Strike zone trouble

[sadler850]

Question for the group.... I have been umpiring youth-adult baseball for 15 years. In the last few months (final part of season last year and beginning of this year), I have become very inconsistent with my zone, as well as missing obvious pitches. I am not sure what is going on, but it is causing me a lot of trouble with coaches. I live in the Pittsburgh area and am wondering if anyone knows of a computer -aided school/clinic that shows where the pitch is versus where I am seeing it. I don't mind traveling to it either.

 

I have tried adjusting my stance, height, positioning, etc. with no success. At this point, I feel like I need someone else to see what I am doing wrong.

 

Also, any other feedback or questions are welcomed. I want to fix this asap!

 

Thanks!

[Thunderheads]

Based on what you've told us...the first thing that comes to mind is tracking .....

 

Are you tracking the ball ALL OF THE WAY into the catchers mitt every time?  When you do this, ...you slow yourself down and the picture becomes more clear.

[maven]

You mention trying to fix the problem by adjusting your position, which is a natural place to start. But ordinarily problems with zone stem more from timing than position. If your position is consistent from pitch to pitch, that will help some, but the crucial thing is to give yourself time to judge the pitch. Slow down.

 

Now that you've got a "thing" about your zone, you're going to have to slow down even more in order to get past the "thing" and renew your confidence. Provided there's no organic problem (your not losing your vision), I would say the key is to slow down.

 

I'm assuming that you're doing everything else right: relaxing and exhaling before the pitch, keeping still and tracking the pitch with your eyes all the way to the mitt, reading all the info provided as the pitch comes in (including where it hits the mitt), etc. If all that sounds alien, then a clinic might well be in order to get you back to basics.

 

With some skills, increasing competence allows one to go faster. Not calling pitches — at any rate, not until we get brain implants that allow us to process the info faster....

[sadler850]

That's great "back to basics" info for me! Thank you. I have found myself being apprehensive behind the plate recently (as mentioned, having a "Thing"). I will get planted, watch the pitch all the way in, and slow down a bit. 

 

Thinking back, I took a couple of hard shots to the head and arm last year and am thinking I may have gotten a bit jumpy.

[noumpere]

Go do the sock drill to help get you back in the zone.

[Stan W.]

One pitch at a time brother......

 

When you find your zone wandering, take a step back, deep breath and get back in there.......track the next ball all the way in to the mitt....call it...

one pitch

two pitches....

one AB....

one 1/2 inning.

one full inning....

 

send me a PM, we are in the same area......might have some local resources for you

[MidAmUmp]

Having a bad plate (or series of bad plates) is usually a result of any combination of 3 things...mental preparation/psychological, tracking, and timing.

 

Since you've been struggling for so long, I'd say you have all 3.  But it sounds mostly psychological to me.  You've lost your confidence and doubt yourself.  You're probably back there holding your breath, saying "please be right down the middle."  The longer you've struggled, the more adjustments you've made, the more confidence you've lost, and that snowflake has turned into an avalanche.  If I had to guess, you probably dread going behind the plate.

 

Start off by doing some self talk.  Give yourself a pep talk.  Get mentally prepared to work the game.  Clear your head of all the negative thoughts and just focus on the current game.  Then on the field do what others have suggested.

 

On the rubber, get set, track it, call it.  If you find yourself struggling during the game, start over...take a deep breath, clear your head, and jump back on the horse.

 

Once you are able to get mentally ready to call the game again, work on your tracking and timing.  Make sure you are seeing the pitch into the glove before you are making a decision on the pitch.

[sadler850]

This is great Info. Thank you all so much.

 

MidAmUmp, you are right, Dread getting behind the plate right now and it is frustrating because I have always prided myself on being a great plate umpire. Just a self-created slump right now, but one that I can get out of with the info you all have given.

[maven]

This is great Info. Thank you all so much.

 

MidAmUmp, you are right, Dread getting behind the plate right now and it is frustrating because I have always prided myself on being a great plate umpire. Just a self-created slump right now, but one that I can get out of with the info you all have given.

 

The good news is that anyone who has done this long enough -- at any level -- goes through something like this in some fashion. Stick with it, work hard, and you'll come out the other side as a better balls & strikes umpire.

[JaxRolo]

I've been in a rut with my zone since I started Umpiring Day 1. A few years later I am still trying to fix it!

[ALStripes17]

You mean to tell me y'all don't just close your eyes and guess?

[FlaUmp22]

You mean to tell me y'all don't just close your eyes and guess?

 

Shhhhhhh! that's the advice for premium members only   

[Jocko]

It sounded like a strike to me

[Jocko]

@sadler850 - seriously though. Do you have a friend thats a coach? Or another umpire buddy or two? Maybe ask him if you can get in some cage work while he's throwing BP. Work on your issues OFF the field and you won't be so apprehensive ON the field.

