"Where Was That"

[Replacematt]

"Where was that?"

"If it was up your ass, you'd know."

[BigUmpire]

I've been using "Ball - In" and "Ball - Out" on selected pitches for the past few seasons.  Works well for me.  Don't do it on every pitch, obviously.

I have found if you indicate location once they will want it all game.

NOPE.

[wingman3110]

I've been using "Ball - In" and "Ball - Out" on selected pitches for the past few seasons.  Works well for me.  Don't do it on every pitch, obviously.

I have found if you indicate location once they will want it all game.

NOPE.

Correct. I tried this one game and felt as if they were waiting on me after every pitch to tell them where it was. Never again.

I'm much better when I just change my volume and tone on close balls or not so close balls.

[Stan W.]

I generally just show a hand motion for in or out. To often, warning.

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2

 

Agree with Mike, as the dugout only really sees up and down................they cant see in and out...... too often or too agreessive...then warn......

[BigUmpire]

Sorry.

Don't do it.

[grayhawk]

 

I've been using "Ball - In" and "Ball - Out" on selected pitches for the past few seasons.  Works well for me.  Don't do it on every pitch, obviously.

I have found if you indicate location once they will want it all game.

NOPE.

 

 

Weird, I have found the complete opposite.  I haven't been asked about a pitch location more than a handful of times in 68 games this year.  I will give a "Ball, that's in" or "Ball, that's out" on those that are close enough to fool THEM.  Now, if you are talking about answering their question about pitch location, I agree.  

[catsbackr]

Great discussion.

 

How about the coach asking his catcher, "Are you behind the plate?"  I always get a kick out of that one.

 

I'm very similar to Rich, I will give location as needed.  

 

Most smarter, older catcher know how to work with us regarding the coaches asking.  You're in for a LONG day when they don't and give the shoulder shrug, etc.

[umpire_scott]

I work with a guy that gives a sentence for every "ball" he calls.  "No, you're inside/outside/high/low".  He seldom gets any guff on his zone and of course never gets "where was that". 

 

Personally I don't every state anything unless they ask.  And I don't have any cut and dried rule on how many times.  The tone and short term frequency have a lot to do with it.  Three times in one inning, I'm putting a stop to it.  Once in the first inning, again once in the 4th, and a third time in the 7th, I probably would not care as long as it was done respectfully.  

 

And I will tell a coach low or high.  I'm not going to say a pitch was outside when it was over the heart of the plate just because he can see high/low.  

[flastyle727]

I work with a guy that gives a sentence for every "ball" he calls.  "No, you're inside/outside/high/low".  He seldom gets any guff on his zone and of course never gets "where was that". 

 

Personally I don't every state anything unless they ask.  And I don't have any cut and dried rule on how many times.  The tone and short term frequency have a lot to do with it.  Three times in one inning, I'm putting a stop to it.  Once in the first inning, again once in the 4th, and a third time in the 7th, I probably would not care as long as it was done respectfully.  

 

And I will tell a coach low or high.  I'm not going to say a pitch was outside when it was over the heart of the plate just because he can see high/low.  

It is no wonder why you have so many issues; you don't ever heed advice!!  The Rat is asking "Where is it?" because at his angle it looks good high/low wise and he can't see inside or outside. He clearly thinks it's a strike or he wouldn't ask, so if you tell him Coach it's up or down, you just gave him ammo to say something else. HE CAN SEE HIGH/LOW so why would you tell him that? Scott sometimes you make me SMH.

[RichMSN]

 

 

I've been using "Ball - In" and "Ball - Out" on selected pitches for the past few seasons.  Works well for me.  Don't do it on every pitch, obviously.

I have found if you indicate location once they will want it all game.

NOPE.

 

 

Weird, I have found the complete opposite.  I haven't been asked about a pitch location more than a handful of times in 68 games this year.  I will give a "Ball, that's in" or "Ball, that's out" on those that are close enough to fool THEM.  Now, if you are talking about answering their question about pitch location, I agree.  

 

 

Me too.  Not a single issue on balls and strikes from the bench.  I use the same technique from LL through college.  "Ball - IN" or "Ball - OUT" on pitches that I think look close from the dugouts.

