Game Time Adjustments

[carolinablue]

I was just wondering if you guys try to adjust your strike zone during a game. Say early on you are getting a few more oo's and ah's than normal on your zone and you sense that you may be a little low or wide or whatever the case may be. What do you do ?

Ask your partner how it looks to him ?

If you determine your off a little do you make an adjustment or just go with it to maintain coinsistency ?

[mstaylor]

Usually I can tell quickly if my zone is off and will try to correct it. If I am working with a pretty experienced partner I have some very subtle signals to let them or me know if something needs to be corrected.

[Umpire in Chief]

Id correct it if I feel I'm being to big or small, not just because fans/players/coaches are griping. Although sometimes they can be a good indicator.

Talk to your partner between innings and ask.

[Dragon29]

Also - if you're second-guessing yourself about your zone (especially early in the game) slow down; slow waaay down. You'll see it better and call it better, with or without information from your partner.

And - yeah - ignore the oohs and ahs - maybe they're just admiring your form :banghead:

[Umpire in Chief]

Absolutely, good timing will make all the difference.

[Mr Umpire]

I will only adjust in the 1st inning. Sometimes, it takes a few pitches to get settled in and establish what the strike zone is going to be that day. But, after the 1st inning, there will be no adjustment under normal circumstances. The zone is what it is and it isn't changing at that point.

By normal circumstances, I mean 1 team isn't losing by 20 runs with 3 outs to go. If that happens, I am getting my 3 outs as fast as possible before the losing team catches up.

[rainier]

I will only adjust in the 1st inning. Sometimes, it takes a few pitches to get settled in and establish what the strike zone is going to be that day. But, after the 1st inning, there will be no adjustment under normal circumstances. The zone is what it is and it isn't changing at that point.

I agree with this. It sometimes takes one inning to get used to the size of the kids, if you're doing a 12 yo game when you've spent the last two weeks doing 14's. After the first inning, it is what it is as long as it is consistent.