Draw the Line?

[MT73]

I’m working a 14U State Tournament.

in the 6th inning the Visiting team  starts losing  big time and they put in a new pitcher.

He was having “issues” finding the strike zone.

Three times he asked where that pitch was ( that I called a ball) and I told him.

The 4th time he asks I tell him when he throws a strike he’ll know it.

Naturally the fans start chirping and the assistant coach asks why I’m being argumentative.

I explain that we don’t argue balls and strikes here and constantly asking is considering just that.

He goes on for a few more moments until he runs out of steam.

(Earlier a few of his batters started towards first on a pitch and copped attitudes when I called it a strike)

How would others here handle this situation?

[johnnyg08]

Keep calling the game. One pitch at a time. 

We're not going to discuss every pitch today. 

I like your line "you'll know when I have a strike" 

If it continues, you can warn & eject. 

BTW, you're not being argumentative. You don't have to simply stand there and take it. 

[Kevin_K]

I might send F2 out to the mound to tell him to knock it off after the second time F1 asked. If F1 chooses to continue then he knows there will be consequences for his choices.

Play stupid games. Win stupid prizes.

[MT73]

Thanks guys.

The coach did say, “Why can’t my catcher ask where the pitch was”?

I tell him the catcher knows because 90% of the time I’ll announce location with my call

(“Ball—low” Ball—outside”)

That kind of ended the discussion—which I chalked up to his frustration with the pitcher.

[MadMax]

13 hours ago, MT73 said:

I’m working a 14U State Tournament.

in the 6th inning the Visiting team  starts losing big time …

As with everything, context matters big time. 

I’m not certain as to what “State” implies, but I know 14U doesn’t fetch a NCAA or MiLB zone. Even with a (slightly) generous zone for teenagers, if yer gettin’ beat, then an expectation emerges that that zone should expand to “get it over with”. 
Now, should you expand your zone? Not necessarily, especially if you’re a developing umpire, and are working on consistency & integrity. Could you expand your zone? Yes, you could… especially within this context. There’s no records to set, no one’s paycheck is improved… only frustration and injury risk are increased. Most coaches know when they’re beat, and if the zone expands a bit for their pitcher, then the unspoken implication is that it will be expanded against their hitters in the following inning(s). 

So, how would implement, or go about this “adjustment” or discreet expansion? I would focus more on the first 2-3 pitches of an at-bat, provided the pitches aren’t grossly missing. Get the batter to an X-2 count, influencing him to swing and put the ball in play. If the fielders further butcher it, and can’t get outs, that’s not on you (as umpire). 

[Thatsnotyou]

I don’t answer pitchers, even if their body language is good and their tone is nice. I’ll let the catcher know if I see him asking, if I already haven’t with the call of my pitch, and let him relay it. I don’t want to yell out locations (or worse, motion) to a pitcher. 
 

If the body language/tone are bad, and the catcher doesn’t jump on it himself (or a coach), I’ll tell the catcher to go out there and tell him to “stop with the histrionics”. 

[The Man in Blue]

Having had a few new experiences at different levels of ball recently, I want to throw a theory out there . . . 

"Where was it?" is not the question they are actually asking and they are asking it incorrectly.

In a recent couple of games, I had catchers and batters asking me "Was that the bottom?" and "Was that the corner?"  They weren't outright questioning my call, they were trying to dial in where my interpretation (or my view) of the zone was.  They weren't arguing, they were just establishing where my zone was.  If I called a ball that was painting an edge and high/low, they are asking to figure out which direction it missed in.

That said, most of the levels that most of us work most of the time do NOT have that kind of acumen.  They are not trying to calibrate, but are passively complaining because they have not learned how to calibrate the zone or how to ask the question.

As @MadMax said, context.

[The Man in Blue]

18 minutes ago, Thatsnotyou said:

I don’t answer pitchers, even if their body language is good and their tone is nice. I’ll let the catcher know if I see him asking, if I already haven’t with the call of my pitch, and let him relay it. I don’t want to yell out locations (or worse, motion) to a pitcher. 
 

If the body language/tone are bad, and the catcher doesn’t jump on it himself (or a coach), I’ll tell the catcher to go out there and tell him to “stop with the histrionics”. 

Pitcher: Why did you call time and come out here?

Catcher: I don't know.  The umpire called time and told me to come out here and talk about history with you.  I don't know either.  Dude's crazy."

 

(I also rely on the catcher.  You just have to be careful what instructions you are giving.)

[Thatsnotyou]

14 minutes ago, The Man in Blue said:

Pitcher: Why did you call time and come out here?

Catcher: I don't know.  The umpire called time and told me to come out here and talk about history with you.  I don't know either.  Dude's crazy."

 

(I also rely on the catcher.  You just have to be careful what instructions you are giving.)

I’ve also used “gyrations”. I like to test ‘em. ACT prep. 

[johnnyg08]

4 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

They are not trying to calibrate, but are passively complaining because they have not learned how to calibrate the zone or how to ask the question.

This right here. "I'm talking to my catcher!" 🙂 *side eye