My daughter started playing travel ball this year. She is one of the pitchers on the team. I have been noticing some umpires are not giving her the outside corner of the plate. I have to say that the USSSA and ASA umps I seen have been very consistent and very welcome to some of the umps from other associations. It seems that the umps that set up behind the catchers left shoulder do not give her the call, but if they set up over the catcher she gets the call. Have any of you guys noticed this? I was wondering if any of you guys might have an opinion on this?

Thanks
Arch

What you describe as setting up behind the catcher's left shoulder (RH batter) is called "the slot" and is the preferred position for fast pitch. It gives the best overall view of the strike zone, but the low outside part of the zone does take some practice to get right when calling from the slot.

Tom:

Do you think that maybe when Arch talks about umps setting up over the catcher's left shoulder, he might be talking about the ones that hide behind the catcher because they don't have all the correct gear on??? I was just wondering as I have seen a few of these lately. You know, the ones that you just cannot teach.

Now that you mention it the umpire only wore a mask. She had no shin guards on or under her pants as well as no chest protector.

And she got in real close to the catcher, so that nothing but her face showed just over the catcher's shoulder?

Yeah - I guess so... If the umpire is using the catcher as a combo chest protector and shin guard, he won't get a very good look at the outside corner.

You are exactly right! It seemed that nothing from the middle to the right side of the plate was called. It pretty much took her curve ball away from her. I will say that she made up for taking the outside corner away. She would give her the inside to the chalk if it was knee high. After I explained what the ump was doing, she figured out that low and inside was her best friend.

Obviously, you took what "Blue" was giving...the sign of a good coach and pitcher. For me, pitchers tend to live on the outside corner...they realize my generosity on the outside, and then live there.

Archer:

What you have learned is what umpire clinics have been trying to teach umpires for years. If you work in the slot, above and to the left of the catcher, you can see the entire strike zone, especially the outside corner. If you hide behind the catcher, you tend to lose not only the outside edge, but the upper end of the strike zone as well. You will find that a lot of those umpires who hide behind the catcher will also call strikes when they are about shin high. This is why the preferred position for the PU is in the slot, so that they can better see the entire strike zone. You have just supplied proof that this is true!