If a pitcher can put that pitch a ball's width off the inside corner and the umpire calls it a strike, then the batter may have to back up a step and not crowd the plate. I'm not sure why this is my problem. I'm not sure why I need to worry about the hittability of a pitch -- some pitches are just that well placed as to be unhittable.

Unlike others, I never, ever say what I call a strike. Just that I call lots of them. If someone asks me what a pitch 2 balls off the plate is called, I'd say, "By rule, that's a ball" and change the subject.

How many times does a catcher really not know where you judge the pitch to have missed? Wouldn't it be obvious 99% of the time?

Well, I guess I'll answer with this ... if you're calling consistently and not squeezing like it sounds like OP was, you're not going to be asked very often. I find I'm asked more often on pitches that fooled the catcher for whatever reason. Catcher set up inside, and it's low and away - they might ask, wondering if it was low, or away (with "both" being an acceptable answer of course). That, or check swings or pitches where a runner is going - something where the catcher lost focus for a second.

If you have a postage stamp zone, you're going to get asked more often - and yes, you're probably right that the catcher knows the answer.

"Was that low, blue?" YEP (never disagree with a catcher):D

Except when the catcher is batting, where the answer to that question is, "Nope, I called it a strike."

In California, I worked a bunch of games for a particular team, so I got to know their catcher pretty well. Not that I think that is good, it's just the way it turned out. Well, he is at bat, a pitch comes in at the belt line, he takes, I strike it. He kind of looks sideways at me and I reply, "Steve, why did you take that one?" No answer, next pitch comes in, same spot, Steve cranks it over the fence. As he crosses home plate he has a big grin on his face...

Same catcher, up at bat, pitcher throws a really nice tight slider, Steve is fooled, and I ring him up (sort of dramatically)...he turns and say's, " Geeze Bob, you don't have to enjoy it THAT much"