Narrowing the strike zone to give hitters a chance

I agree with you. At that age, the blues should just call it like it is. They don't do anyone a favor by changing the strike zone, either in or out. Batters need to learn where the zone is, and pitchers need to be able to work on all parts of the zone. I understand the ump's feelings, but I think it was bad jusgment on his part.

Absolutely disgusting. Squeezing the strike zone for ANY reason is CHEATING. PERIOD. And to give one team an advantage because the opposing pitcher is "too good" is even worse. That "umpire" should be fired.

And to admit it to the pitcher he's cheating, shows that he's a fool to boot. This fool dirties the profession.

My zone is my zone, I have been working on the consistancy of it for years. I do not, under any circumstances change the zone. I do not need to get home 30 minutes earlier by calling a wider zone or influence a game by being tighter.

I owe each team an equal opportunity. I may not get them all right, but my effort is always to be consistant.

Terrible... I never change my stike zone. I give the players the same zone for every pitch, in every inning. Heck I call for the love of the game, so what if it keeps me there a few minutes longer.

Changing your zone opens you up to all kinds of mistakes as you leave your typical comfort zone. Never change, but make sure you are calling good strikes, no matter what level of play. Ankles are not in the strike zone.

Umpires have the best seat in the house.

On the other hand, I was watching a game yesterday where the home team scored 8 runs in the 1st inning. The visitor's pitcher was throwing BP and his defense looked like they were allergic to horsehide. Blue told the home coach that he was going to widen the zone when the home team was batting to speed up the game. He was true to his word, and it kept the score down to something like 20-0 after 4 1/2. I didn't hear any complaints from anyone...

I know this is the case P-dog, seen it myself.

Maybe none of the kids or coaches complain, and hopefully that is so. But changing the zone hurts me. If I try to have 2 zones (1 normal, 1 wide) I end up messing my whole zone up.

Its better for me to call a consistent age appropriate zone for both teams and let the chips fall where they may. Might make the game run longer, or might make it end sooner. We have 10 run rules in our summer leagues.

I wonder what Nolan Ryan would have said if a PU told him he was going to narrow his strike zone because he was "dominating the hitters too easily" during one of his no-no's.

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Originally posted by P-Dog:
On the other hand, I was watching a game yesterday where the home team scored 8 runs in the 1st inning. The visitor's pitcher was throwing BP and his defense looked like they were allergic to horsehide. Blue told the home coach that he was going to widen the zone when the home team was batting to speed up the game. He was true to his word, and it kept the score down to something like 20-0 after 4 1/2. I didn't hear any complaints from anyone...

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same here, last week. by the 4th, were up 17 runs. the ump tells me that if its not at my head or in the dirt, hes gonna call it. i would rather him call the game as it is or just end it instead of giving the losing team the advantage.

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Originally posted by whsjhalk:

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Originally posted by P-Dog:
On the other hand, I was watching a game yesterday where the home team scored 8 runs in the 1st inning. The visitor's pitcher was throwing BP and his defense looked like they were allergic to horsehide. Blue told the home coach that he was going to widen the zone when the home team was batting to speed up the game. He was true to his word, and it kept the score down to something like 20-0 after 4 1/2. I didn't hear any complaints from anyone...

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same here, last week. by the 4th, were up 17 runs. the ump tells me that if its not at my head or in the dirt, hes gonna call it. i would rather him call the game as it is or just end it instead of giving the losing team the advantage.

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What happens if the losing team comes back to tie or go ahead? Any time an official bends the rules to aid one team over another, he/she is CHEATING. An official's job is to see that neither team gains an unfair advantage.

Instead of umpires calling their zone, it might be refreshing for them to learn and call the appropriate rulebook zone.

Players play to compete, not play to learn the umpires zone each game.

Hearing someone say at an umpire is at least consistent is a copout. I find it hard to compliment someone because they happened to be bad for both sides.

No one around here needs to be reminded that umpires are human and make mistakes. The problem is they make enough by accident so all some of us ask is for them to quit making so many on purpose.

