How is when to call the pitch taught?

My training from my local association and the clinics I've attended may not qualify as a "for real umpire school" but I was taught exactly as Matt13 describes.

Why do we track it all the way to the mitt when the strike zone is the portion of the zone over the plate? Good question. Because in addition to making the ball-strike determination, we're responsible for observing other stuff that happens behind the plate (e.g., catcher interference, foul tip vs. foul, caught vs. dropped third strike).

Our association received some training a couple years back from a group associated with NEAAU - one of the trainers was an MLB call-up guy (umpire gets sick/hurt or on vacation, you get a call to be at the airport in xx hours)... He is now currently on an assigned crew. The rest of the training crew had been through camps, been on Minor crews, or even done a few Spring games - great stories by the way. One of the trainers was behind the dish for a Bo Jackson moment - don't remember all the details now though...

Anyway - consistency and timing were very high on the list of things discussed beyond the mechanic of where to set up, when to drop into position, and head height.

Consistency is gained over time, as long as you do the same mechanic every time you then stop thinking about if you're in position and can now "see" the "whole" pitch.

Timing is about waiting for the ball to be in the glove for a second makes sure both coaches know you've seen the whole pitch and aren't just guessing or jumping to a conclusion. We've argued a lot in this forum this year about calling the pitch just off the plate which technically may not cross the zone, but the real buggers are the offspeed pitches which nip corners, whether it's coming from 12-6, 10-4, 2-8, or for those side arm guys 8-3 and 4-9. If you call a ball and a strike with the same timing on each pitch, then it's easier to sell those corner pitches. Grabbing a low pitch every now and then - well if the catcher doesn't catch that pitch and you quickly call a strike, you *will* hear about it. When he drops one that's low and had perhaps been a strike before and you ball it - the coach is telling the catcher he needs to hold it and not yelling at you for not calling that "same pitch". Waiting that extra second each time means that you can also replay in your mind (visualize) where that ball was on those pitches that are really, really close. In order to slow us down, we'd call balls/strikes at some indoor place (either using machine or live pitching).  We'd get into the slot, the ball would hit the catcher's mitt, and we'd have to wait for a trainer to say - "call it". A second can seem forever when you're squatting in the slot with your quads burning ;-)

For me one extra benefit for the timing was the mechanic - that is doing your setup the same way each time. Now whether I'm on the field or behind the plate, it is *very easy* to tell when a pitcher quick pitches or in other words - balks because he isn't giving a proper set.

FWIW: Since that training - I can recall less times hearing about my balls and strikes in the last few years as opposed to prior to that training. I could also be going deaf or now more oblivious to the knuckleheads that won't suit up ;-)

Watch the entire pitch.  If any part of the baseball (even seams) is in that VOLUME (length, width, and height) of space we call the strike zone.  Then it is a strike by rule.  If it is swung at and missed it is a strike even if it touches the batter.  If it is fouled off it is a strike if the batter has less than 2 strikes and if it is a foul tip (bat directly to the mitt and caught by the catcher) it is a strike.

Otherwise it is a ball.  There is one exception, but that is for unnecessary delay and it is very, very rare.  You will probably only have that happen once or twice in a career and it is almost always when the coach (usually he's a 3rd) is being a jerk.

After the catcher receives the ball, wait a pause.  This allows you to process what you have seen.  It also allows the fans, coaches and players to also call the pitch in their mind.  Then call the pitch.  Your strike call should be loud, emphatic, and clear.  Your ball call can be much softer.  In time you will develop a rhythm.  Pitchers and catchers will enjoy it and the game will "Come to you."

When that happens, when the game is "Coming to you" and you are not chasing the game... Well, you'll know it, and then the game can really be a lot of fun.

It almost sounds as though the mechanics of calling pitches not swung at are set up more to appease the onlookers rather than simply be about whether the ball is in the strike zone or not. I understand that, but it seems wrong to me, and is why I look forward to the time when pitches not swung at are called using technology.

That way the guy behind the plate can concentrate on all the other things s/he has to do that technology doesn’t have much of a chance at getting right, like dropped ball or checked swing.

Stats - I learned it second hand from guys that went to the MLB umpire school in FL.

The three biggest points of emphasis:

1)  Learn the slot, get there and stay there.  Avoid moving with the pitch or catcher.

