Adjustments behind the plate....
 

Being a normal sized person 5'-7" and not one of you freakishly tall people 5'-8"+ :D I find that I can get blocked out a sometimes by these prototypical catchers during the pitch (squeezed out etc...) and personally, I adjust to get the best view. So anyways im in a discussion with some D-1 umpires up in Dallas and we are watching a catcher squeeze out one of the umpires working the plate and I say "d@mn I hate when that happens to me" and they just look at me and say just call em balls. DOH! I laughed and thought they were "messing" with me and then they decide to give me a lecture on catcher management and such. (I agreed with them and have done the "hey catch yer blocking my view whisper thing" My only point was that in the manual it states that we shouldn't call balls without trying to adjust and they said once you go down and set "never ever ever ever move".... any thoughts?

I've been of the opinion that I am not the catcher's coach. As the umpire, I want her to do whatever she has been told to get the pitcher to throw a strike/get the batter out. If I have to 'adjust' my position as a means to that end, I'm going to do so.

A long time ago, I was 'instructed' that if F2 dropped the pitch, ball it. If she can't catch it, how could it have been in the strike zone. I have since pitched that advice. If I have a ball in the strike zone, it's a strike. Why would I take a strike off the board. Same with catcher positioning. Why ball a pitch when the catcher is hugging the inside corner? I understand slot mechanics, but we are getting paid to call strikes, not telling the catcher where to set up.

No, I don't like moving. But since our goal, as well as their's is to get outs, then why would we want to discourage the catcher from setting up where she thinks she can best achieve that goal?

If I'm the BU, and I'm set up in A, B, or C, and the nearest player has 're-postitioned' so now I can't see everything I need to see, I'm moving as well.

Let the players play and adjust to their position.

it depends. Yeah call em balls once you set and they block you (late setting/moving catcher). You have no choice. Some times you have to adjust if you have time. Depending on the catcher, sometimes I will go to a GD stance, which NCAA allows, ASA does not. I think each situation is unique. A lot of times, yes, just call balls. When the catcher asks where it missed tell her "I dont know, you screened me out".

I was taught to set a little higher in these situations; keeping in mind that the bottom of your zone may be affected. This does not take into account for the catcher moving very late and taking away the slot. Can't really adjust then, so there's no other choice but to call a ball.

I was'nt taught anything. [which BTW was your job, if I remember correctly]However, I just switch sides. If the batter is right handed, and catcher tall,
batter crowding plate, making your view tough, switch to other slot. Do same
on left-handed batter.

BTW, U really 5'-7"? Don't look that tall. :D

lol was waiting for that!!

Being a heel-toe guy I try to "ease" up higher when the back of the head hinders me... but after doing this 100 times the hamstrings start to sing. I might consider doing GD like you. or maybe i could just get a barstool to sit on. :D

If your hammies are sore from this, try to not lean as far forward as you are...keep a more straight back (while maintaining a slight forward lean).

You may be leaning forward too far, as SRW noted.
Regardless of that, you need to stretch those hammies more.
Though, sitting on a barstool, exercising the elbow, can take the pain away too.:D

OK, when were you in Dallas talking to some D-1 umpires. I live in the Dallas area and would like to know who told you that. You can email me if you like

Was at the McKinney NCAA camp last month.

Was talking more about being down all the way and set... then having the catchers head in the way and having to ease up (slowly) and over to see. But yeah I probably need to stretch (it never hurts to stretch)

Want to bet? It hurts EVERY time I stretch :D:mad: but I think that is being overweight and getting old:(

yeah I know how you feel :D

So was I. Evaluating. I would still like to know who told you to just call balls and not worry about it. Why don't you email me.

email or private message? because I didnt see your email addy in your profile... or did I miss it?

Since I am not smart enough to figure out how to add my email, send a personal messge or email me @ [email protected]

wyman said give fellow a break.

He said no such thing. Although I doubt any of the evaluators at UNT that weekend made the comments in question, the inference is still there. Some of them were not from the Dallas area. DNTXUM P is well within his rights to know if some of his people are giving bogus information.

Wyman still justifiably has his head in the clouds over the performance of his daughter last year. He is already planning on retiring and letting her support him after she turns pro in another 3 years :D

He is a great friend and I enjoy working with him when given the opportunity

Well, I assume you are talking about turning pro in something other than women's sports since none of these ladies make that good a money to comfortably support an entire family.

As do I.....

No, she is an outstanding outfielder. There was a slight bit of tounge in cheek involved with supporting him. But she had a super freshman season last year, going to the D-2 National Championships

Well no, it wasnt any of the evaluators ... like it said it was some d-1 umpires (not to drop any names) but they umpire ULL games so i assumed they fall under this classification. and again like i stated in the OP i chose not to take this advice. And Mr. Larry, I got to meet you briefly and am sorry I didnt get time to obtain one of your boards.

I'm 5'5". If there is a prototype out there for a new design for a catcher, I would be interested in seeing it. I just seem to get the stereotypical ones that are nearly as fat and maladroit as me. :)

As for the question: I adjust to the inside of the slot. (I'm not calling it a ball and penalizing myself with a longer game.) I prefer that to raising up, because (a) I get to keep my eyes at "top-of-strike-zone" level, and (b) raising up does not always get me enough.

OK. I hope he was just joking. If not, I will let James handle that. Either way, I will email you and let you know what I find out.

Did your trunk make it all the way back without the rope breaking?

ummmm... no rope on my trunk. :confused:

I thought you rode back in the same car with Traci

nope wasnt me... I'm the short(er) new guy :)

Yeah, I knnow who you are, I just thought you rode up in the car with Traci. But it has been 6 weeks and I forget sometimes. (Actually a lot)


See you in Houston