Bigger Strike Zone

[CecilOne]

WRT "expanded my strike zone out by one to two balls"
from where?

[SWFLguy]

I'm thinking that this "expansion" would apply
mainly to inside pitches between the waist and knees ??
I agree that you can "move a game along" by getting
away from the bread box strike zone !

[BuggBob]

To clarify my original zone was any part of the ball over the plate. The expanded zone is any ball that is within one to two balls width over the plate. in effect expanding the plate out and in by about two ball widths. Like I said both coaches and players don't seam to mind. I also use this expanded zone in slow pitch, soon the standers become swingers -- again no complaints.

Bugg

[gsf23]

Honestly, a good number of players and coaches could care less where the strike zone is as long as you keep it consistent. Big or small, high or low, as long as you keep it there the whole game there shouldn't be many problems. If there is, then you are probably dealing with a coach that would have a problem no matter what you did.

[DaveASA/FED]

I agree, everyone can see up and down but only me and the catcher can tell if it was right or left, and she ain't telling!! I found that it works real well, and there are no complaints.....well I had one girl look at her coach on a called strike she thought was outside and he looked at her and said "Come on you got to get that, we want those called when were pitchin'....we got to hit 'em when they throw 'em" For the record she hit the next pitch to the fence in right field....it was almost the exact same place as the last pitch!! I figure if it is between the inside lines of the batters boxes, it's in the zone!! I'd probably say if it's toward the plate on the inside batters box line, and as long as part of the ball is toward the plate on the outside corner then it's good enough for me!! That is giving them 6" on either side of the plate, maybe more like 7-8" on the outside, and a 12" ball is approx. 4"(3.82.... depending on the value for pie) in diameter so that is about 1.5 ball width on the inside and about 2 ball widths on the outside.

[CecilOne]

Do any of you have a rule book?

[EdJW]

Beyond understanding. You are proud that you call a strike when the ball is clearly out of the strike zone. You should give up umpiring today.

[gsf23]

Dave,

Had a situation similar to that. Pitcher had just got an amazing fastball going that day and is locating it perfectly, starting it inside and tailing it back over the inside corner for a strike. Hitter are all giving up on it thinking it’s inside. I keep ringing batters up looking and I can see them and the coach becoming more and more agitated with every strikeout. (throwing arms up in the air, mumbling under breath stuff like that) Middle of the fifth inning, I ring up probably the ninth batter of the game looking and I hear “Jesus Christ” coming from the third base coaching box and the coach walking towards home. I reach up to start taking off my mask thinking alright here he comes, when he stops, turns to his dugout (on the third base side) and yells out “He’s been calling that pitch all damn game, when are you gonna start swinging at it!!” Turns and walks back to the coaching box.
I got a little chuckle and didn’t have another called strike three the rest of the game. Good players and coaches will adjust.

Personally, I think a big zone just makes for a better all-around game. The pitchers are more relaxed knowing they don’t have to hit a postage stamp for a strike so they generally throw better, the batters are coming up ready to swing and the infielders keep on their toes because they know the batters aren’t going to be wasting any time up there.

[tcblue13]

Originally Posted by DaveASA/FED

depending on the value for pie) in diameter so that is about 1.5 ball width on the inside and about 2 ball widths on the outside.

The value for pie is 2 for a buck at McDonalds
pi is a constant 3.14

[Bluefoot]

Originally Posted by tcblue13

pi is a constant 3.14

The approximated value of pi = 3.14159265358979...

But, yes, it is constant. (Maybe we should change it to the ratio of a pear's perimeter to its diameter!)

(BTW, I am a math teacher)

[DSUAUmpire]

Originally Posted by BuggBob

To clarify my original zone was any part of the ball over the plate. The expanded zone is any ball that is within one to two balls width over the plate. in effect expanding the plate out and in by about two ball widths. Like I said both coaches and players don't seam to mind. I also use this expanded zone in slow pitch, soon the standers become swingers -- again no complaints.

Bugg

I can only speak for the SP game, but after 25 years of doing this I can tell you that ANY part of the ball over ANY part of the plate as long as it is in their strike zone will be called a strike and it is a GREAT BIG ball.