What do you do?

[HuskerUmp22]

I think there is some confusion on what I'm talking about. Here is a video of me balling a borderline pitch and giving the location so you can see exactly what I mean. 

IMG_1427.MOV

Hopefully you can open the file.

​I couldn't hear anything, but noticed you turn your head to the opposite side of where the pitch was (inside). Did you say anything and why did you turn your head to the left? 

[MidAmUmp]

​I couldn't hear anything, but noticed you turn your head to the opposite side of where the pitch was (inside). Did you say anything and why did you turn your head to the left? 

Oklahoma was in the 3rd base dugout. I balled the pitch, turned my head to their dugout and said, "That's inside."

[TheRockawayKid]

I'm in the "tell your catcher" camp. Hell, when I start, I'll tell my catcher that, if he asks, I'll tell him where it is. In the first two innings or so, I'll let him know on some close pitches — not borderline — but will also say things like "just inside" or "just low." It also lets him have an idea of where my strike zone is. And a good catcher will want to relay that to the coach. 

To jump on anticipated comments, I haven't really had catchers dispute calls — maybe once or twice, but they did it respectfully, quietly, and later in the game when they wanted a pitch. I'm also a pitcher's umpire with a good strike zone. That tends to help, too. 

[MidAmUmp]

Is it ever okay to use F2 to communicate your response to the bench? 

Bench:  Where was that pitch?

Plate umpire to F2:  "I've got that down Chris"  

 

 

​I'm not opposed to having a conversation with catchers, but when it comes to telling the dugout where YOU have a pitch, YOU need to be the one answering.

Don't trust a catcher. You tell them where you have it, they tell the dugout while grabbing some dirt, adjusting their mask or shinguard and they've sold you out. Now you're in a tough spot. Do you address it? Do you ignore it? -OR- You tell the catcher, he tells the dugout, and after the inning you look into the dugout and there the catcher and coach are discussing the zone...and I'll guarantee the catcher is telling the coach what he wants to hear.

How many times has this happened in a game you've worked...

"Chris, where's that at?" "Chris, tell him I've got that out." Catcher signals outside while touching his mask with his other hand. "That's a good pitch! We've got to have that!"

By doing this you've invited conversation/commentary on every close pitch. Eventually you're going to have to respond which will lead to warnings and potentially ejections.

That's why I eliminate the catcher from the conversation. I answer the questions (before they're asked) because I'm calling the zone. It ends any conversation when I tell them where I have a pitch. It doesn't mean I got the pitch right. It doesn't mean they agree with me. It just means they know where I have the pitch and it's not open for discussion.

I'll let a catcher tell me, "Jason, that's a pretty good pitch." There are times I'll ask him, "Could I get that pitch?" Sometimes I do it just to gauge the catcher's response. I may know the pitch is a ball but I've heard a little grumbling from the dugout or saw the pitcher react. I'll lean in on the catcher and ask just to see how truthful he is in his answer. If he says, "No, you can't call that." then I know I can trust him more than one who says, "Yeah, that was there."