Defining One's Strike Zone

[mepetty]

Since just starting out I've asked this question a lot. How do you define your strike zone? This is in reference to inside and outside pitches. Some say that if the ball hits the black then its a strike. Others say two ball widths outside or inside. A few (including coaches and players) say I'm a bit tight. I feel I'm tight on the outside and high pitches but a little more giving on the low and inside pitches, probably because I set up to the inside. One guy has said to be a little more liberal the lower you go. Meaning 9-10 olds the two ball width and shrink it as you go up in age. Just wondering what you all think.

[willv28]

I'm still working on defining mine. Mostly some more time seeing enough pitches. But I think it's becoming better. Not missing as many low pitches. I also don't call as low as much either. During regular season for minors, I give a ball+ width on each side and same up and down. In majors and tournament I don't give much. The outside I think I was calling too wide, I think it's slightly better now. In short, in regards to LL I don't think it's beneficial to the kids and makes for a little less quality play to call too far off the plate on either side. Usually this just results in sloppy hitting I find.

[mstaylor]

I call a ball or so out but am very stingy inside. Inside is hard to hit and will get you hit batters.

[moblue]

I call a ball or so out but am very stingy inside. Inside is hard to hit and will get you hit batters.

I agree. I tend to give almost nothing inside as well. For outside pitches it depends on the age level of course, but the closer it is to being belt high, the more I give because it's easier to hit.

[gixxershane]

i give about half a ball lenght on the out side, but I do call it right at the arm pits so I get some flack because of that, but the LL rule book states from the armpits to the top of the knees for the batters strike zone.. and, if any part of the ball crosses any part of the strike zone, so I also take that into consideration..

at the minors, the strikes I call out of the zone, are usually just hittable balls on the outside and low..

[th3]

when im behind the plate for baseball, it seems to me that a lot of pitches, thrown by a righty to a righty, are moving from my left to my right and just go over the front right (my right) corner of the plate before winding up way outside when it reaches the catcher, but even pretty outside at the back of the plate...mostly at the 12 yr old and below levels until treally start throwing hard..not talking about a curveball at all, just the picth kind of dying as it gets to the zone...i call them if they catch that front corner and are high enough, but i always get some moaning over it...looks like a ball to almost everyone but me...anyone else get that?

[gixxershane]

when im behind the plate for baseball, it seems to me that a lot of pitches, thrown by a righty to a righty, are moving from my left to my right and just go over the front right (my right) corner of the plate before winding up way outside when it reaches the catcher, but even pretty outside at the back of the plate...mostly at the 12 yr old and below levels until treally start throwing hard..not talking about a curveball at all, just the picth kind of dying as it gets to the zone...i call them if they catch that front corner and are high enough, but i always get some moaning over it...looks like a ball to almost everyone but me...anyone else get that?

yup, but I call em too!!

I just got back from doing an (9-10) all-star game, and I called 3 illegal pitches for balls.. the "offical" scorer said "we dont call balks at little league" I said " but it is still an illegal pitch..

he read the rule book and after the inning he complimented me on my knowledge of the rule book:HD: then one of the older umpires in the state was behind the fencing at home and he said "I never see that called.. I dont even call it!" kinda made me wonder if I should have been calling it:shrug:< but I think it should be called if its in the rule book :home:

[Jboval]

I have only called the LL "illegal pitch" once this year for minor/major age group. It was during post season play. Regular season I just correct them, and since this is a 'learning age group' no one has a problem with it. I only call it if the pitcher is in the act of delivering the ball and stops. If they stop or correct themselves on a windup or something early in the delivery, then I will give quite a bit of leniency, but once they have started motion towards the plate, then I would call any stops at this point and award a ball. Have never gotten so much as a mumble from anyone when it is called.

[willv28]

yup, but I call em too!!

I just got back from doing an (9-10) all-star game, and I called 3 illegal pitches for balls.. the "offical" scorer said "we dont call balks at little league" I said " but it is still an illegal pitch..

he read the rule book and after the inning he complimented me on my knowledge of the rule book:HD: then one of the older umpires in the state was behind the fencing at home and he said "I never see that called.. I dont even call it!" kinda made me wonder if I should have been calling it:shrug:< but I think it should be called if its in the rule book

lol, I would call it too. But usually I mostly call quick pitching. I experience the same thing on occasion. Some people just assume we only try so hard. Maybe we should ump together and put fear into people. heh

I've even told a couple of players to get in the box when they'd stand with half their foot over the line in the box. That confuses them. But only happened like twice. I'm mostly concerned with the plate side of the box for being hit purposes.

[gixxershane]

lol, I would call it too. But usually I mostly call quick pitching. I experience the same thing on occasion. Some people just assume we only try so hard. Maybe we should ump together and put fear into people. heh

I've even told a couple of players to get in the box when they'd stand with half their foot over the line in the box. That confuses them. But only happened like twice. I'm mostly concerned with the plate side of the box for being hit purposes.

the illegal pitches I had to call 2 they started their wind up and stoped short of delivering the ball, the other time the kid dropped the ball on the mound in the middle of his wind up.. lol:shrug:

[willv28]

the illegal pitches I had to call 2 they started their wind up and stoped short of delivering the ball, the other time the kid dropped the ball on the mound in the middle of his wind up.. lol:shrug:

Yeah, I would call that in a 11/12 game and up. Everyone would understand you can't just stop because the windup didn't feel right or whatever funny reason a kid has. In minors I don't pay much attention. Just tell the coaches what they need to work on. Things like, not pretending to pitch the ball for fun. I've had a pitcher in majors taking signs holding the ball by their side, but they were in their ready position and the ball just sorts came out of their hand.

