CWS PU’s calling pitch location

[Scotty_Ump 41]

Watching CWS opening games this weekend I noticed every PU would call pitch location on a ball (e.g. “inside”, “outside”). Sometimes the location would completely replace the “ball” call. I haven’t watch NCAA baseball this year and now I’m wondering if calling ball location is an accepted mechanic at that level. I’ve always thought announcing pitch location to everybody instead of simply calling “ball” is a recipe for trouble...

[noumpere 3,035]

This has been discussed 100s of times (or so it seems) over the past few years.  The action of calling the in-out location has become more acceptable / pronounced.

It can be successful.  It can also blow up.  It is what I was taught; then it was not taught / frowned upon; now it is taught, at least at some levels, again.

[agdz59 26]

In my limited experience in lower levels only, I call location so catcher can relay it to coach when asked and I don't have to get involved.

[catsbackr 528]

In/out...yes.

 

Up/down...no.

[Tborze 61]

Personally, I don't like it. If you're gonna call every pitch, I would expect to hear, "STRIKE, (three balls) OUTSIDE" 

[humanbackstop19 40]

I do it in every direction.  I've had D1 and pro guys promote this as preventative officiating.  Hell, you can hear MLB guys doing it when miked up during the postseason. This tells the catcher and the hitter exactly where a pitch is missing, and if need be, the wannabe snipers in the dugout.  If they still question it and I gave where it missed verbally, I'll use the catcher to relay the message for me.  That can make it look like we're working together and I don't have to yell it into a dugout, which I address at the conference prior to every game, "We're not going to be yelling across the diamond at each other."

[Thatsnotyou 102]

I say inside and outside a fair amount of the time at a level at which others outside the plate area may be able to hear it, especially close pitches and/or 2 strike pitches. If it's up or down, I'll generally say ball, and might say only to the catcher "that's down" or "that's too low" or "that's up" or the catcher says "up?" and I say "yup".

[Richvee 2,261]

I use it often. I generally don't hear a lot of negative talk about balls/strikes, so I guess it works for me. 

[Mister B 192]

I'll call inside or outside, but I really don't like when the PU uses hand gestures. Had a couple guys who would point, with a grunt. What is that? 

[Kevin_K 761]

4 hours ago, Richvee said:

I use it often. I generally don't hear a lot of negative talk about balls/strikes, so I guess it works for me. 

You should let them know you don't have your hearing aids in while you do the plate.

[beerguy55 586]

I'm seeing it more in MLB - the last couple of games I watched on TV I found I really noticed it - could hear it.

 

I want to say Rob Drake was doing it Monday night, and Mike Muchlinski last night?

[johnnyg08 1,662]

On 6/16/2019 at 10:54 PM, Scotty_Ump said:

Watching CWS opening games this weekend I noticed every PU would call pitch location on a ball (e.g. “inside”, “outside”). Sometimes the location would completely replace the “ball” call. I haven’t watch NCAA baseball this year and now I’m wondering if calling ball location is an accepted mechanic at that level. I’ve always thought announcing pitch location to everybody instead of simply calling “ball” is a recipe for trouble...

Nope. Widely accepted for many years.

Most umpires will not do it on every pitch, just the ones that require it. 

In some parts of the country we just try to get umpires to verbalize the word "ball" then work from there.