We all know the umpires that think they are creating a trademark. I'm talking about the umps that let it be known they have a low zone, or a high zone or an outside zone or they are a pitchers ump.

To GaDad,

I’ve seen way more pitches at every level that were called strikes but should have been called a ball then strikes that were wrongly called balls.

I’m going to start a new thread on my CWS observation this past weekend.

...is ALWAYS WRONG!

The main thing I focus on as an umpire is keeping my strike zone consistant the entire game. A pitch belt high 3 inches off the plate in the 5th inning is a ball, just like it was in the 1st. I've noticed that consistancy is the one thing coaches get irate(sp?) about. You might call them a little low or a little wide, but call it that way all game, not just when you feel like it. And I NEVER change my zone in the middle of a game, much less tell the pitcher I am going to do so.

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Originally posted by GSLump2:
The main thing I focus on as an umpire is keeping my strike zone consistant the entire game. A pitch belt high 3 inches off the plate in the 5th inning is a ball, just like it was in the 1st. I've noticed that consistancy is the one thing coaches get irate(sp?) about. You might call them a little low or a little wide, but call it that way all game, not just when you feel like it. And I NEVER change my zone in the middle of a game, much less tell the pitcher I am going to do so.

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You spelled "irate" correctly, but not " consistant" (consistent) or "consistancy" (consistency).

Using umpire reasoning, I thought that just as long as someone consistantly misspelled “consistent” it’s all right.


Who cares about trying to get it right, just be consistant. I mean consistent.

Steve,

Glad to hear Cory is doing well. Tell him not to throw middle plate if the umpire is making him do so. Rather he walk batters and hit his spots than to get screwed up by a knucklehead umpire. You both have a great summer.

I'm not an umpire nor am I a coach. Sometimes it seems that umpires will make calls with the intended, or unintended, purpose of makeing the game "more interesting". (On the other hand, maybe I only feel this way about calls when they goe against my sons team.)

For better or worse I like to let the umps call the game, let the kids play it, just be happy stressing over my sons play and, that there are people out there that will do crazy things such as be an umpire in youth games for only a few bucks.

Hey Umpires. This Buds for you.

If an umpire’s zone is in conflict with the rulebook zone, I think it’s important that the umpire is made aware of it in a professional manner.

When he receives the same feedback from enough competent sources, it’s probably reasonable for the umpire to conclude he needs to work on the call getting questioned.

Tournaments and leagues should take pride in hiring the best umpires available and should get rid of the umpires that “want to make the game more interesting” or "who want to be the show".

I think it’s also important to let umpires who do an exemplary job know that their effort and pride in their work is noticed and appreciated.

I do not know any competent umps that care to be part of a crew with a “bad” ump. They don’t want them around any more than the coaches, players and fans do.

There are 2 ways to get rid of a bad ump.

The first is for the “bad” ump to receive some feedback, recognize his weakness whether it’s calling balls and strikes, plays in the field or his personality and improve upon this area.

The second way to get rid of a bad ump is for league and tournament officials and umpire groups to appreciate feedback and not hire the “bad” ump.

The free market system can work in umpiring works when the focus is on delivering the best service to the customer.

Hey good umpires. This Bud's for you!

Add a third. Call your assignor and tell him/her you refuse to work with that person again. And why.

Bob has hit the nail on the head. Often the types of feedback offered above only marginally work. The "Bad" Ump or the "I'm the show" Ump most always discount Coach feedback as sour grapes. The Tournament directors and sponsors are in most times strapped for umpires, but could be effective in weeding out the bad if they can find replacements.

But Umpires who call their assignor, and refuse to work with the bad or the cheaters get the message sent loud and clear. The assignor gets enough negative feedback from partners and the bad umpire soon wants to know why he doesn't get games.....The message is usually delivered pretty blunt and brutal. "Get better, get training, get in line or get moving".

I dont work with cheaters. The game is interesting enough without an umpire manipulating the zone.