Final 2008 NCAA Rule Changes

[BHBlue]

Originally Posted by Dakota

It already is in line with what ASA wants called, if you read the WHOLE book, and not just the playing rules section. The arm pits are the starting reference for determining the top of the zone. The bottom of a pitched ball just touching the arm pit level is not in the strike zone as defined and instructed by ASA.

Making presumptions about how much of the book I have read is neither stinging, nor relevant.

"STRIKE ZONE: That space over any part of home plate, when a batter assumes a natural batting stance adjacent to home plate, between the batter’s,
A. (Fast Pitch) Arm pits and the top of the knees...

In calling balls and strikes, it is generally accepted to bring the pitch down or up in the strike zone, and widen it out, making sure to give a good corner."

This wording describes the limits of the zone, but not "what ASA wants called". The last sentence seems to allow an official to call "their" zone, instead of "the" zone. One could consider this ASA sanctioned inconsistency. It's odd to me that an organization that requires it's umpires to button-hook on all balls hit to the outfield and signal all foul balls (no matter how far back over the backstop) would use vague terms like "down or up in the strike zone", "widen it out", and "good corner".

Originally Posted by Dakota

I'd guess not... the rule change document says "bottom of the sternum"

Ohwa Tana siam.

[Mountaineer]

OK, maybe I'm in the minority here . . . but does anyone that calls NCAA really call the armpits? The bottom of the sternum is pretty much what has been accepted around here as the top of the strike zone. I know at colleges around here, if you called one any higher they'd want to cut off your "ball bag". They'd much rather you call one below the top of the knee than above the "bottom of the sternum".

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

While on paper a "line" more like what is being called, I don't believe it provides any clearer than the umpires bringing the top of the zone down by about a ball.

And to Steve's point, not all players are built alike so your reference point is just as spotty.

I wouldn't bet that the "zone" as called is going to change that much with this definition.

The point is, though, for years colleges and high schools have been asking us, at least regionally, to make the top end of the strike zone where the top of the ball is at the bottom of the breast. I was just making the statement that the more PC way of saying this would be to use the sternum in describing it. The zone depicted in the OP is the zone I have been calling for years because of the emphasis placed on it by the HS and collegiate umpiring associations I work for.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer

OK, maybe I'm in the minority here . . . but does anyone that calls NCAA really call the armpits? The bottom of the sternum is pretty much what has been accepted around here as the top of the strike zone. I know at colleges around here, if you called one any higher they'd want to cut off your "ball bag". They'd much rather you call one below the top of the knee than above the "bottom of the sternum".

I know of no one who calls a pitch that high in either NCAA or NFHS levels. As I stated in my previous post, the accepted zone in this region is identical to the 2008 "rule change" that the NCAA has made, and this is due, in part, to the requests of area HS and college coaches.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by BHBlue

It's odd to me that an organization that requires it's umpires to button-hook on all balls hit to the outfield and signal all foul balls (no matter how far back over the backstop)...

What is the relevance of that?

ASA uses the armpits as a visible point of reference from which to bring the zone down to where they want it called. And, guess what, it ends up about where the NCAA's "rule change" puts it - that is, where it is anyway.

The only people I know of who argue the hard case for the arm pits as the top of the zone are coaches on eteamz.

[Dholloway1962]

Change the wording as much as you want...my strike zone has been the same for the last 10 years and isn't going to change now (whether it is a good zone or not depends on which team you are rooting for I guess )

[IRISHMAFIA]

Might also want to make a point that the realm of those playing ASA ball range anywhere from 6 years old to 70, male and female at multiple levels of ability.

[whiskers_ump]

Originally Posted by BHBlue

Making presumptions about how much of the book I have read is neither stinging, nor relevant.

"STRIKE ZONE: That space over any part of home plate, when a batter assumes a natural batting stance adjacent to home plate, between the batter’s,
A. (Fast Pitch) Arm pits and the top of the knees...

In calling balls and strikes, it is generally accepted to bring the pitch down or up in the strike zone, and widen it out, making sure to give a good corner."

This wording describes the limits of the zone, but not "what ASA wants called". The last sentence seems to allow an official to call "their" zone, instead of "the" zone. One could consider this ASA sanctioned inconsistency. It's odd to me that an organization that requires it's umpires to button-hook on all balls hit to the outfield and signal all foul balls (no matter how far back over the backstop) would use vague terms like "down or up in the strike zone", "widen it out", and "good corner".

QUOTE=BHBlue]Making presumptions about how much of the book I have read is neither stinging, nor relevant.[QUOTE]

However, I know for a fact BHBLUE has read, understood and applied the rules as per rule book. one of the best NCAA evaluators in the business.
Saw him in action this weekend.

[Steve M]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

The point is, though, for years colleges and high schools have been asking us, at least regionally, to make the top end of the strike zone where the top of the ball is at the bottom of the breast. I was just making the statement that the more PC way of saying this would be to use the sternum in describing it. The zone depicted in the OP is the zone I have been calling for years because of the emphasis placed on it by the HS and collegiate umpiring associations I work for.

This is what I've called for some years, too - top of the ball & the bottom of the boob. Well, you can't put that in a book. So, I agree it's not just the PC way of writing it, it's the right way. And it does recognize what we've had in college ball for a while. A couple of years ago, the NCA made an attempt to bring the top of the zone up - to what was in the book. It turned out that in application, nobody wanted it called that way - coaches or experienced college umps.
This is much higher than I call in men's ball too. It's not what wanted or expected, or tolerated. Several years ago, I was working in 2 men's tournaments in a town. One was a major tournament and the other was a 'C' tournament. After working several games of the majors, I had a couple of games on a 'C' field before finishing Sunday with the majors. After the first inning, I realized that both pitchers were irritated because of the lowness of the top of the strike zone I was calling - I had brought the major zone to a C game. Sunday, having a beer after I'd finished, one of the 'C' pitchers stopped by & we had a chat. They noticed, he appreciated the umpiring but
begged that I remember when I went from majors to C's - they needed the bigger strike zone.