Anyway, this is getting OT.

[mepetty]

Good call I would call that too. Have you encountered a pitcher who repeatedly kept touching his hat while on the mond and what would you do?

[noumpere]

Some (former?) MLB umpire once said something like, "My strike zone is where I can call it and they don't bitch."

Especially as you are starting out, and especially at lower levels (below college) that's what I'd use. Since you're getting feedback that your zone is too tight, it probably is.

[PeteBooth]

I call a ball or so out but am very stingy inside. Inside is hard to hit and will get you hit batters.

Michael I agree if the particpants use wood.

When they use metal I give the same on both sides.

Pete Booth

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by mstaylor

"I call a ball or so out but am very stingy inside. Inside is hard to hit and will get you hit batters."

Michael I agree if the particpants use wood.

When they use metal I give the same on both sides.

Pete Booth

I'm with Michael with either metal or wood bat. And my outside corner is a little less than a ball's width. But if it's out there, it must be a little above the knee. I can't give a couple of inches down and a couple of inches off on a pitch. I don't give anything off the inside corner for several reasons. But I understand Pete's reasoning about the metal, because we've all seen guy label a ball 350 feet, or drop one in front of the left fielder off the friggin' handle.

[Kevin Finnerty]

This is a strike zone diagram that I crafted out of that famous Ted Williams Hot Zone diagram that appeared in Sports Illustrated. The gray line corresponds to the black edges of the plate, and represents the actual strike zone that the ball has to touch. The thin line outside the baseballs is the outer edge of the zone:

Edited July 13, 2009 by Kevin Finnerty

[DonInKansas]

I call a ball or so out but am very stingy inside. Inside is hard to hit and will get you hit batters.

I can't agree with this one. I will reward a pitcher who pitches inside effectively, especially if the hitter is crowding the plate. If he doesn't like it, he can get his hands inside the ball and hit it or back off the plate.

[RenoUmp]

Some (former?) MLB umpire once said something like, "My strike zone is where I can call it and they don't bitch."

Especially as you are starting out, and especially at lower levels (below college) that's what I'd use. Since you're getting feedback that your zone is too tight, it probably is.

Great Interpretation!!!

Remember, a pitch thrown down the middle, belt high, and called a "Ball" is just a ball.

_________________

In reality, my zone at all levels is shaped like a capital letter "D", rounds on the outside, fattest at the belt, and the zone gets fatter as the ages get younger and/or quality of ball gets worse.

I rarely call strikes off the inside edge of the plate, as they are just as unhittable with aluminum/composite bats as with wood. The outside balls can be easily hit with power with the alum/comp bats.

I try to get a few outside, belt-high strikes early. If I hear a grumble, I may move it in a bit.

[dawg-man]

I agree with Don. If a pitcher is throwing effectively inside I will give him half to a ball inside and out. With these metal bats I don't think that is cheating a batter at all. Just try and be consistent. I don't think anyone, players, coaches, fans or us ever want to see a walkathon. People like games that move along but do not stretch it so that its out a whack.

[carolinablue]

It seems to me that most youth hitters are crowding the plate. I will give a ball on the inside if a pitcher has the guts and ability to come in there. I give a ball on the outside as well and will go a little farther but it's going to have to be between thigh to belt high.

Some batters crowd the plate to where if the ball don't hit them then it has to be a strike.

[mstaylor]

I give the width of the ball inside, meaning a potion of the ball hits the edge of the plate. Anymore than that I think you are asking for trouble. I will not take the inside away if the batter is crowding the plate, but I still am stingy as a whole.

[mstaylor]

On the suject of illegal pitches that 60ft specific. Call them during regular season so they know what they are doing come allstars. Yes, they are learning, so they may as well learn correctly. I called one tonight in a 9/10 allstar district semi. The fans thought I had lost my mind. The manager came out and questioned it. He didn't really disagree, he was just frustrated because in their last game it happen quite a few times and umpire refused to call anything. He said there were no balks so he couldn't do anything. He certainly could, he could call strikes. I told him with runners, the pitcher is subject to IPs.

[willv28]

On the suject of illegal pitches that 60ft specific. Call them during regular season so they know what they are doing come allstars. Yes, they are learning, so they may as well learn correctly. I called one tonight in a 9/10 allstar district semi. The fans thought I had lost my mind. The manager came out and questioned it. He didn't really disagree, he was just frustrated because in their last game it happen quite a few times and umpire refused to call anything. He said there were no balks so he couldn't do anything. He certainly could, he could call strikes. I told him with runners, the pitcher is subject to IPs.

Here, here!!! That's what I TRY to do, but it just gets "just let them play!" or awkward situations lol.

[mstaylor]

Tell them to write Williamsport with their complaints. Teaching pitchers to pitch incorrectly is a shame that shouldn't be allowed.

[SATURDAY]

I agree.

I see countless pitchers in the Little League 9/10 year old division pitching illegally every game. Dont get me wrong, Im not a mean guy thats gonna call an illegal pitch on something extremely technical. Even if I do call it, I take some time to go out to the mound and tell the kids what theyre doing wrong and how they can avoid it.

Like you said, it really is a shame. Some umpires let the kids continue to pitch like this. I umpired over 30 Little League Junior Division games this year and it really dissapoints me to see kids 13 and 14 years old making the same mistakes as the little ones. Then again, it may boil down to poor coaching. But having an umpire who lets it slide certainly doesnt help.