2)  Do not anticipate the pitch (or any call).  Wait for the play and stay focused on the pitch right to the glove.  Take a moment and let it sink in - then call it.

3)  Do not oversell anything, but be aware of game situation and act accordingly. Example:  runners on dropped third strike - make a loud call to avoid confusion.  In other words give the players and coaches the clear idea that you are engaged and in control of the game without overdoing it. 

People hate an overdone Punch out in a 10-1 ballgame.  So yes there is a factor of conducting yourself appropriately for all involved, players, coaches and spectators.  A well officiated game adds to the enjoyment of everyone in the contest and viewing it. 

For the games I called as I walked off the field if both coaches said - "Nice Job Blue" - it was very satisfying.  I did almost exclusively youth Rec League ball so there were volunteer Dad's coaching with huge variances of knowledge of the game and rules.  But everyone can see a good job behind the dish and recognize it.

Stats, I understand where you're coming from. Your last comment was right on point. When umpires first start out we are told that we should try to call every strike we can grab.  We are told "get the kids to swing the bat."  Unfortunately, that is one of the biggest reason many umpires don't make it past their first few games.  In trying to grab every strike it is impossible to be consistent.  Borderline high pitches often stay up and borderline low pitches fall well below the knees.  It is very common for inexperienced umpires to call pitches that bounce in the dirt before the catcher has a chance to catch the ball.  Nobody wants those pitches called a strike (except for the pitcher and his coach!) and the umpire catches all kinds of grief from everyone if he does.

What all good umpires eventually come to understand through training and experience is that consistency is the most important thing,  Consistently good is better than bad of course.  We learn to manage the game.  We understand that the game can happen just fine without us for 90% of the calls.  Almost everyone watching and playing the game (if they are honest) would agree on 90% of the calls and pitches  We are only needed to make decisions on the 10% of the pitches and calls that are too close to call from the stands and benches,  And of course to enforce the rules of the game.

In order to do this, we must exercise proper timing.  And yes, we must wait for the catcher to receive the ball before rendering a decision on balls and strikes.  The manner in which the catcher receives the ball is the way everyone playing and watching the game will make their decision on whether the pitch was a ball or strike. I don't care how much of the ball went through the zone, if the ball hits the dirt and bounces into the catches glove no one wants that pitch called a strike.  Everyone enjoys the game so much more when the umpires are consistent.  The only way to do that is to track the ball and to call pitches after the catcher has received the ball. 

JWC1022,

I think a lot of times people don’t understand that less than 50 of all pitches are called, i.e. not swung at, which cuts down on the number of debatable calls right off the bat. And of those, a large percentage wouldn’t be debated by any but the most combative or confrontational. That really only leaves those “on the bubble” pitches which the team getting the call and its fans will agree with, and the other team and its fans will argue with.

In order to do this, we must exercise proper timing.  And yes, we must wait for the catcher to receive the ball before rendering a decision on balls and strikes.  The manner in which the catcher receives the ball is the way everyone playing and watching the game will make their decision on whether the pitch was a ball or strike. I don't care how much of the ball went through the zone, if the ball hits the dirt and bounces into the catches glove no one wants that pitch called a strike.  Everyone enjoys the game so much more when the umpires are consistent.  The only way to do that is to track the ball and to call pitches after the catcher has received the ball. 

I’m not so sure no one wants those pitches called a strike as it is no one “THINKS” those pitches can possibly be strikes, and that’s built into the culture. I really suspect that if pitches not swung at were called using technology, and that technology was proven to be more accurate and consistent than humans, it wouldn’t take very long for the culture to change.

Ok guys, news flash...

This is NOT an MLB Umpire Web Site.

We are calling high school games, many of them are junior high or JV.  Many alleged "Varsity" players are just that... kids who put on the uniform because they are the only ones who want to play.

I've been calling 19 years of baseball at many levels and I can tell you this.  If the pitch is in the strike zone I'm calling it a strike, because those kids need to swing.  Because you can't walk to the majors, not from here.

Maybe when I get to the majors I'll worry about how it looks to everybody else.  But right now, I've got pitchers who are more like throwers and catchers that can't catch.  They are more like chasers than catchers.

So if it's in the strike zone, it's a strike.  It might be an ugly strike, but it's gonna be called a strike and the fans and coaches who don't like it can go to Hell in a handbasket.  My job is to "Hunt for strikes and search for outs."

And damnit that's what I'm gonna do.