Ball High, Ball Low, Ball Inside

[BigSimonia]

 

 

 

I minimize questions about why a pitch wasn't a strike by calling more strikes.

 

No borderline balls.

 

(bumper sticker?)

Of course there are borderline balls.  If you call a borderline pitch a strike (which is fine), what happens when the next pitch is borderline to the previously established borderline.  The second pitch is just a little off the borderline you just established on the previous pitch - still a strike?  If so, what about the third pitch which is just a little off the strike borderline you established on the second pitch - another strike?  I think you see where this is going.

At some point we've all seen pitches that are close to what we've established is our zone, but are not close enough to call as strikes - pitches you wish you could call as strikes but you just can't - those are borderline balls and voicing "ball in" (or what not) lets the catcher know why he didn't get that one.

 

 

Dude, I'm not making a metaphysical argument. I'm encouraging a mindset in umpires to call more strikes.

 

 

BigSimonia,

 

You should be grateful.

 

Maven can make a kick-ass metaphysical argument! 

 

JM

 

I know - I've been on the ass side of his (meta)physical kicking before

[LRZ]

[maven]

Greg Maddox made the HOF by doing just what you hypothesize.

Maddox kept hitters off balance with speed and movement. Many of his strikes were right over the plate.

Now with Glavine you might have a point... :)

[MidAmUmp]

I will do it on a borderline in or out pitch. Answer the question before it's asked. Last year I never even issued a ball-strike warning much less had an ejection over balls and strikes. It is very rare that I even get the "Where was that pitch?" question.

[grayhawk]

Worked the dish yesterday and gave a few "in/out" calls. A senior guy from the association had stopped by to watch a couple of innings and before he left, he asked where I learned to do that. Told him I don't remember, but I've been doing it a couple of years and it works for me. He said if it's close enough to say in or out, then it's close enough to call a strike. Basically, a 30 second conversation that summarizes this thread. Sorry, I'm not striking a pitch 8 inches inside just because I can.

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[JaxRolo]

Worked the dish yesterday and gave a few "in/out" calls. A senior guy from the association had stopped by to watch a couple of innings and before he left, he asked where I learned to do that. Told him I don't remember, but I've been doing it a couple of years and it works for me. He said if it's close enough to say in or out, then it's close enough to call a strike. Basically, a 30 second conversation that summarizes this thread. Sorry, I'm not striking a pitch 8 inches inside just because I can.

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How about 7 inches?

[Pops]

 

Worked the dish yesterday and gave a few "in/out" calls. A senior guy from the association had stopped by to watch a couple of innings and before he left, he asked where I learned to do that. Told him I don't remember, but I've been doing it a couple of years and it works for me. He said if it's close enough to say in or out, then it's close enough to call a strike. Basically, a 30 second conversation that summarizes this thread. Sorry, I'm not striking a pitch 8 inches inside just because I can.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

How about 7 inches?

 

If it's 7 or 8 pitches inside, they shouldn't be asking where the pitch was and I certainly don't think I need to tell them that it was inside. Now maybe 3-4 inches yes.

[johnnyg08]

Maddox kept hitters off balance with speed and movement. Many of his strikes were right over the plate.

Excellent examples of deception.

[grayhawk]

 

 

Worked the dish yesterday and gave a few "in/out" calls. A senior guy from the association had stopped by to watch a couple of innings and before he left, he asked where I learned to do that. Told him I don't remember, but I've been doing it a couple of years and it works for me. He said if it's close enough to say in or out, then it's close enough to call a strike. Basically, a 30 second conversation that summarizes this thread. Sorry, I'm not striking a pitch 8 inches inside just because I can.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

How about 7 inches?

 

If it's 7 or 8 pitches inside, they shouldn't be asking where the pitch was and I certainly don't think I need to tell them that it was inside. Now maybe 3-4 inches yes.

 

 

They were commenting about pitches a foot inside.  "Great pitch, 21!"  "Looked good!"  

[maven]

Maddox kept hitters off balance with speed and movement. Many of his strikes were right over the plate.

Excellent examples of deception.

More proof that when all you've got is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

[BT_Blue]

Im not a fan of giving up and down. Could be an issue.

However, I am considering giving a run at in and out.

