borderline pitches
 

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.

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 !!

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.

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

Huh?

from OP: "do you always call them strikes "

There's no borderline. Either it touched the strike zone or it didn't.

+1

That's what I thought. :rolleyes:

this

Ahhhh, if it were only that easy... :p

But it is....

It is that easy. We might be perfect in making that decision ... but I believe any given umpire will be more accurate and more consistent if their mindset is simply - "Did that ball touch the strike zone" as opposed to anything mentioned above. The mindset of "I'm going to give the pitcher's this" or "I'm going to give the batters that" or even "which way should I lean when in doubt" leads to bad umpiring.