Calling a Strike on a Dropped Ball

[Mudder]

Took some flack from an offensive coach on a pitch right down the middle (batter did not swing), that I called a strike that went off the catcher's mitt and rolled to the backstop.  I know this is old baseball thinking, and was a rule at one time that the catcher must catch the ball in order to be a strike, and at higher levels they enforce this more, but how do you guys handle this?

[scrounge]

At 12U or lower, or any rec league level, I'm probably ignoring the drop on a strike that isn't borderline. Higher than that, if it's truly belt high and the catcher didn't even move the glove but just flubbed the catch, I'm still calling the strike but anything else and probably not. Adult? Eh, screw them - if you're going to be a weekend warrior reliving the glory days, you better catch it if you want the call!

[kristoffae]

Right down the middle, cock shot, one of those where everyone knows it is a strike, I call it. If the catcher moves his glove anywhere up, down, in, or out and drops it, I ball it.

[Thunderheads]

Hell, Marty Foster called a strike on a dropped ball the other day, it happens ..........get the strike

[Rich Ives]

Strikes are strikes.

[KLAH316]

If the F2 whiffs it and the ball hits me, I don't care where it was it will NEVER be a strike! 

[bam]

If I have no doubt it was a strike I call it. I can remember 3 this year with backup JV catchers. If it's close, they don't get it (unless it's LL )

[grayhawk]

Balled one yesterday in a JV game.  It was on the outer third knee high that went off F2's glove.  Didn't hear a peep.

[Rich Ives]

If the F2 whiffs it and the ball hits me, I don't care where it was it will NEVER be a strike! 

 

Even if the batter swung and missed?

 

Catchers get crossed up. Some catchers are better than others. Deal with it.

[KLAH316]

No.... Swinging is always a strike.

I though we were talking about called strikes.

[LMSANS]

I missed one the other day in a varsity game, borderline outside at the knee. I balled it   F2 misses it, HC yells "come on, Tony(F2).  You're costing us strikes."  Sorry to get you in trouble catcher.

[UmpJM]

If it's a strike, I'll generally call it, even if the catcher does butcher it.

 

On a couple of occasions, I have actually said, "That's a strike, ANYWAY" instead of just "Strike!" as I normally do.

 

I saw a video a while back of Jon Bible speaking at an NCAA meeting where he was admonishing a bunch of NCAA DI umpires to "stop calling the catcher, and just call the damn pitch" (my paraphrase) and that certainly influenced my thinking on the question.

 

If it's a pitch where I might "steal a strike" had the catcher "stuck it", it's going to be a ball if the catcher butchers it.

 

JM

[law_reb]

Even in a high school varsity game obvious strikes that are dropped/mishandled I will call strikes.  This doesn't happen very often.  Borderline pitches that aren't caught I will ball.  To me it goes back to following the ball all the way to the mitt and using the entire view to call the pitch.  If it's borderline and he can't catch it, it's not called a strike.  The only thing I ever hear after balling a dropped pitch is the coach telling F2, "If you catch that we've got a chance for a strike."  Same applies where catcher is set up outside and pitcher throws on the inside corner or the opposite.  It's tough to call a pitch a strike the catcher is having to dive back across the plate to catch.  At lower age groups than high school(JV/V)I try to block out what the catcher is doing altogether and just call the pitch where it crosses the plate.  13 year old catchers aren't always that good.  I'm not going to punish the pitcher or the rest of his team for that. 

[Minnz]

A strike is a strike is a strike.  I mean we are told to call where it crosses the plate so the catcher's mitt has nothing to do with it.  Strikes=outs=faster games.  Or something like that.  

[bam]

A strike is a strike is a strike.  I mean we are told to call where it crosses the plate so the catcher's mitt has nothing to do with it.  Strikes=outs=faster games.  Or something like that.

I think it falls into the "or something like that" category.

[flastyle727]

I try to grab as many strikes as possible. I do however leave those lower, outside ones alone when F2 can't seem to stick them or gets lazy. Those will get you in trouble; hard to ring a kid up on outside ball that bounces off the glove to the backstop, especially since BR will probably beat the throw to first anyhow!

 

Someone above said a strike is a strike. I COMPLETELY agree. I've never met an umpire who didn't LOVE STRIKES!!

[th3]

i always tell the catcher "cmon - you GOTTA catch strikes!"

[Dannytheman]

I will take a strike anyway it comes.  Call it, and blame the catcher. (After the game)

[KLAH316]

If the F2 whiffs it and the ball hits me, I don't care where it was it will NEVER be a strike! 

I have never heard a peep from a coach who didn't get a call on a pitch that drilled me..... Usually he's yelling at the F2 for letting me get hit.

[jkumpire]

did this this season, center of plate. mid thigh in a college game F2 misses, and I got ripped by mgr and assigner. 

[UmpJM]

jk,

 

Jon Bible would disagree with them, and he's a "Bigger Dog" than either of them.

 

If that's how your assigner wants it, I'd certainly give that fact serious consideration and considerable weight in games I worked for him.

 

As in all things....

 

JM

[Rich Ives]

No.... Swinging is always a strike.

I though we were talking about called strikes.

 

Your statement was unconditioned. Catcher whiffs it - never a strike.

[BalkHawk]

When its pretty clear its a strike, but F2 dropped it and thus can't help sell the call, I give 'em the extra-loud, damn-right-thats-a RRHIIIKE!

[flastyle727]

did this this season, center of plate. mid thigh in a college game F2 misses, and I got ripped by mgr and assigner. 

 

Please elaborate...what did you get ripped about? Calling a strike or not calling the strike?

[EMump]

I think this falls under the path of least resistance on a pitch that is just flat out uncaught.

 

Every defensive manager and coach thinks that a ball that gets by the catcher must be a ball (outside or inside) because their catcher wouldn't let one get by that was over the plate.  The offensive manager doesn't care because you called the pitch a ball. Call that pitch a strike and the offensive manager going to be thinking the same way as the defensive manager and as the plate umpire your going to hear about it.