If a good pitcher is your friend the reverse is also true

[rwest]

Last night I was behind the dish, with a 0-2(I believe) count on the batter. The catcher setup way outside for a waste pitch. The catcher had to reach back for the pitch. It was on the corner above the knees for a called third strike. The batter was not happy; neither were some of the fans. All they see is the catcher having to reach back for the ball, but it was on the corner. Not where the catcher or pitcher wanted it.

[KJUmp]

Originally Posted by rwest

Last night I was behind the dish, with a 0-2(I believe) count on the batter. The catcher setup way outside for a waste pitch. The catcher had to reach back for the pitch. It was on the corner above the knees for a called third strike. The batter was not happy; neither were some of the fans. All they see is the catcher having to reach back for the ball, but it was on the corner. Not where the catcher or pitcher wanted it.

And your point is...??????

[MichaelVA2000]

Originally Posted by rwest

Last night I was behind the dish, with a 0-2(I believe) count on the batter. The catcher setup way outside for a waste pitch. The catcher had to reach back for the pitch. It was on the corner above the knees for a called third strike. The batter was not happy; neither were some of the fans. All they see is the catcher having to reach back for the ball, but it was on the corner. Not where the catcher or pitcher wanted it.

It's a game of perception.

[KJUmp]

That's nothing new.

[Az.Ump]

rwest,


I think I know what you’re getting at. Last high school season in the playoffs I had an intentional walk where two of the pitches were close enough to be strikes. The batter had hit the first pitch about 260’ foul down the line and the coach wanted to walk her. The 2nd and 4th pitches forced the catcher to reach toward the plate and catch them belt high. If they were off the plate it wasn’t by more than an inch (well within the zone I was calling). I called them both balls and received no grief. Either no guts or good game management . I think it was what everyone expected. It did not show up on my evaluation. In your case I probably have strike 3. After all why not have the catcher set up outside as if they were wasting a pitch only to fool the batter and come back over the plate with the pitch?

Paul

[IRISHMAFIA]

Do we really need to drag up one of Johnny Bench's most embarrassing moments?

[Az.Ump]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Do we really need to drag up one of Johnny Bench's most embarrassing moments?

Watched it live. If I remember he took it with self deprecating humor and class. Roger,Barry 'et al' must have missed it.

Paul

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Az.Ump

Watched it live. If I remember he took it with self deprecating humor and class. Roger,Barry 'et al' must have missed it.

Paul

Yep, I remember it well. If they had texting back then, the look on his face would have translated into "WTF?"