@Consultant posted:HS dad
during our Area Code games, I installed a special AC strike zone.
Since the games were on 2 hour time limit, the professional umpires cooperated as all 5 daily games were played one field to benefit the players, scouts, coaches and parents.With 300 radar guns aimed at each pitcher, the hitter knows in advance what the next pitch will be.
Bob
I guess as long as all coaches were made aware. I know my youngest son always asks the umpire while greeting them to let him know what the strike zone he prefers to call is and that he may ask once in a while where a pitch was, unless the ump has any issues with it. He then tells them if he thinks it's there, he'll hold it for a second for them to get a look. He also tells them he will keep strikes, strikes, and not drag balls into the strike zone. This seems to go better for him in getting calls for his pitchers than "framing" every single pitch into the zone.
He tells me he never really felt he stole any pitches for his pitcher by "framing", that the ump was either going to call it a strike or not already. He says sometimes he has to chuckle when he basically reaches into the other batters box (It was funny to watch him demonstrate that while telling me), catches the ball and tosses it back to the pitcher right away and then hears, STRIKE!