Low strike consistency

[PonyUmpire]

Do you guys have any tips for staying consistent on the low strike? I think that's something I need to work on a bit.

[Forest Ump]

If you track the ball from the hand into the glove everytime, that will help you stay consistent. Watch the glove, if his thumb moves down, don't call it a strike.

[mrumpiresir]

I think most newer umpires call a lot of very low pitches strikes because they do not track the ball all the way into the catchers mitt.  You need to see where the glove is when he catches the pitch. 

 

For example, a big looping curve ball can be caught maybe 7 or 8  inches above the ground for a strike, while a straight fastball caught in the same place is probably a ball.  Everyone knows it's not where the catcher catches the pitch, but where it crossed the plate. But you will have a good idea where it was once you know where the catcher catches it.  And slow down your timing, see the whole pitch.

[NCAAump2]

Agree with the posts above...track the ball WITH YOUR EYES (don't move your head) all the way from the pitcher's hand to the catcher's mitt.  Doing that EVERY PITCH will make a huge difference.

[Jocko]

Simple... They're all strikes.

[NFUA_44]

Timing is everything.  Literally, it makes all the difference in the world.  If you take your time and see the whole pitch what is the worst they can say?  He's slow?  Taking your time?  I will take that everyday.

 

If you think your to slow, slow down some more.  When you start seeing that kneecap strike consistently you will know that you have nailed your timing.

[umpstu]

I think most newer umpires call a lot of very low pitches strikes because they do not track the ball all the way into the catchers mitt.  You need to see where the glove is when he catches the pitch. 

 

For example, a big looping curve ball can be caught maybe 7 or 8  inches above the ground for a strike, while a straight fastball caught in the same place is probably a ball.  Everyone knows it's not where the catcher catches the pitch, but where it crossed the plate. But you will have a good idea where it was once you know where the catcher catches it.  And slow down your timing, see the whole pitch.

Watch the ball and the catch. If a catcher let's a curve ball take his glove to the ground, I don't care where it crosses the plate. We umpire and they catch.

Simple... They're all strikes.

Until somebody screws it up. Good post my brother from another mother. Ha

[Jocko]

Good timing.....

The stretch... And the pitch.... Ssssssssss... Thwap.....

"Good Eye!"

STRRRIIIKKKKEEEEE!!!

Seriously, tell yourself mentally what the pitch was before you call it.

(In your mind) - that's a strike

(Verbal and mech) - Strike

--or--

(In your mind) - that's a ball

(Verbal) Ball

[BalkHawk]

Picture each batter's zone when you are in there awaiting the pitch, remember to take his stride into account.

Figure out where his mid-point is. I like to use the belt or the numbers as a reference point.

The bottom is where its at, IMO. Find the hollow of his knee. When you are picturing the pitch you just saw, peak at the knee.

Also, let the catchers know you expect them to stick the low ones. If he does, its probably a strike. If his glove hits the ground or he turns his thumb up, it isn't.

Of course, tracking the ball all the way and good timing are most important.

[Jocko]

You could always use the WAG method Jax teaches at his 20 minute clinic

[JaxRolo]

Good timing.....

The stretch... And the pitch.... Ssssssssss... Thwap.....

"Good Eye!"

STRRRIIIKKKKEEEEE!!!

 

I love when that happens

You could always use the WAG method Jax teaches at his 20 minute clinic

 

I actually cut it down to 15

[noumpere]

For one I disagree with some of what seems to be the false timing mechanisms mentioned.

 

specific ideas;

 

Go do the sock drill to practice tracking the ball

 

Have someone you trust watch you in a training setting to see how your eyes are moving.

 

Move back from the catcher a couple of inches so your plane to the ball is better.

[Mike Prince]

For one I disagree with some of what seems to be the false timing mechanisms mentioned.

 

specific ideas;

 

Go do the sock drill to practice tracking the ball

 

Have someone you trust watch you in a training setting to see how your eyes are moving.

 

Move back from the catcher a couple of inches so your plane to the ball is better.

 

I agree most with what I bolded.  Most of us set up either too close or too far away from the catcher - too close and you are excessively "on top" of the zone and the low strike is a guessing game.  Too far back gives you a better look at the pitch through the zone but it's easy to lose sight of the mitt if it moves.  Find your sweet spot where you can track the pitch properly/see the mitt and don't be in a rush to make the call.

 

I used to struggle mightily with the low strike until I worked HS ball and got some good tips from more experienced HS/NCAA/MiLB umpires in a clinic setting.  I am tall (6'4") and I now put a lot of work in on positioning to make sure that I have consistency.  The first time I asked the question of how to call the low strike, I was told I was missing these because I was lazy and careless.  At first I was offended, but then I realized that what the respondent was saying was that I wasn't tracking the ball all the way to the mitt.

[mstaylor]

Get someone to set up as a catcher, then get a second person to hand move the ball through the zone and see if you are seeing all of it. Sometimes you will lose the low pitch if aren't set up correctly. I agree with the tracking the ball all the way to the glove, it is essential. Better catchers, use the glove to assist you, bad catchers do ugly catching the ball. 

