quote:
Originally posted by TW344:
fanofgame & dash_riprock:
The strike zone is the strike zone is the strike zone. It is written down in plain, easily understandable english [and other languages, I assume] and is discernible. It is the strike zone throughout the game and it is the strike zone in every game. A baseball width outside is giving the pitcher too much [even if it is a fraction of a milimeter too much] and a little less inside may or may not be correct depending on what is meant by "a little less." Up honest, I hope means somewhere around the armpits and the hollow of the knee is a great description. So I am saying that I basically agree with you. However, stating that "those pitches a few inches outside are very hittable" will never, in my mind, justify calling a ball a strike. I hope that you were not implying that it does.
TW344
Basically you agree with me? Are you kidding? We don't agree on anything but the hollow of the knee. A wide plate is universal. Your strike zone will lead to some very long, boring poorly-played games.
Hitters and pitchers want consistency from a plate umpire. They just want it the same for the whole game. Umpires have different zones. There are no laser beams outlining the strike zone for every hitter. The umpire has to estimate the strike zone 250 times a game.
I can tell you for sure that high school and college coaches want the bats being swung. They expect a pitch a bit off the plate to be called a strike. Many times I have rung up a pitch a baseball off the plate, and heard the coach say "you gotta take that pitch the other way Johnny." It makes for a much better game.
BTW: in high school varsity and above, a pitch at the armpits is up, considerably. It is much easier to hit a pitch 2" outside in than some cheddar up there.
Sorry to be so harsh, but if I called the zone you described, I'd get chewed to bits.