Slowpitch Strikes & Balls

[Girump]

What is the best way to look at the pitch when judging strikes & balls in arc ball?

[whiskers_ump]

I have found, in what few SP games I call, that simi upright behind
HP in a position I can see home plate, where the ball is caught on where
it lands if the catcher is way back as I have found the case in co-ed
when female is doing the catching, or rather assigned the position as the
catcher.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally posted by whiskers_ump
I have found, in what few SP games I call, that simi upright behind
HP in a position I can see home plate, where the ball is caught on where
it lands if the catcher is way back as I have found the case in co-ed
when female is doing the catching, or rather assigned the position as the
catcher.

You're kidding, right?

The mechanic is the same as FP, just see if you can get a little lower than the batter's arm pits and look up through the zone.

You WILL see more strikes. Don't care where the ball hits the ground, don't care if the catcher actually catches the ball or not, if it passed through the zone, it's a strike. Only exception would be a ball which makes contact with any part of the plate.

[Girump]

Thanks! That actually helps me alot.

[Rattlehead]

SP is a hitters game... If a stich passes thru the zone ring it up.

[mcrowder]

I agree with Mike. You lose a lot of "deep" pitches that are actually strikes when you stand higher than a normal fastpitch stance.

Mike - you DO care where it lands.... if it hits the plate. Right?

[tzme415]

When setting up to call a pitch in SP, I try to get my eyes even with where I think the batters back shoulder would be with a normal stance. Then I am watching the pitch in 4 steps.

I am watching for a legal delivery.
I am watching the arc and speed of the pitch. Are they legal?
Does the ball go over the plate below where my eyes are set?
Does the ball hit the plate?

I never worry about the pitch being below the front knee - From everything I've ever been told, If the pitch is legal and does not hit the plate then it should be at or above the front knee when crossing the plate. I also don't watch where the ball lands to call it a ball or strike; the strike zone is defined by where the ball crosses the plate, not where it lands.

One pet peeve of mine is when an umpire says a ball was "Deep", there is no such thing. It could have been high or illegal, but not deep.

One other thing is try to call the pitch 'Illegal' as soon as you see it is illegal. A batter can still swing, but if called too late; the batter is almost compelled to swing if it might be a strike, especially with 2 strikes. This is hardest on those pitches reaching an arc of about 5 1/2 feet and coming at a speed that is borderline. The ball gets there almost as fast as you can say 'Illegal'. The ball going over 12 feet gives you more time, but call it as soon as it goes over 12' in your judgement.

[rwest]

I agree that to use the term "DEEP" is bad form. It implies that the ball hit too far behind the plate and that where it lands is important. However, most pitchers don't understand that. They do understand DEEP. I believe we should use terms that they understand. Its not my job to hold a rules clinic on the field. If by saying "deep" a umpire can get the point across then it doesn't bother me that much. I prefer to say "Its over his shoulder".

I also agree that where the ball lands is of less importance. However, I do use it to judge certain pitches. For instance, a ball that is 6 to 12 feet and lands right behind the plate without touching it, better be called a strike every time. It is impossible from a physics stand point for a ball not to cross through the zone if it is 12 feet or less and lands behind the plate. It had to cross through the back shoulder.

Also, if the ball hit the plate it has to be a ball. So where it lands is important in certain situations.

As far as the mechanics goes, I set up at the top of the strike zone, which in slow pitch is the back shoulder. The mechanics does allow for setting deeper on the 12 foot pitches, but you should set up on the shoulder then drop lower if you need to. However, I've never done that. As a matter of fact, I don't ever remember hearing it at a camp. Maybe they said it, I just don't remember. But the mechanics manual does mention dropping lower on the 12 foot pitches.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally posted by mcrowder

Mike - you DO care where it lands.... if it hits the plate. Right?

Reread my post. Check the last sentence.

Thank you.

[whiskers_ump]

What I posted in my first post is what the book says.

I have found, in what few SP games I call, that simi upright behind
HP in a position I can see home plate, where the ball is caught on where
it lands.

As stated, I rarely, rarely ever do SP. I referred to what was written
in the Umpires Section of the ASA Manual. They say see "where the ball
lands or is caught."

glen

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally posted by whiskers_ump
As stated, I rarely, rarely ever do SP. I referred to what was written
in the Umpires Section of the ASA Manual. They say see "where the ball
lands or is caught."

glen

But that is referring to the set position as to see the entire plate area. This, I must assume, is to make sure the umpire can determine the ball does not hit any part of the plate, not as to whether it is a ball or strike.

[whiskers_ump]

I am certainly not going to get into an argument with you about SDP [slow down pitch].
They don't let me do the plate much anyway cause the teams always gripe that I have way
too many *right hands*. Hell, hit the ball it is traveling at 20MPH. You are
using a $250.00 bat and are wearing $150.00 shoes. Don't tote 'em back to the dugout,
use'em, discard the bat on your route to the bases, not the dugout.

[tzme415]

Originally posted by rwest
For instance, a ball that is 6 to 12 feet and lands right behind the plate without touching it, better be called a strike every time. It is impossible from a physics stand point for a ball not to cross through the zone if it is 12 feet or less and lands behind the plate. It had to cross through the back shoulder.

I agree this is how it is always called, but has anyone actually seen the proof of this? I tried to prove it, but my physics is alot rusty since I haven't used it in 20 yrs. It has always seemed to me that a pitch that only arcs at 6' and drops just behind the corner of the plate might actually be low.

[tzme415]

whiskers - Why shouldn't the pitcher in SP be required to throw a strike, just like in FP? You make it sound like you widen the zone just because its SP. I used to pitch and if I couldn't throw strikes then the batter deserved to walk. I never agreed with the saying that in SP you better go up there swinging - make the pitcher do their job and pitch strikes, then the batters will have to swing. This is just like FP.