[JDavis225]

That's something I give the catchers on close pitches. I don't say it loud. I say it just enough for the catcher to know and he can then let his coach know. His coach will ask him and he can give the answer. That way it's no back and forth between the coach and I.

[JDavis225]

I also think it's funny that I do that on balls and no one does it on strikes. Lately, I've picked up that the college guys will turn ask on called strikes. For instance, "bottom?" asking if that's as low as I will go on a strike or after fouling off or swinging and missing a pitch, they'll ask whether or not it was a strike. My answer response to the "Was that a strike?" question is ALWAYS yes. Keep'em swinging!

[Mr Ump]

That's something I give the catchers on close pitches. I don't say it loud. I say it just enough for the catcher to know and he can then let his coach know. His coach will ask him and he can give the answer. That way it's no back and forth between the coach and I.

That is what I do. I never verbalize location out loud but if I think it is a questionable location I will say something to the catcher like, "We are close.",  after saying, "Ball". Never had a problem with a catcher, batter or coach. Then again I don't get questioned a lot on pitches and have a lot of respect in my areas I work for my zone. Also usually when some one ask, "Was that as low as you going" I just go with the flow and say yes...LOL...I give them what they want. I find it makes life behind the dish a lot easier.

[BigUmpire]

Nope.

If you do it for a few pitches you will train EVERYONE to want it on almost all pitches.

 

Verblize 10-12 then stop then you will hear "where was it?"

[bam]

I thought the proper mechanic for a close pitch was "steeeriiiiiiiiiike!"

I agree. If it's that close that you have to justify the location then it's close enough for a strike.

 

Disagree.  A belt-high pitch 8 inches inside looks GREAT to DC sitting on his bucket.

8 inches inside hits a lot of batters.

[Ump29]

Hate it when any of my umpires call pitches. I try to get them away from this but usually to no avail. Some do change but ...

[Lefty]

  I do a lot of men's league recreation ball.  They like to cry about balls and strikes.

In one major league baseball game I heard the plate umpire calling the position of 

the ball so I decided to try it.  Well I must say it cut out most of the crying.  Plus

at times the catcher will tell the coach or the pitcher  where I said the ball was.  And 

then the catcher will say to the pitcher bring it up or in or get it down depending on

the situation.  This voicing of the position of the has worked for me

[MidAmUmp]

Let's understand there's a difference between balling a nut cutter pitch and, while still in your stance, turning your head to tell the dugout that it's in or out vs. this crap...http://youtu.be/NSi_dcKUNFs

One is answering a question before it's asked, just like a safe-off the bag, while the other is an absolute joke.

[JaxRolo]

Let's understand there's a difference between balling a nut cutter pitch and, while still in your stance, turning your head to tell the dugout that it's in or out vs. this crap...http://youtu.be/NSi_dcKUNFs

One is answering a question before it's asked, just like a safe-off the bag, while the other is an absolute joke.

Funny video!

[millerforrest]

Unless you think the ball was "out" and the coach thought it was "high". That's inviting a comment. If you call it consistently with a good catcher, the catcher should be the one to tell the coach where it missed. Building a great working relationship with the catcher is extremely important for many reasons.

[KLAH316]

Unless you think the ball was "out" and the coach thought it was "high". That's inviting a comment. If you call it consistently with a good catcher, the catcher should be the one to tell the coach where it missed. Building a great working relationship with the catcher is extremely important for many reasons.

Love it when the coach yells out "Where'd that miss?" and my F2 tells him without missing a beat.... Makes the coach look stupid if you ask me.

[Dannytheman]

I don't give location. I have the best view. No need to say where.

[immaculate1976]

I call strikes

I say nothing on balls and I dont show where it missed

I will not answer a coach on location cause I dont explain my zone 

 

I also will not tell the catcher to tell his coach. What if the catcher thought it was a strike and he tells his coach IDK it looked like a strike to me? You just told the catcher to tell his coach where it was and he answered what he thought are you going to eject him or warn him? 

[grayhawk]

An absolute refusal to answer a question on the field is poor game management.

I will say "ball, that's in" or "ball, that's out" to answer the question before it's asked. As a result, I almost never get asked.

If they do ask, then it depends on the tone. "Steve, where did that miss?" in a normal tone is very different from "Where was that?" in an angry tone.