one strike, so a larger zone for strike 1 often gets them swinging.

You can raise the top of the zone for pitchers not throwing hard. Slower pitches at the shoulders are easy to hit.

This assumes that the pitchers are comparable. If they both are consistently throwing real strikes, then you can call a truer zone. If they're both wild, you can't. Not easy, though, when one is throwing strikes and the other isn't. In that case, at least the score usually becomes lopsided.

I think you quickly get a sense of what kind of zone you should be calling. Is this a "teach them to swing" game or a "teach them the zone" game?

[pob14]

Greymule, with all due respect, I disagree.

Certainly I agree with adjusting the zone for LEVEL - if you call a HS Varsity zone in LL Minors, you better have a runs per inning limit - but I don't see how you can adjust a zone from batter to batter and have any kind of consistency. Or even stay sane. Maybe I'm just not experienced enough to do it, but I have a tough enough time keeping my zone in one place, let alone remembering all the adjustments for THIS batter with THIS pitcher with THIS count.

As Steve Freix always says, just my opinion.

[JRutledge]

Originally posted by pob14
Greymule, with all due respect, I disagree.

Certainly I agree with adjusting the zone for LEVEL - if you call a HS Varsity zone in LL Minors, you better have a runs per inning limit - but I don't see how you can adjust a zone from batter to batter and have any kind of consistency. Or even stay sane. Maybe I'm just not experienced enough to do it, but I have a tough enough time keeping my zone in one place, let alone remembering all the adjustments for THIS batter with THIS pitcher with THIS count.

As Steve Freix always says, just my opinion.

You have to adjust you zone by batter at least. You cannot call the same zone for a better that is 6'2 to a batter that is 5'4. You better adjust your zone on height alone. If you have a good system or understanding of what you are doing in the first place, it can be very easy to make adjustments from time to time. But the majority of your adjustments are going to be because of the batter and sometimes the catcher. It is what those two individuals are going to do that will affect your strike calls.

Peace

[jicecone]

Besides adjusting for height, which seems quite obvious to most of us, I take every advantage of calling a strike that I can. There no mercy rule in calling balls and strikes.

You crowd the plate and have to move, too bad. Don't crowd the plate next time. I give the same amount on both sides of the plate.I enjoy being given the oppurtunity to ring a batter up, because I know, I will.

CALL STRIKES!

CALL OUTS!

Now, there are times when you have to really get your point across to a batter or pitcher that is having a hissy fit. But for the most part, if its close enough to be a ball or strike, I ALWAYS call it a strike.

And Now I have to ask, Why wouldn't you want to? Unless your getting paid by the hour.

[David B]

One other thing that I have learned is that by calling strikes the umpire gets the kids involved in the game early.

Coaches and players know if the pitch is close it will be a strike.

Thus they start swinging the bats. Not only makes a better game but a quicker game.

And in the late innings, the kids will be deciding the game by swinging the bats instead of taking pitch after pitch after pitch.

Thanks
David

[dak1611]

David.....You are totally correct!!!!!!!!!!!