[BalkHawk]

...I disagree with... the false timing mechanisms

 

[mstaylor]

The saying it is a ball or strike to slow yourself down. Many believe that this is false timing because you are still deciding too fast. Others believe that by saying in your head what it is gives you the chance to replay it in your head. If you are replaying it then it is a good mechanism. If you are just not announcing to show good timing then it is bad. 

[Welpe]

Tracking the ball through the zone is key.

 

The catcher can be a help. If he is sticking pitches and not all over the place, you'll have a better chance at seeing what is in the zone. A good stick can buy him a borderline pitch. If you have two bad catchers though, you do the best you can to get those strikes so your zone doesn't shrink to a dinner saucer.

 

I had a 14U game last week where one of the catchers couldn't catch a cold. I called a strike on an inside pitch at the belt that the catcher dropped. I heard a fan yell "You can't call it a strike if he didn't catch it!"

 

I felt like yelilng back "We're going to be here a long time using that standard, skippy." I just laughed to myself instead.

[UmpJM]

OK, a lot of good advice above which I won't repeat.

 

The two things that have NOT been mentioned (I think) that are often, in my experience, critical to the "low strike" are head height and proper slot positioning.

 

Many people who have difficulty with calling low pitches let their head height get too low and are too much directly behind the catcher rather than in the slot. This results in them trying to look "through" the catcher to see the low zone. This does not work.

 

JM

[RC@54OUTS]

All suggestions are good. The drills and someone helping you by watching your eyes track the ball. Try setting up so both eyes are straight forward looking at the plate rather than have your eyes canted unevenly. This has been talked about before. But timing is everything. Great article on this web "What is good timing". Don't get into auto pilot or instinct when calling the pitch. If that makes any sense. Slows you down.

[MidAmUmp]

I will tell you what works for me...

 

I get hands on knees pretty early (not set in my stance).  I glance at the corners of the plate and the bottom of the zone (I also use this as an opportunity to communicate with the catcher if necessary, but that's for another topic).  Once the pitcher starts his preliminary stuff that could result in a balk, I focus on him.  Once he starts to the plate I get set in my stance and see the pitch all the way into the glove.  By having already glanced at the corners and the bottom of the zone, my eyes/mind know those edges and I find it much easier to get the borderline pitches.

 

Some say I'm pretty good at the bottom of the zone.  Others say (as a coach told me Friday) that hitters don't have a chance with me......19 runs/21 hits in the game, but hitters don't have a chance 

[Ring 'em Up]

OK, a lot of good advice above which I won't repeat.

 

The two things that have NOT been mentioned (I think) that are often, in my experience, critical to the "low strike" are head height and proper slot positioning.

 

Many people who have difficulty with calling low pitches let their head height get too low and are too much directly behind the catcher rather than in the slot. This results in them trying to look "through" the catcher to see the low zone. This does not work.

 

JM

 

i wear glasses.. i try and setup a few 'inches' back in the slot to see the zone better, but that low strike outside makes me dip my head about 1/3 of an inch down when doing lower level games.  on the other hand, when doing HS games , most F2's know how to catch and frame, which makes both my, and your job easier.  i also find that when doing HS games i don't need to move my head at all, i can see that pitch all the way to F2's glove..

 

ron-

[24sdad]

Take a look at the height of F2's knees when he is in his crouch.  Allowing for the exception of an extremely tall or short batter, his (F2) knees are pretty darn close to the height of a typical batter's, and can be used as the low end of the strike zone.  If F2 sticks a FB at his own knee, I know I have a strike.  Most good F2's know this.  That is why, if you track the ball all the way to the glove, you can see em catch the ball at their shin and quickly pull it up to their knee.  On breaking pitches, adjust accordingly.

 

Of course, this will only work if you incorporate the previous advice given for the proper use of your eyes (timing) and being in a consistent position to actually see F2 receive the ball.  Like already stated, see it into the glove, evaluate it, then call it.

[Jocko]

Watching Cubs game this morning. I think P Cuzzi had the stick. He hesitated on an outside away pitch, leaned over and looked down before calling it a K. It was a great call. Pitch was definitely in the zone. F2 wanted inside, got outside. Cross up but Phil nailed it. Bad mechanics?

[JaxRolo]

Watching Cubs game this morning. I think P Cuzzi had the stick. He hesitated on an outside away pitch, leaned over and looked down before calling it a K. It was a great call. Pitch was definitely in the zone. F2 wanted inside, got outside. Cross up but Phil nailed it. Bad mechanics?

Come on man! Video!

[24sdad]

Watching Cubs game this morning. I think P Cuzzi had the stick. He hesitated on an outside away pitch, leaned over and looked down before calling it a K. It was a great call. Pitch was definitely in the zone. F2 wanted inside, got outside. Cross up but Phil nailed it. Bad mechanics?

Jocko, bad mechanics meaning he hesitated and readjusted his look or that he called a strike at their level where the F1 missed his spot outside on an inside pitch?  Without seeing the video, could he have been "pinched off" from seeing low and outside by how F2 set up inside, and once the pitch was received Cuzzi just did what he had to do to call the pitch?