hepler

I agree with the thought of larger than the book zone is fine. One ball off the plate is a good rule of thumb in my opinion, knees to the elbows is pretty standard for LL. But this zone was chalk to chalk and neck to knees, that is a bit hard to deal with but it isn't the first time obviously. But it is the mind set of the umpire that in my mind is the problem in that they believe they are "helping" a team hit, by forcing them to swing at pitches and reducing walks, that is the problem for me.

From a coaches perspective, This has happened with me 3 different times. I have had different Umpires with a huge strike zone on an 9-12U teams. Overall it is fine as long as it is consistent, we teach our hitters to adjust to the umpires strike zone, they are all different, and hit and pitch accordingly. I have after the game asked or commented (very nicely I might add) that I thought the zone was especially large but overall we were fine with it. Three different umpires over the last year have said they like to make the younger teams "hitters" and they don't like to see too many walks. I commented that wasn't really their job and all have said they were just helping them swing the bat. Personally I have a lot of problems with that approach from umpires. One it makes two assumptions that are offensive; 1) it assumes that a team is full of non hitters, most umpires have never seen the team and really don't know if they are hitters or not, and 2) it assumes that the coach is incapable of teaching them how to be hitters and it is left up to umpires fill that void. If umpires want to make hitters out of grade schoolers they should coach a team and not umpire. In my opinion it is an umpires job to establish a consistent strike zone and call that zone throughout the game. Hitting and pitching should be irrelevant to how that zone is called. It is up to my players and coaches to adjust to that zone and the pitchers to pitch to that zone and the hitters to swing at pitches in that zone. I am curious if this is discussed or is prevalent in other areas. Maybe I have had the only three umpires with this thought that they are helping a team hit by not allowing too many walks with young pitchers who are having a hard time finding the plate.

Couple of questions about a call I had the other night with my 11u team. 1) I had a balk called on a right handed pitcher when he threw to pick off a runner at first. The umpire claimed that while he did move his right foot first with the “hop” step that I teach, he didn’t have a definite break with the rubber with that foot. I tried to get him to quantify what a definite break was but to no avail. He claimed it had to be a visible step with his “on rubber” foot, but I have yet to find this in the rules. My understanding is that if a right hand pitcher moves his right foot first regardless of the amount, and he completes his throw to first it is NOT a balk. 2) Runner on first, right handed pitcher lifts his left (off rubber leg) leg and runner on first takes off on first movement to steal second, Pitcher in one continuous motion does the step over move to second base and throws said runner out. Umpire calls balk. I have scoured the forums and read the rule and I am still convinced that it is not a balk because it is throwing to a base in making a play. If said runner didn’t run then it would be a balk. Balk Rule 8.05(d) The pitcher, while touching his plate, throws, or feints a throw to an unoccupied base, except for the purpose of making a play; Rule 8.05(d) Comment: When determining whether the pitcher throws or feints a throw to an unoccupied base for the purpose of making a play, the umpire should consider whether a runner on the previous base demonstrates or otherwise creates an impression of his intent to advance to such unoccupied base. A follow up question is; does that same move by a left hand pitcher apply. In other words if a left hand pitcher with raising his right leg sees a runner take off to second base can he continue that motion to a step over move and throw to second base?