Missing a strike or ball call

[Thomas Van den Eynde]

Would you or would not occasionally admit to the catcher that you missed a call?

Please comment on why you would or not.

[BigBlue4u]

Former NBA official Ed Rush had a pretty good answer when he knew he missed a call and a player was complaining about it.  "Don't feel bad, I wasn't that happy about it myself."

[JonnyCat]

33 minutes ago, Thomas Van den Eynde said:

Would you or would not occasionally admit to the catcher that you missed a call?

Please comment on why you would or not.

Sometimes. There are many factors to consider. Sometimes I'll say, "Hey, (catchers name), I missed that one." Sometimes I won't. But it's got to be an obvious miss. If it's a close pitch that maybe I missed, and the catcher asks, I just go with what I called. I.E. "that was out/in/up/down", or "That caught plate/corner."

For me it depends on the magnitude/temperature of the game. My rapport with the catcher. How bad the miss is. The level of play I'm working that day.

Sometime you can get away with it and the catcher will be cool about it. Other times he just thinks you're an asshole and no matter what you do he won't be happy and think you just suck.

It just depends. However, I do think it is okay to admit when you screwed up sometimes.

[Richvee]

Catcher/ situation dependent. 
It’s got to be a good working relationship (so far). And I have to be confident I’m having at least a decent day behind the plate and not missing many. 
Im not gonna tell a catcher “I missed that 1-2 pitch. It was a strike” if the batter just smashed the 2-2 pitch over the left field fence. If he strikes out next pitch, I may say “that 1-2 pitch was close. I should have grabbed it.”

The other way around… I call a strike that’s probably too far off the corner, I might tell the catcher “don’t live there”. 
Again, age and catcher dependent. 
 

[Jimurray]

Catcher doesn't turn around and asks 'what was the matter with that one Jim?" "Nothing, I effin missed it."

[maven]

I'm like others so far: situation dependent. I generally will say nothing if I help myself to an extra strike.

But I don't mind saying something during the plate appearance if I should have called a pitch a strike, something along the lines of, "Better not take that one again." This lets everyone know that I changed my mind, without quite admitting it was a mistake.

A lot of HS catchers will go back and report whatever I said to the coach, so if I don't want to engage the coach I will say nothing.

[Velho]

2 hours ago, maven said:

But I don't mind saying something during the plate appearance if I should have called a pitch a strike, something along the lines of, "Better not take that one again." This lets everyone know that I changed my mind, without quite admitting it was a mistake.

In the inverse, I've found myself telling them "hit that spot again" on a ball that should've been a strike (I know, I l know - if doubt it's a strike)

2 hours ago, maven said:

A lot of HS catchers will go back and report whatever I said to the coach, so if I don't want to engage the coach I will say nothing.

🛎️ ding-ding. This is what stops me from engaging with the catcher too much. There is a decent chance they are making up things I've said, don't want to add to it.

[grayhawk]

When I miss a pitch, I'll report back here...

[SeeingEyeDog]

9 hours ago, grayhawk said:

When I miss a pitch, I'll report back here...

We'll miss hearing from you, brother...

~Dawg

[SeeingEyeDog]

Agreed...situationally dependent. The higher the stakes of the game, the less likely I am copping to a miss. Then again, if it's a low stakes game and I've already had problems with coaches and or players, then no...I'm not copping to a miss in ANY toxic environment. But, if it's a low stakes game and it's been an "easy breezy Cover Girl" game...I will cop to ONE and only ONE miss, presuming I have one at all.

Also...

Where was that one, Blue?!?!

About a half ball from your ejection...

~Dawg

[ArchAngel72]

situational yes not often maybe 1 or 2 times a year typically with older kids 12U and up. most often with 13 u and up.

Something like "Woo man that kids got a good curve today I did not expect that last one and damned if it did not fool me too."

 

Funniest I ever saw.

Not talking to the catcher but my mentor changed a call.  1st game of the season and I offered to be on bases ( completely unusual for 12U) and give him some critique.   1st inning bottom of 2nd batter or so and he calls "ball" stands up goes "No damnit that was a strike"  "STRIKE"  not a ball to the dugouts.

 

I in between innings approach him and asked if he was ok.  He's pissed at himself and goes "Damn it I was calling end of season zone and realized its the 1st game of the season I need to call it wider."

🤣

 

[umpstu]

Had a pre season HS game once and a pitcher threw a nasty slider on the inside corner I balled. Of course I dropped an F bomb. Before the catcher asked I said That one got me. His coach asked catcher where it missed. He repeated verbatim what I said.  In between innings the coach came up to me and said he wasn't trying to show me up and that they were working on going inside to batters. I just told the coach that all that work was paying off because it fooled the batter and the umpire.

[beerguy55]

As a catcher had one right down the pipe, and I just held it there for a few extra seconds before hearing "nope". Threw it back to the pitcher and I hear in my ear "I froze up on that one".

So, I set up about six inches outside and pitcher hits the mitt and I hold it there..."nope...no makeup calls...nice try though".

 

I once had an umpire say to me, after about his fifth awful call that I complained about "sometimes your players will have a bad day...sorry to say that I'm having a bad day".  It shut me right up.

[BigBlue4u]

Then there is this long-standing story: Batter draws a line in the dirt on a pitch he thought was outside. Umpire does nothing.  A couple of pitches later, a pitch is up in his eyes and the umpire rings up a strike.  "How can that be a strike?  That's ridiculous!" says the batter. "OK" says the umpire, "Let's see you draw a line on that."

[dumbdumb]

well if the catcher tells the coach that you told him you missed a certain close pitch, it would seem like that if the next time there was a close pitch, the coach just might yell out, did you miss that one too?

[SeeingEyeDog]

3 minutes ago, dumbdumb said:

well if the catcher tells the coach that you told him you missed a certain close pitch, it would seem like that if the next time there was a close pitch, the coach just might yell out, did you miss that one too?

No coach...the only thing missing here? Is your ejection...

~Dawg

[dumbdumb]

3 hours ago, SeeingEyeDog said:

No coach...the only thing missing here? Is your ejection...

~Dawg

all i did was ask a question. you mean i can't even ask a question? you are throwing me out for just asking a question.

[SeeingEyeDog]

13 minutes ago, dumbdumb said:

all i did was ask a question. you mean i can't even ask a question? you are throwing me out for just asking a question.

No Coach...I am not throwing you out. I am simply answering your question. This is your warning. If you continue, you will be ejected...

~Dawg

[Tborze]

“Well there goes my perfect game” 

 

[The Man in Blue]

3 hours ago, Tborze said:

“Well there goes my perfect game” 

 

Nah, you just didn’t want to show up the big league guys who also miss.  😁

[Thatsnotyou]

If I really think I should have had one, I’ll see how the at bat plays out. Guy pops out, easy to let the catcher know before the next batter “hey I should have had that curve, I’ll get it next time”. 

 

Even if I have rapport with the catcher, I’d rather not admit I missed one and then the guy hits a game tying double. Nothing to gain there. As someone already said, that may get back to the coach or pitcher etc.