Struggling w/ low pitch

[noumpere]

I think he was saying it was a ball low. I believe the strike zone is from the armpits to the top of the knees in LL.

Sorry, I didn't know it was LL. And, I don't work that level, so I'll bow out after saying too many strikes is rarely a bad thing.

[LLWS#32]

BrianDawn: If you go to the series let me know through this forum. I attended for the first time last year (as an umpire) and had a blast on the field. My 5 year daughter also had a great time and wants to go back this summer with dad as a spectator. Your boys will have the time of their lives! Word of advice, take care of housing as soon as possible...Williamsport isn't all that big and hotel rooms in the surrounding towns run out quick. Skip opening ceremonies and attending the first couple of days of pool play

[BrianDawn95]

BrianDawn: If you go to the series let me know through this forum. I attended for the first time last year (as an umpire) and had a blast on the field. My 5 year daughter also had a great time and wants to go back this summer with dad as a spectator. Your boys will have the time of their lives! Word of advice, take care of housing as soon as possible...Williamsport isn't all that big and hotel rooms in the surrounding towns run out quick. Skip opening ceremonies and attending the first couple of days of pool play

Brian is fine. Dawn is my wife. I have no clue why I used this as my username here.

Anyway, I live about a 3 hour drive tops from Williamsport. I was thinking of just driving up early one morning, catching a couple a games, and then driving home. I will let you know!

[willv28]

I'm thinking about going to Bristol, CT this year to see a game or two. It's only about 1.25 hours away. It's also nice that New England Sports Network covered a few games last year.

[carolinablue]

As a famous NC resident ( Gomer Pyle ) would say, Thank Ya, Thank Ya, Thank Ya. I too was struggling with the low pitch but after reading this thread I moved farther into the slot and back from the catcher as UIC . Ump 81, and MajorDave had suggested, I can tell my accuracy and consistency has improved greatly since then, I can tell the difference now between the strike at the knees and the ball just under the knees. Before I would have called them both strikes because they looked the same to me.

Since you guys helped me whit that, here's another one. I have been struggling with left handed batters for two years now, I just don't see the ball well and it's frustrating. I had people say it's just in my mind or it has to do with the dominate eye ect. I have tried different positions in the slot, high, low , forward and back but just can't get comfortable. Has any one experienced this problem, and if so what did you do.

Edited June 24, 2009 by carolinablue

[mstaylor]

To be honest with you, that was the original reason I started scissoring. I was struggling with LH batters and found I was seeing it better in a scissor stance. I later found out it was easier on my knees.

The only suggestion I can give is to try a GD stance. It may help.

[Umpire in Chief]

Lefties can be tough.

• Right handed catchers tend to squeeze them to get the inside pitch.
  
• There definitely a dominate eye issue
  
• And when there is a lefty pitcher it is only worse.
  

The first thing is to talk to your catcher and let him know he is squeezing you out and that hurts you on both inside and low pitches. They will usually oblige.

In terms of positioning try moving up or moving back or both and by moving back it may be a full step back. You could also try going straight over top the catcher.

I had this situation a few weeks ago and the catcher wasn't really helping me. He give me room for one pitch but not the next. On every lefty he squeezed me out and we had lefty pitchers. There was one lefty batter who it was terrible on. The catcher was big, but so were most of the left handed batters. There was one left handed batter who was short 5'3"-5'5" ish. With the catcher squeezing I saw nothing. The catchers helmet was higher than the guys elbow. The guy ended up walking at least once because I couldn't see pitches. And wasn't going to reward the catcher for continuing to block me out and I mentioned that to him.

After the game I was discussing with my partner who is a NCAA D-I umpire. He told me if I cant get a view any other way to go to the opposite shoulder. I respectfully disagreed and told him I didn't feel comfortable on that side and would make due and If I ended up walking the guy every time the catcher would have to figure it out. But I do not recommend going to the opposite shoulder.

[huntbomb72]

I read somewhere, and I've been trying it out, that if you back up a little it will help with consistency in calling the low pitch. Just be carefull not to back up so far that you can't see the whole plate and make sure you are still able to track the pitch all the way to the catchers glove.

[carolinablue]

To be honest with you, that was the original reason I started scissoring. I was struggling with LH batters and found I was seeing it better in a scissor stance. I later found out it was easier on my knees.

The only suggestion I can give is to try a GD stance. It may help.

I assume GD means Gerry Davis Stance, correct ? I have heard of this but don't know exactly what it is. Could someone expound on this or provide a link that explains it.

Thanks