PU head positioning
 

Why is it that many evaluators want the PU's head height to be at a certain heighth in comparison with the catcher's head? One evaluation said I was too low, so I adjusted it higher. The next one said I was setting up too high. I hadn't adjusted that much from one time to the next. Both used the catcher's head for a point of reference. I have always adjusted my head heighth according to the heighth of the batter, eyes at the top of the strike zone. Most catchers set up at the same heighth no matter how tall or short the batter is. Am I wrong? Dave

Dave,
It would be good to set up with the eyes at the top of the strike zone, but that does not always work. Some of the female catchers I see are close to 6 feet tall. I'll set up with the bottom of my mask just above the top of the catcher's head gear. I'll get a good look at the outside corner that way. My timing is slow enough that this works well for me. I've gotten no grief from evaluators on anything about my plate stance.

I place my eyes above where I am going to call a strike. If the ball is in my eyes it's too high and if I look down at the ball (tracking) the ball is in the zone. This height is determined by the batter not the catcher. I am in the slot and my eyes are completely out of the zone.

How big the catcher is does not matter because I am close enough (heel toe wide stance) to see the outside corner. The knee behind the catcher is about 4-6" from the catchers back.

I also don't understand how the head positioning of the PU could be determined by the catchers head.

Unless the catcher slides into your slot, their head shouldn't have anything to do with where you set up. As Steve and Rachel have noted, eyes at the top of the strike zone.

Steve noted some of the taller catchers, some of which are obviously going to be a little taller in their squat, may cause some concern, but you just need to make a slight adjustment to accommodate their set up.

Like most other ASA mechanics, they will give you a starting, and at times most logical, points where to start/be/go for a certain type of play. However, that is not etched in stone as the umpire must adjust to see the play. Executing a proper mechanic isn't worth a damn unless you can actually see what you need to make the call.

Hope there are no inappropriate comments about the postitions of SOME umpires' heads...LOL

I agree with all of you. I guess the next time my evaluator tells me to set my heighth according to the catcher's head, I will ask him if he wants me to do that with a catcher that is 4'6 and squats real low and a batter that is 6'1. Heck my eyes would be in the middle of the strike zone, not at the top. I'm sure I can ask that without sounding sarcastic. Dave

I've always set up with my eyes about arm pit high to the batter - if the pitch is under that - I know it's in the zone. My trouble/questionable spot is around the knees. I've done alot of 8-10 year olds this year and that spot to me is the hardest pitch to call in that age group.

I don't see the problem... you must have an inch or two between the top of the ball being in the zone and the bottom of the ball being in the dirt! :D

On that low pitch, just ask F2. She will always tell you what you want to hear.:D