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Catchers and The Strike Zone

POLOGREENPOLOGREEN1,000+ posts
Had a game yesterday and the catchers were moving so far inside,not quite in the batters box and outside again almost in the batters box, and then calling for a high pitch and just about standing up, it was unreal. Catchers stay quiet and catch the ball where it's pitched, frame the pitch and give the ump a great view.
Then the coaches start chirping about the calls. I have a habit, even though I an a "control freak", that I keep my ears tuned out. I know I made two bad calls one on a high strike and one on an inside pitch for a ball. AND THATS ALL I WILL ADMIT TO. Smile
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Michael S. TaylorMichael S. Taylor1,000+ posts
Between innings mention to the coaches that the catchers are taking pitches away from the pitchers by using bad positioning. Explain that's all you are going to hear about it but you did want them to know the ptiches weren't in the zone and why. It will stop the chirping and maybe the catching will get better. If not continue doing your job to the best of your abilities and let the coach go if he keeps chirping.
CM Coach May1,000+ posts
If the coach can not tell that his catcher is taking strikes away by not being able to properly recieve then nothing you say will make sense to him. In fact if the catcher is doing this and the coach is not aware of it that tells you all you need to know about the coach in the first place. Me I would just call the game. If I see it as a strike I call it as a strike and if its a ball its a ball. Its not the umpires job to teach the catcher how to catch. Its the coaches job. I would never discuss balls and strikes with a coach. And I would not hear any mouth about balls and strikes. It is something that you just do not argue unless you are ready to hit the showers. As long as the zone is called consistently and called the same for both teams there is no reason to say anything anyway.
Michael S. TaylorMichael S. Taylor1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Coach May:
If the coach can not tell that his catcher is taking strikes away by not being able to properly recieve then nothing you say will make sense to him. In fact if the catcher is doing this and the coach is not aware of it that tells you all you need to know about the coach in the first place. Me I would just call the game. If I see it as a strike I call it as a strike and if its a ball its a ball. Its not the umpires job to teach the catcher how to catch. Its the coaches job. I would never discuss balls and strikes with a coach. And I would not hear any mouth about balls and strikes. It is something that you just do not argue unless you are ready to hit the showers. As long as the zone is called consistently and called the same for both teams there is no reason to say anything anyway.


The coach isn't arguing, he was chirping. There are different methods to stop it and what I use depends on the situation. If it's over a particular call I will allow a little venting, then warn them to shut it down. If they choose not to then they leave. Chirping over balls and strikes is another animal. If they are chirping because they just want pitches that I'm not going to call then I will shut it down quickly. However if it's because the catcher is setting strange, pulling pitches or using an improper mechanic, I will give him a breif explanation betwen innings so he has all the information. If he decides not to use to his advantage and continues the chirping then he leaves. It's as simple as that.
CM Coach May1,000+ posts
I get your point. I guess I just dont like chirping. I really dont like chirping when I see a catcher who does not know how to properly recieve and the the coach is chirping. Teach your catcher how to properly recieve and you wont have to chirp.
I have not like calls before. What coach hasn't. But there are ways to get your point across without acting like a clown. Make the adjustment at the plate and play baseball.

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