"Where was that pitch?"

[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?

[shipwreck]

I would let them know a couple of times where the pitch was at. If it continued, and I thought they were trying to "show me up", I would let them know that it is a roundabout way of questioning my strike zone and that it wouldn't be tolerated. That would be their warning, and anytime subsequently done, someone would end up missing the end of the game. JMHO Dave

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by FredFan7

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

I ignore it

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

I ignore it

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

That is up to the catcher to talk to her dugout. But if she does respond, she needs to be careful

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

If I have to stop it, someone is probably leaving.

[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.

[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!