quote:Originally posted by Celebrity Status:
To me it's pretty simple: call it the way the rule book states, period. If the level (age) of play is a factor, then the rule book should be adjusted specific to that level.
Nice thought. Here's reality, the youth leagues DO NOT adjust the strike zone, rather they leave that to common sense.
Back when I was an assigner, after hearing complaints from coaches and league officials about the expanded zone at the 9-10 age level, I sent a D-III umpire to work the plate at a game and instructed him to call the rule book zone.
After the first inning, in which 23 batters walked and which lasted over an hour, the opposing coaches begged him to "open it up and make them swing."
He said no and the game continued in the same fashion until the time limit was reached, somewhere in the second inning.
That night I received a call from the league president promising there would be no more complaints about not having the rule book strike zone.