Varsity Strike Zone

[Welpe]

I worked a varsity plate yesterday which was pretty vanilla except I was having some issues with the low outside pitch. I had a fan come up after the game while we were leaving and said my zone was consistent but was giving too many low, outside pitches.

I know it seems silly to put any credence in what a fan tells me about my zone but I also know he said that because there were several pitches from both F1s that were breaking late through the zone and made the F2 stretch for them which made them look worse the they were.

My question is, at this level are you apt to ball a pitch that breaks through the zone like this and which looks like a ball to most based upon how it's received?

My partner who is also my assigner had no issues with my zone but I know that's also hard to tell at times from the field.

[24sdad]

Welpe, first off never listen to fans. As a parent at a game, I could never imagine approaching an umpire and commenting on his calls. If we do happen to pass following a game, I always thank them and tell them good job.

Sounds like you were grabbing strikes on the same type of pitch CONSISTENTLY, so good for you. Were you getting any flak from the coaches?

If I have an F2 that sets up outside and F1 misses horribly inside, or an F2 that turns his glove over to receive the ball, I am going to ball it. You are right, it does not look like a strike and they are not going to get it. But in your case, unless this magical deuce was breaking five feet after it passed the plate, it sounds like you were making the correct call.

[Welpe]

Thanks 24sdad and you are right, I shouldn't listen to fans. The only reason I gave this guy any thought is that I had been tinkering with the low part of my zone a little but as I said, these pitches were breaking just right at the corner. It seems at this level a lot of managers will expect their catchers to stick pitches and if they don't, aren't too upset by them getting balled which prompted me to write my post in the first place.

Thanks again for the feedback.

[johnnyg08]

The low outside pitch is the toughest one to get. Good F2's are taught to get that pitch because it's a great pitcher's pitch.

You have to decide for yourself if you want to keep getting a pitch that does not look like a strike because F2 is not doing his job.

There are threads pages long on many a forum about pitches that by the rule book are strikes but are not strikes to umpires because they don't look like strikes.

I know that as you move up to higher levels of baseball, if it doesn't look like a strike, then it's not a strike.

[BT_Blue]

A varsity catcher should be able to catch the ball properly. If they stretch, stab, or pull pitches they are should be expected to be called balls. Any good varsity catcher should understand this and so should any average varsity coach.

[Welpe]

Thanks fellas, guess I will adjust accordingly.

[noumpere]

The other side to this is yesterday I worked a juniour college game with two catchers who butchered nearly every pitch. One would pull even strikes closer to the center of the zone and the other would let any pitch that wasnt right at his mitt drift the pitch farther away. If I called the catchers we would still be there with about 90 walks. When I called the plate and tried to ignore the catchers the coaches complained. And to be honest some of the complaints might have been valid becuase it was tough to ignore the catchers actions.

[johnnyg08]

Yeah, I had an F2 yesterday who would pull strikes to the middle of the plate.

I kept balling any border pitch that he pulled or stabbed and it seemed to work quite well.

[BT_Blue]

I make it a point that before the start of the their half inning in the first inning I tell F2 "I like to call strikes back here. If the pitch is borderline, stick it and hold it. Dont pull it. If you pull the pitch it will be called a ball..."

This way there is no confusion when they pull that pitch and I ball it. I will also say "remember when I said not to pull pitches? Well there you go".

[catsbackr]

The other side to this is yesterday I worked a juniour college game with two catchers who butchered nearly every pitch. One would pull even strikes closer to the center of the zone and the other would let any pitch that wasnt right at his mitt drift the pitch farther away. If I called the catchers we would still be there with about 90 walks. When I called the plate and tried to ignore the catchers the coaches complained. And to be honest some of the complaints might have been valid becuase it was tough to ignore the catchers actions.

You shouldn't have catchers at the JC level pulling pitches. JC coaches expect their catchers to stick pitches.

I always tell both catchers, in HS and college, to stick their pitches. If they insist on pulling pitches, I just tell them "I can't get that pitch, stick it where it's at."

[Welpe]

A followup question about your varsity strike zone. How wide does everybody like to go? I haven't done many varsity games but I've been getting anything that nicks the plate. I've been balling some that are inside and hitting the batter's box that the F2 frames well and the F1 seems to be expecting it. Does this seem a little too tight?

[Mike Prince]

I was told by my HS evaluator last year to set my strike zone and then allow one ball to each side. If any part of the ball touches the edges of zone you set call a strike.

He stressed that making the zone as big as reasonable makes a better game as long as you are consistent. If you are consistent then you shouldn't get complaints about your zone and the hitters will adjust.

[Welpe]

If any part of the ball touches the edges of zone you set call a strike.

This is how I have been calling it. My understanding of "adding an extra ball" was in addition to the plate.

[zm1283]

A followup question about your varsity strike zone. How wide does everybody like to go? I haven't done many varsity games but I've been getting anything that nicks the plate. I've been balling some that are inside and hitting the batter's box that the F2 frames well and the F1 seems to be expecting it. Does this seem a little too tight?

Not being sarcastic, but I would hope so.

[24sdad]

He stressed that making the zone as big as reasonable makes a better game as long as you are consistent. If you are consistent then you shouldn't get complaints about your zone and the hitters will adjust.

This is pretty good advice right here. Establish a reasonable zone and be consistent.

[Welpe]

A followup question about your varsity strike zone. How wide does everybody like to go? I haven't done many varsity games but I've been getting anything that nicks the plate. I've been balling some that are inside and hitting the batter's box that the F2 frames well and the F1 seems to be expecting it. Does this seem a little too tight?

Not being sarcastic, but I would hope so.

Sorry...what I meant was anything that nicks the plate and nothing wider.

[24sdad]

In lower level HS, I would expand that zone a little bit. Doing varsity, I will give it a ball off the plate both sides. Lower levels, a little more. I am pretty tight on the high strike and a bit more liberal on the low strike. Just keep your zone consistent for all 7 (unless you have a blow out) and you will be fine.

[Minnz]

I saw call the zone like the rule book plus a little on the egdes at ALL levels. We do not get paid to walk guys, ids learn by hitting. C_Team, JV, Varsity all use the same rule book, call the same zone is my mantra.