[elares]

Question for the group.... <snip>

Thanks!

Thank you for posting your questions.  I've been having similar problems.  It's good to have company.

Thanks for all suggestions for fixes, too.

[blue23ll]

Have you asked your partners for feedback? They are the ones that are watching you consistently. What about evaluators? I think the real time, on the field feedback you might get would be really valuable. Trying to fix real world problems via this forum only goes so far.

[elares]

I agree that on-field feedback would be best.  

Most of my partners have been pressured into fulfilling their volunteer opportunities and do not provide valuable feedback.

This has only be going on for a few games.  I'll pay particular attention to my timing tonight and work the sock drill in future days.  I had an evaluation last month and that game didn't show the problem.  

[PGOLDEN88]

Have someone film your next few plate games and you look at them afterwards. I'll be doing that soon, I want to make sure my slot mechanics are 100%.

[lawump]

T-I-M-I-N-G.  I will bet a lot of money that your problem is timing.  You are likely calling the pitches too quickly.  You may not be verbalizing or signaling your calls in a manner that makes players and coaches think you are calling them too quickly...but I bet you that you are making your mind up as to whether or not a pitch is a ball or a strike before you (1) have TRACKED the pitch all the way to the catcher's mitt, (2) then stayed perfectly still and locked and thought in your mind, "that's a strike (or ball)" and THEN (and only then) (3) come up out of your stance and verbalized and signaled your call.

 

For most amateur umpires, their timing BEGINS to get good when they think they are too slow in calling pitches.  I've been teaching a long time (and I take pride in having helped develop a lot of umpires just starting their careers who have gone on to work high school state championships,  Division 1 college and one who is in the Southern League (I started with him when he was 17.).)  When I am working with amateur umpires in the cage, I stand behind them and tell them not to call the pitch until I tap them on the shoulder.

 

At first, for the first several pitches they don't wait for me to tap them on the shoulder before they call the pitch.  I yell at them enough that they finally slow down enough (and learn to track the pitch) to wait for my tap.  After doing it correctly 10 or 12 times, I'll ask them, "do you see what I'm talking about?"  And they all initially tell me the same thing, "it feels too slow."  I respond, "good, you're finally getting decent timing."

[umpstu]

Based on what you've told us...the first thing that comes to mind is tracking .....

 

Are you tracking the ball ALL OF THE WAY into the catchers mitt every time?  When you do this, ...you slow yourself down and the picture becomes more clear.

Got to agree. And are you moving with the pitch? Keep your head still and let your eyes do the tracking. A little head movement is ok, but try and keep perfectly still.

[Mark Pepper]

T-I-M-I-N-G.  I will bet a lot of money that your problem is timing.  You are likely calling the pitches too quickly.  You may not be verbalizing or signaling your calls in a manner that makes players and coaches think you are calling them too quickly...but I bet you that you are making your mind up as to whether or not a pitch is a ball or a strike before you (1) have TRACKED the pitch all the way to the catcher's mitt, (2) then stayed perfectly still and locked and thought in your mind, "that's a strike (or ball)" and THEN (and only then) (3) come up out of your stance and verbalized and signaled your call.

 

For most amateur umpires, their timing BEGINS to get good when they think they are too slow in calling pitches.  I've been teaching a long time (and I take pride in having helped develop a lot of umpires just starting their careers who have gone on to work high school state championships,  Division 1 college and one who is in the Southern League (I started with him when he was 17.).)  When I am working with amateur umpires in the cage, I stand behind them and tell them not to call the pitch until I tap them on the shoulder.

 

At first, for the first several pitches they don't wait for me to tap them on the shoulder before they call the pitch.  I yell at them enough that they finally slow down enough (and learn to track the pitch) to wait for my tap.  After doing it correctly 10 or 12 times, I'll ask them, "do you see what I'm talking about?"  And they all initially tell me the same thing, "it feels too slow."  I respond, "good, you're finally getting decent timing."

Somebody did this for me in Albuquerque many years ago and it was quite possibly the most helpful exercise I ever went through for my strike zone.  It felt ungodly slow until I realized how much more consistent I was. 

[ricka56]

You don't need to wait for someone in your asso. to film you. Most everyone has a video camera in their cell phone. Get someone to take some video of your work...it is a real eye opener.  

[PonyUmpire]

Like many have said, it seems like you have a tracking/timing issue. Breathing out before each pitch is a good way to help you track, as it makes you relax. If you can get this down, good timing will come naturally. Also, don't overthink the zone. You've been umpiring for a while, so you know what a strike looks like. Just focus on tracking, and the pitches will call themselves.