 

Do what works for you is what I say....

[RichMSN]

 

I work with a guy that gives a sentence for every "ball" he calls.  "No, you're inside/outside/high/low".  He seldom gets any guff on his zone and of course never gets "where was that". 

 

Personally I don't every state anything unless they ask.  And I don't have any cut and dried rule on how many times.  The tone and short term frequency have a lot to do with it.  Three times in one inning, I'm putting a stop to it.  Once in the first inning, again once in the 4th, and a third time in the 7th, I probably would not care as long as it was done respectfully.  

 

And I will tell a coach low or high.  I'm not going to say a pitch was outside when it was over the heart of the plate just because he can see high/low.  

It is no wonder why you have so many issues; you don't ever heed advice!!  The Rat is asking "Where is it?" because at his angle it looks good high/low wise and he can't see inside or outside. He clearly thinks it's a strike or he wouldn't ask, so if you tell him Coach it's up or down, you just gave him ammo to say something else. HE CAN SEE HIGH/LOW so why would you tell him that? Scott sometimes you make me SMH.

 

 

Exactly.  I won't say I've never told a coach a pitch wasn't high or low (cause sometimes they just ARE), but I'm not exactly volunteering that information.

[umpire_scott]

 

I work with a guy that gives a sentence for every "ball" he calls.  "No, you're inside/outside/high/low".  He seldom gets any guff on his zone and of course never gets "where was that". 

 

Personally I don't every state anything unless they ask.  And I don't have any cut and dried rule on how many times.  The tone and short term frequency have a lot to do with it.  Three times in one inning, I'm putting a stop to it.  Once in the first inning, again once in the 4th, and a third time in the 7th, I probably would not care as long as it was done respectfully.  

 

And I will tell a coach low or high.  I'm not going to say a pitch was outside when it was over the heart of the plate just because he can see high/low.  

It is no wonder why you have so many issues; you don't ever heed advice!!  The Rat is asking "Where is it?" because at his angle it looks good high/low wise and he can't see inside or outside. He clearly thinks it's a strike or he wouldn't ask, so if you tell him Coach it's up or down, you just gave him ammo to say something else. HE CAN SEE HIGH/LOW so why would you tell him that? Scott sometimes you make me SMH.

 

 

So just because HE thinks it's in the zone I should lie and say it was outside even though his catcher was set up over the middle of the plate and didn't move his glove?  I lose credibility with the catcher, pitcher, and batter in that case who ALL knew the pitch was not outside.  Seems to indicate a lack of confidence in my call if I have to lie to pacify a coach.

[umpire_scott]

Let me be clear if it's close and I can use out or in I use it.  But as Rich said there are times when the only place the pitch missed is high/low.  In those cases I will confidently tell the coach that.  If he then wants to argue it, well now his is arguing balls and strikes.

[Larry in TN]

I've rarely asked an umpire (always an umpire that I know) about a call.  

 

I'm a team scorer/assistant coach viewing from the dugout so I see up/down pretty well but have no idea on in/out other than how the catcher moves.  When I have asked it is because a called ball looked right on the edge for up/down so I didn't know if he was calling it too high/low or if it was good on height but inside or outside.  

 

Just because we ask doesn't mean that we disagree.  

 

I don't think I've ever asked twice in the same game.

[flastyle727]

 

 

I work with a guy that gives a sentence for every "ball" he calls.  "No, you're inside/outside/high/low".  He seldom gets any guff on his zone and of course never gets "where was that". 

 

Personally I don't every state anything unless they ask.  And I don't have any cut and dried rule on how many times.  The tone and short term frequency have a lot to do with it.  Three times in one inning, I'm putting a stop to it.  Once in the first inning, again once in the 4th, and a third time in the 7th, I probably would not care as long as it was done respectfully.  

 

And I will tell a coach low or high.  I'm not going to say a pitch was outside when it was over the heart of the plate just because he can see high/low.  

It is no wonder why you have so many issues; you don't ever heed advice!!  The Rat is asking "Where is it?" because at his angle it looks good high/low wise and he can't see inside or outside. He clearly thinks it's a strike or he wouldn't ask, so if you tell him Coach it's up or down, you just gave him ammo to say something else. HE CAN SEE HIGH/LOW so why would you tell him that? Scott sometimes you make me SMH.

