@JohnF posted:We were asked to be more proactive in "getting" the "higher strike" this year - it's hard to undo years of training though. The key is communication with the C on your top. As a dad of P's I know they were taught to keep it down, so when you see someone consistently up, your job to call fairly/evenly is harder. Especially at some HS games where there are 6'4"+ and 5'10"-...
John, Appreciate the reply and some insight. I have two sons, a college pitcher and a high school catcher, so the stikezone is of ultimate importance to me and them.
I often wonder with the overall emphasis on offense in MLB (which everything seems to trickle down from) and the swing up concept, leaving gaping holes in the upper part of the zone, if there will be a strong effort to call the high strike and risk offense. So,,,I am glad to hear you say the high strike has been emphasized. (SERIOUSLY JUST GIVE ME TO THE BELLY BUTTON), I don't need letters or "Mid spot between top of shoulder and belt")
I still believe, as long as you haven't sold out to launch angle (not right term for describing the swing), that calling the strike over the plate, whether up or down, is fairer to both pitcher and hitter. Off the plate is just too advantageous to the pitcher over the hitter. And to unreliable a call for an umpire who sets up on the inside shoulder of the catcher, like any player, to make the play your eyes need to be behind the ball. some are better at judging that than others, I just don't know why they want to set up so off center, maybe to look around the catcher head?
The one pitch I've only seen one ump this past year in D3 call right, is that hard slider or curve that crosses the outer third of the plate and ends up in the catcher glove 12 inches outside. It's a strike, but rarely is it called. And when it is, boy does the complaining start. Same goes for the backfoot slider.
PS. the comment by Dominik on the swing and miss rate, I'm not so sure on that without looking what that metric really is, but before swinging up, most hitters will tell you the hardest pitch to hit is the low outside pitch, and honestly a fastball at just above belt should not be hard to hit. your eyes stay level, your bat does also, so timing does not have to be perfect. Not saying it's wrong, I just need to look at it to grasp why.
Part of it might be change in approach...In HS and college guys are so on top of the plate because they basically have to cover out to the other batters box line. So that leaves them exposed to up and in. MLB guys are more off the plate, but have better concept of direction in their swing and can cover the outside pretty well as they've gotten used to it being out there. Also many young hitters chasing exit velo, pull with bottom hand and that does generate faster swings, but the bat leaves the zone early, ie running out of barrel, which exposes them to the outer third to off the plate.