Handling the Catcher

[Rich]

Originally Posted by RPatrino

I agree with some of the other posters on this one, that inside pitch is a strike all day long. If you don't call that you WILL look like you are squeezing the zone. Nothing will ruin a game quicker than a postage stamp size zone. I give one ball width on the inside and outside. I also don't feel the need to justify my zone to anyone.

Exactly. I call an aggressive zone at every level -- from LL up through NCAA games -- and I hear *virtually nothing* on balls and strikes.

I've worked with guys that will "ball" a pitch they think is a half-inch inside and call nothing above the belt. Their games last 3+ hours and they get grief on balls and strikes almost constantly.

The NCAA message at the regional clinics was: "Call strikes." They also showed data from last year's championships that the highest rated plate guys also received comments next to their ratings saying, "Big zone, but very consistent."

We are not umpiring MLB and calling pitches for ML pitchers and catchers.

[UMP45]

Tank, when he told his pitcher "he was going to have to throw it down the middle. He's not giving us nothing" he was asking to be EJ'd. When I was working college ball I had a catcher late in the game start whining about pitches. I told him that we'd had a good game , up until now, and I couldn't give him those pitches. He persisted and I asked him "Jimmy who's the back up catcher"? He said "I understand" and everything went smooth after that. Try to shut it it down as soon as you can.

[RPatrino]

When a catcher, who is on a 19u team, says things like that, that means that he was frustrated with the zone. Unless this catcher is a rookie, you would suspect that he has caught quite a few games and knows how to successfully interact with umpires.

If a game gets to that point, where F2's are openly complaining about the zone, then the umpire needs to re-examine what he is doing for that game. Don't change it mid game, but learn from it.

Like I have said earlier, your interpretation of the strike zone has a direct bearing on the quality of the game.

[tankmjg24]

I should clarify that up until him stating the pitch was good and I needed to give it to them, I do not feel as if he was questioning the zone, but asking to find out where the pitch missed. His body language and tone were not aggressive. When he openly criticised the zone to the pitcher where I could hear him (which I felt was geared mainly towards me not his pitcher) I thought ejection for a second but was uncertain if that would make me look like I had a quick hook so I opted for the warning. Sounds as if after his statement I should have shut it down then instead of giving him an answer.

This was within the second game of a double header they were playing. I have since found out that he pulled the same attitude on my partner, but he shut it down after him asking in a more aggressive tone. As he told me, he leaned down and told the catcher if he kept questioning ballls and strikes he would find out real fast how tight the zone could be.

I am not much into giving inside off the plate. Outside I will give a little as the ball is hittable.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by tankmjg24

I should clarify that up until him stating the pitch was good and I needed to give it to them, I do not feel as if he was questioning the zone, but asking to find out where the pitch missed. His body language and tone were not aggressive. When he openly criticised the zone to the pitcher where I could hear him (which I felt was geared mainly towards me not his pitcher) I thought ejection for a second but was uncertain if that would make me look like I had a quick hook so I opted for the warning. Sounds as if after his statement I should have shut it down then instead of giving him an answer.

This was within the second game of a double header they were playing. I have since found out that he pulled the same attitude on my partner, but he shut it down after him asking in a more aggressive tone. As he told me, he leaned down and told the catcher if he kept questioning ballls and strikes he would find out real fast how tight the zone could be.

I am not much into giving inside off the plate. Outside I will give a little as the ball is hittable.

That inside corner is a pitcher's pitch. Batters are hanging over the plate because they don't expect pitchers to throw there.

I give exactly the same on the inside as I do on the outside, BTW.

[RPatrino]

If you are giving one ball on the outside, you should give one ball on the inside, no? Nobody is saying calling a strike when the ball doesn't touch the black, but if a pitcher can hit that inside pitch, I'm going to give it to him. Batters will adjust.

[nopachunts]

Originally Posted by RPatrino

If you are giving one ball on the outside, you should give one ball on the inside, no? Nobody is saying calling a strike when the ball doesn't touch the black, but if a pitcher can hit that inside pitch, I'm going to give it to him. Batters will adjust.

I usually work one in and two out. I may see some aggravation from a batter when I ring him/her up, but the only thing I hear from the coach is: "Come on, you gotta hit those" or something similiar.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by tankmjg24

I should clarify that up until him stating the pitch was good and I needed to give it to them, I do not feel as if he was questioning the zone, but asking to find out where the pitch missed.

You may feel that way. But if he turned around to talk to you (and he's not 10 years old), he is most definitely questioning your zone.

Good catcher-umpire communication will include some questions from the catcher. If you can't answer that question in 3-4 words, you're talking too much. 99% of the time, one word suffices. You also need to shorten your warning. "OK, that's enough" will be enough for most catchers. Don't put such a point on the threat. And honestly, your partner's "warning" was too long as well.

I am not much into giving inside off the plate. Outside I will give a little as the ball is hittable.

You know it's crucial to be consistent in your own calls... but it's also important to be consistent with everyone else's. That pitch just off the inside corner, not over chalk, is a strike in most of your other umpire's minds - pitchers are used to it... catchers are used to it ... and before you start saying it's not fair to batters to call that pitch a strike ... batters are used to it too. Call it. Your game will go easier.

[Rich]

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.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

You may feel that way. But if he turned around to talk to you (and he's not 10 years old), he is most definitely questioning your zone.

Good catcher-umpire communication will include some questions from the catcher. If you can't answer that question in 3-4 words, you're talking too much. 99% of the time, one word suffices. You also need to shorten your warning. "OK, that's enough" will be enough for most catchers. Don't put such a point on the threat. And honestly, your partner's "warning" was too long as well.

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?

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Adam

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.

[Moosie74]

I will respond to the catcher who asks where a pitch was with inside, outside, high, low as the case may be.

Ticking off a catcher is not worth it in the long run. It creates really long games and ruins the relationship you need to develop with them.

Call a decently large, aggressive zone and you'll stay out of trouble.

To answer your question about how to handle a catcher complaining about balls and strikes, I like to say, hey, John, great day for a ball game isn't it? He'll probably say yes, my response, good, let's play some ball then" Quick, easy and I've told him politely to knock it off.