 

 

So just because HE thinks it's in the zone I should lie and say it was outside even though his catcher was set up over the middle of the plate and didn't move his glove?  I lose credibility with the catcher, pitcher, and batter in that case who ALL knew the pitch was not outside.  Seems to indicate a lack of confidence in my call if I have to lie to pacify a coach.

 

I never said Lie. What I am telling you though, is to not saying anything at all. If the pitch was over the middle and the catcher didn't move his glove....it was probably a stike which is another point all together.

 

I can also say, that by reading some of your posts, not all but some of them seem to cast the opinion that you already do lack confidence. Call strikes and get outs. Quit trying to appease a coach, and for the record. YES I HAVE LIED TO A COACH; If i flat missed a pitch and he asks your darn right I'll say inside or outside.

[umpire_scott]

 

 

 

I work with a guy that gives a sentence for every "ball" he calls.  "No, you're inside/outside/high/low".  He seldom gets any guff on his zone and of course never gets "where was that". 

 

Personally I don't every state anything unless they ask.  And I don't have any cut and dried rule on how many times.  The tone and short term frequency have a lot to do with it.  Three times in one inning, I'm putting a stop to it.  Once in the first inning, again once in the 4th, and a third time in the 7th, I probably would not care as long as it was done respectfully.  

 

And I will tell a coach low or high.  I'm not going to say a pitch was outside when it was over the heart of the plate just because he can see high/low.  

It is no wonder why you have so many issues; you don't ever heed advice!!  The Rat is asking "Where is it?" because at his angle it looks good high/low wise and he can't see inside or outside. He clearly thinks it's a strike or he wouldn't ask, so if you tell him Coach it's up or down, you just gave him ammo to say something else. HE CAN SEE HIGH/LOW so why would you tell him that? Scott sometimes you make me SMH.

 

 

So just because HE thinks it's in the zone I should lie and say it was outside even though his catcher was set up over the middle of the plate and didn't move his glove?  I lose credibility with the catcher, pitcher, and batter in that case who ALL knew the pitch was not outside.  Seems to indicate a lack of confidence in my call if I have to lie to pacify a coach.

 

I never said Lie. What I am telling you though, is to not saying anything at all. If the pitch was over the middle and the catcher didn't move his glove....it was probably a stike which is another point all together.

 

I can also say, that by reading some of your posts, not all but some of them seem to cast the opinion that you already do lack confidence. Call strikes and get outs. Quit trying to appease a coach, and for the record. YES I HAVE LIED TO A COACH; If i flat missed a pitch and he asks your darn right I'll say inside or outside.

 

 

I'm not going to play games with the coach.  If they ask I'm not only going to tell them if it's in/out.  As Larry put in on some pitches they can't tell in/out.  So there may be a pitch that was just high of the zone, but was all plate.  Well they can't tell if I'm calling it high or if I'm calling it in or out.  So if they ask, I'll tell them.  It's pretty simple if you ask me.  I'm not going to say outside just because I don't want an argument from the coach.  If I do that I'm giving the catcher false information.  I also don't see a point in ignoring it.  If I worry about the fact that they can see high low, then I'm admitting that I think they are correct in their assessment of it as well.  I get that they can see it, but they also have a personal bias going as well.

 

I understand the logic behind not giving them an explanation for high/low.  But I've never had issue with being completely honest on this point.  If I called it high I'll say so, usually with an added "just missed".

[BigUmpire]

I have told the catcher if a pitcher is teasing the outer edges of MY ZONE to go talk to his pitcher and let him know he is close BUt he needs to be just a little more in/out/high/low to get a strike.

Slippery slope there though.

[zm1283]

 

I've been using "Ball - In" and "Ball - Out" on selected pitches for the past few seasons.  Works well for me.  Don't do it on every pitch, obviously.

I have found if you indicate location once they will want it all game.

NOPE.

 

 

YEP.  This isn't required by any means, but I've done it and have seen guys to it and it works as long as you're not doing it every third pitch.  I've heard MLB umpires do it when the mic is good enough.  

