Setting up on the outside

[Umpire in Chief]

So I'm sitting here watching Baseball Tonight and of course I'm looking at the umpires as much as the players.

In the brief highlights of the Cubs v Mets game they showed several plays with Phil Cuzzi setting up on the outside.

One time the Mets catcher Castro started square behind the plate then jumped way inside and Phil Cuzzi stayed where he was for the pitch which put him to the outside.

Another time with David Wright at bat Blanco, the Cubs Catcher, moves inside (not to the same degree as Castro did before) and once again he stayed in his place which put him to the outside.

Then in the same segment with Reyes at bat Cuzzi was initially set up straight over Franco, then Franco shifts slightly which puts Cuzzi to the outside again.

Then again in the top of the 8th with McGehee at bat he's on the outside.

In the whole 2 minuets of the segment on the Mets Cubs I saw this 4 times which I think is rather rare.

Then in the next segment showing the Braves v Phillies highlights the first pitch they show Mark Wenger sets up to the outside of McCann. This was a bit different because Wenger went into his squat after McCann shifted.

Again, they showed Wenger to the outside of McCann when being squeezed with Ruiz at bat.

So twice in the one minute they gave to that game.

We were taught that the outside is unacceptable, period. Your first option is to raise your head height then to move behind the catcher from the slot, but never go out side.

Is this now being taught?

[LMSANS]

I don't think this is being taught, these guys have been around for a while. Somebody once commented that once they reach MLB they can do most anything they want. My guess is that they are setting up in the middle (for whatever reason) and when the catcher shifts they are still in the middle.

[carolinablue]

I'm like you, I have got to where I watch the umpires more than the players. The other day watching ,I think, Braves/Phillies the PU would wait until the pitcher was releasing the ball and take a quick step to his left on every pitch. I don't know why, but he couldn't be set. I also noticed he appeared to be giving location on outside pitches by slightly pointing his arm in that direction. I know he's better than I will ever be, but if a veteran saw me doing this he'd hit the roof.