borderline pitches

[CecilOne]

In regard to borderline pitches, do you always call them strikes or sometimes shrink the zone for great pitchers or adjust to any situations?

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

In regard to borderline pitches, do you always call them strikes or sometimes shrink the zone for great pitchers or adjust to any situations?

I'll expand the zone for low level pitchers, but even then, I don't like doing that because it is hard for me to be consistent with a "different" zone.

IOW, I strive for consistency, not adaptability.

[xtremeump]

I give great Pitchers the call, they work hard to get the money pitch. Is the pitch a hittable pitch ? The other Coach will want the same Strike. Game Management !!

[EsqUmp]

Call borderline pitches. If you wouldn't bet your life that it is a ball, then the pitcher deserves a strike.

[tcannizzo]

Originally Posted by EsqUmp

Call borderline pitches. If you wouldn't bet your life that it is a ball, then the pitcher deserves a strike.

I go the other way. If I am not convinced it is a strike, then it is a ball.
I don't guess outs, and I don't guess strikes.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by EsqUmp

Call borderline pitches. If you wouldn't bet your life that it is a ball, then the pitcher deserves a strike.

Of course, but I guess your answer for you is 100%.

[EsqUmp]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

Of course, but I guess your answer for you is 100%.

Huh?

[MichaelVA2000]

I doubt you will ever hear a coach tell an umpire he's calling too many strikes. I'm thinking strike from the moment the ball leaves the pitchers hand.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by MichaelVA2000

I doubt you will ever hear a coach tell an umpire he's calling too many strikes.

Unless the coach's team is at bat.

[DRJ1960]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

Unless the coach's team is at bat.

Yep

[MichaelVA2000]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

Unless the coach's team is at bat.

I haven't had questions regarding quantity of strikes; there has been the occasional question about the accuracy of the strike call depending on whether their player is at bat or pitching.

[HugoTafurst]

Originally Posted by michaelva2000

i doubt you will ever hear a coach tell an umpire he's calling too many strikes. I'm thinking strike from the moment the ball leaves the pitchers hand.

-1

[gr8fuldiver]

Along the same lines as this thread....I have a habit of calling low strikes. I try to keep my head still, have been told by others watching me that I put my head at a good height (just above the catchers head (but in the slot)), and try to follow the pitch into the glove. But for some reason, I still have the habit of calling pitches low. I would appreciate any and all the help I can get. There has to be someone out there who has had the same problem that found a way that helped him/her correct this error. Is there a "trick" I can use to help me get into the habit of being able to tell the pitch is low? It's really frustrating because I honestly DO give it my best effort, but seem to ere in this area.

Thanks in advance....

[EsqUmp]

Originally Posted by gr8fuldiver

Along the same lines as this thread....I have a habit of calling low strikes. I try to keep my head still, have been told by others watching me that I put my head at a good height (just above the catchers head (but in the slot)), and try to follow the pitch into the glove. But for some reason, I still have the habit of calling pitches low. I would appreciate any and all the help I can get. There has to be someone out there who has had the same problem that found a way that helped him/her correct this error. Is there a "trick" I can use to help me get into the habit of being able to tell the pitch is low? It's really frustrating because I honestly DO give it my best effort, but seem to ere in this area.

Thanks in advance....

Many umpires tend to track pitches as a batter would. They get an initial read of the pitch and make their minds up too early, since this is what batters need to rely on to determine when to swing. Umpires have the luxury of being able to take substantially longer since they aren't swinging a bat. Make sure you track the ball all the way into the catcher's glove. Even if you do that, make sure you aren't making up your mind beforehand anyway. The odds are if the majority of the ball is crossing the majority of the front knee, then it isn't catching the back knee.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by gr8fuldiver

Along the same lines as this thread....I have a habit of calling low strikes. I try to keep my head still, have been told by others watching me that I put my head at a good height (just above the catchers head (but in the slot)), and try to follow the pitch into the glove. But for some reason, I still have the habit of calling pitches low. I would appreciate any and all the help I can get. There has to be someone out there who has had the same problem that found a way that helped him/her correct this error. Is there a "trick" I can use to help me get into the habit of being able to tell the pitch is low? It's really frustrating because I honestly DO give it my best effort, but seem to ere in this area.

Thanks in advance....

Many believe placing the eyes at the top of the strike zone in the slot is the place to be. Don't worry about your relationship to the catcher's head unless s/he moves into your line of vision, then go up if necessary. The bad part about that is you may lose the bottom of your zone

"Track with your nose". Old school belief that keeping your head still helps, but some umpires worry more about keeping the head still they forget to watch the ball through the strike zone