 

 

I've been using "Ball - In" and "Ball - Out" on selected pitches for the past few seasons.  Works well for me.  Don't do it on every pitch, obviously.

I have found if you indicate location once they will want it all game.

NOPE.

Correct. I tried this one game and felt as if they were waiting on me after every pitch to tell them where it was. Never again.

I'm much better when I just change my volume and tone on close balls or not so close balls.

 

 

See above.

[Haid D' Salaami]

I read it here once, and I liked it. When asked, say "It was in the ball zone." When asked where is that? Say, "Anything not in my strike zone."

Good way to start a pissing contest with a coach, who will then lose cause he will now start to argue with you..

" dave, where was that pitch?"   "it was out" 

is all that is needed to reply.. he asked a question answer him..

 

But wait, let's say he ask in the 3rdinning... then in the 5th.. then in the 6th.... now that is too much.. i will answer this question twice in a game.

[Haid D' Salaami]

y'all realize I hope, that this is coach's way of complaining about your 'ball' call doncha. He's not allowed to argue B/S, but he has this plausibly (so he thinks) deniable way of arguing B/S.

 

If he asks early in the game, I ignore it and assume he's asking F2...careful what you say, F2. If he insists on me answering I'll remind him that he's not allowed to argue B/S (knowing that his plausible (to him) denial is sure to follow, "I'm not arguing, I'm just asking". Then as concisely/diplomatically as I can, I will tell him that his arguing denial is BS and I'm not playing his "where was that" game.

 

If he asks it once late in the game (and he hasn't been a PITA), I might tell him. But mostly the response is out/inside. If you say up/down, they might have more to say. In/Out they can't see. They still ain't gonna like it, but you don't give them any ammo. But mostly I don't play the "where was that" game.  

he's not arguing.. he's asking a question...

 

2nd inn." Hey ricka56, where's that pitch?"... answer him....this is not arguing...

 

this is

 

3rdinning.... that pitch is down....

 

where the hell was that....

 

can we get a strike...

 

 

those are arguing.

 

Stop being such a redass.. baseball is about a working relationship out there... if your catcher ask you in the 2nd inning about a pitch are you gonna ignore him too?

[Haid D' Salaami]

I've been using "Ball - In" and "Ball - Out" on selected pitches for the past few seasons.  Works well for me.  Don't do it on every pitch, obviously.

I used to do this, was told I'm not good enough or have to rep to get away with this.

 

argument at a eval course went like this..

 

coach .. "Charlie, where's that pitch?"

Umpire..."2 balls out"

Coach.."your not good enough to tell me that"..

 

should have gotten a warning or a EJ.. but that's debatable.

[BigUmp56]

Rich wasn't saying he tells them how far out or in the pitch was. He's elluding to the verbal call on the pitch.

"Ball............inside."

"Ball............outside."

I use the same technique, and hear very little about my zone.

Tim

[RichMSN]

I may not have the rep If I ever move up the food chain, but I think I'm OK up through the D3 ball I work.

Sent via Tapatalk 4

[Specks]

Not telling anybody how to work their games but calling location like RichMSN and others do is a very advanced mechanic, you must be skilled enough to handle the situation if it becomes difficult like asking too often or the classic "I'm talking to my catcher" comedy bit. I've worked with quite a few partners that do that and the less experienced ones usually have the problems. I personally do not provide location and don't think I've been asked that question in at least 2 years. The way I view it (below varsity level) is the manager is either trying to bust my balls or he's not paying attention. The reason I say below varsity level is because below that pitchers aren't that fine. When I have been ask I just give a quick answer "down" or whatever it was. If I'm asked again I tell the catcher where it was and tell him to tell the manager when he gets to the dugout. After that I'm out of answers and don't respond. The other thing you need to look at is why are you getting so many location requests. When calling pitches: Be Confident, Be Consistant and Be Big. Like others have said if you even think it could be a strike, it is! Coaches want strikes.

[Haid D' Salaami]

@RichMSN, I'm not saying your good or not good.. but I was told that... i personally like to say ball-in... ball -out.. it stops them from asking me...