Random Thoughst --Installment # 5

TR all I ask for is consistency. If its a strike in the first inning it should be a strike in the 7th. And if its a ball in the first then it should be a ball in the 7th. If your going to have a shoebox strikezone then fine. Keep it that size the entire game. If your going to have a big strike zone keep it big the entire game.

The problem I believe is alot of umpires have their own personal strike zone. Some give a couple of balls off the plate. Some do not. Some give a couple of inches up others give a couple of inches down. There will always be a difference to a certain degree in all umpires strike zones. But for goodness sake be consistent so the players can adjust to your strike zone. I dont expect the umpire to adjust to the players desired strike zone. But I do expect them to be consistent in their strike zone so the players can adjust to it.

Just like coaches there are outstanding umpires and then there not so outstanding umpires.

Problem I have seen is that the blue sets a tight zone, then the starting pitchers get into deep counts and the game gets longer and he has to open the zone. What was a ball now becomes a strike, and the pitcher is throwing more than he should.

i've listened to and watched, about 90 indy league games this year. i think i've heard more complaint's about the zone than i ever remember. it could just be the level of play?

it also could be i'm a pitchers dad.

All I can say is that I learned that any umpire (and I think I'm talking 100%) who told me before a game, "Tell your hitters to swing it cause I have a big zone" ultimately had the strike zone of a pea.

I was disappointed this year on how few umpires would call strikes on curveballs, giving up on the pitch before it would break. Yet they had no problems calling sliders for strikes. It encourages young high school pitchers to throw sliders.