"Where was that pitch?"

[Steve M]

Originally Posted by FredFan7

How to you handle the ever-famous question from the dugout after a close pitch, "Where was that one?"

What do you do when the question is addressed to you?

What do you do when the questions is addressed to the catcher and the catcher does or does not respond?

How do you stop this passive-agressive arguing of the strike zone without starting World War 9?

What Mike said.

[Skahtboi]

I agree with the previous two posts, though I have, in my life, answered with a simple "out of the strike zone." I have since quit and adopted the ignore mentality.

[wadeintothem]

Chirping is chirping, I dont care what words they use when chirp. Address it in a low key manner so the coach saves face but put a stop to it. Letting them save face has the best potential at the desired result - ie they STFU.

If its just the occasional thing, ignore it. If its a chirp.. finish it.

You should be able to handle this without an ejection.

But.. if they gots to go, they gots to go.

[first2third]

first off to answer the question, I tell the catcher inside or outside. never say high or low the coach can see that and if you say high or low they will keep chirping. If chirping gets to much just ask the coach "you're not questioning the strike zone are you? If you are I we both know I will have to ask you to leave."

A few years back a coach asked me, "How do you know the pitch is a strike?" I said, "That's easy my right arm goes up." Coach and partner both chuckled and that was the last comment I heard all day.

Consistency and timing on balls and strikes usually avoids this problem unless you are dealing with inexperienced coaches.

[CecilOne]

Don't know coach. I looked all over the strike zone and couldn't find it.

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

Don't know coach. I looked all over the strike zone and couldn't find it.

LOL, I like that one. Consider it stolen.

[argodad]

I like to establish a "professionally friendly" relationship with all my catchers. If the coach is asking the catcher, and the catcher asks me, I'll usually respond "missed by two inches" or "just off" once or twice. She knows where it missed. If she keeps asking, I might respond, "Where do you think it was?" She almost always answers her own question.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

LOL, I like that one. Consider it stolen.

By me, as well (i.e., not original)

[stevegarbs]

Originally Posted by first2third

first off to answer the question, I tell the catcher inside or outside. never say high or low the coach can see that and if you say high or low they will keep chirping. If chirping gets to much just ask the coach "you're not questioning the strike zone are you? If you are I we both know I will have to ask you to leave."

A few years back a coach asked me, "How do you know the pitch is a strike?" I said, "That's easy my right arm goes up." Coach and partner both chuckled and that was the last comment I heard all day.

Consistency and timing on balls and strikes usually avoids this problem unless you are dealing with inexperienced coaches.

Thanks for this answer. As a football official and softball coach, I feel like I am operating in two different worlds. As a coach I know that I only ask this question when I can't tell if the pitch was in or out- as you say I can usually see if it is up or down. Thanks for being willing to provide this information.

I do understand from other's posts that this is usually a thinly-veiled attempt to question calls. But please try to consider that not every coach is just a coach, and some do have the utmost respect for our partners who wear blue/red/grey instead of B&W stripes!