John G.,
Herein lies the problem when people have personal conversations in a public place. Keller Dad and SWAC have a personal relationship and are joking around. As to SWAC's comments about "4 hour games", you can rest assured that SWAC respects the game as much, if not more, than anyone around. His zone is very consistent and he is one of the top umpires doing high school games in North Texas.
John G, before you get your pants all up in the air this is meant as a good humor topic to Keller Dad which I have known for a long time. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the game and I do call a **** good game. But to address your comments, I'm not going to stay on the field in the fall for 6 hours while little Joey (thats a familar pharse, I have this friend that......) as you call him cannot get close to the strike zone. Your comments are way off base and meant to be critical and hurtful. Well I guess we have the up rising of another 
Opps, Train I apologize, this guy is no where near the professional you are. You get your opinions across but without personal attacks. Train, I never thought I would give you such positive comments. Well here is another expert that has risen to the top.
Opps, Train I apologize, this guy is no where near the professional you are. You get your opinions across but without personal attacks. Train, I never thought I would give you such positive comments. Well here is another expert that has risen to the top.
I have called games with the swacster and his zone is one of the best around. Only after the game gets out of hand or drags on do you loosen up abit to get or keep the game moveing along.
Whats going on Change Up? You doing any games this fall? Whats going on out at the Rock? Hope you and your family are doing well. I'm sure we'll see each other somewhere this fall. Hey don't forget you should join the Collin County Chapter next year. SEnd me your email address on a PM and I'll get it to the predident. Take care.
Changeup and SWAC in the CC chapter??? PE will never get a call! 
PD,
SWAC calling a PE game would constitute a conflict of interest.
SWAC calling a PE game would constitute a conflict of interest.
Swac
A little down in the dumps around here. We played our first high school game on Tuesday and scooter broke his thumb making a tag on a runner sliding into second. He kept quite about untill yesterday and decided he would tell us. The family docter had it xrayed and saw the break and we go to an ortho today so he may be done for the fall. Hope you are doing well and i will get with you on joining up in that chapter
A little down in the dumps around here. We played our first high school game on Tuesday and scooter broke his thumb making a tag on a runner sliding into second. He kept quite about untill yesterday and decided he would tell us. The family docter had it xrayed and saw the break and we go to an ortho today so he may be done for the fall. Hope you are doing well and i will get with you on joining up in that chapter
is he alright? how is fall ball going in the ROCK?
He says he will play but the doctor may tell him otherwise. Fall is going good so far other than the thumb.
SWAC you have a PM
Swac.....if you took that as a personal attack then guess who's flying off the handle? I understood the nature of your discussion. I was merely bringing the topic which you stated of opening up the zone to speed play. and showing just one example (topic) of its effect. It is more than hearsay that many of the umpires (in this area)open the zone up to speed play. As i stated i can create several more discussions or topics on how this negatively effects game play(development). that is the only point I meant to make.
quote:Besides yourself..who do you think your helping here
John G. when you are talking in general terms you don't use the terms you, yourself, etc. Since apparently you are very knowledgeable in this area please open up more topics. I can't wait. As you put it, "This is my personal advice and should be discarded or considered as such, nothing more or nothing less".
And its SWAC, not Swac.
quote:Originally posted by Change Up:
SWAC you have a PM
Ron back at you.
quote:Originally posted by SWAC:
And its SWAC, not Swac.
KD, I can't even have any fun with you anymore before this John G expert goes off the deep end.
SWAC...don't kiss and make up with me. Your strike zone stinks and that is being polite! 
HIGHSCHOOLPLAYER....don't ever agree with SWAC unless you play for him. It might go to his head!
TRAINS BACK
HIGHSCHOOLPLAYER....don't ever agree with SWAC unless you play for him. It might go to his head!
TRAINS BACK
From what I've seen, heard, and experienced it is a fact that the majority of parents are the least objective when it comes to the strike zone and many other areas of officiating. God forbid that an umpire call a pitch just above the belly button a strike on junior. I have seen fans absolutely wear an umpire out the entire game, and then tell him "good job" when it's over.
How are the umpires suppose to please you, when there are so many expectations, such as: it doesn't matter where as long as it's consistent; call it as defined in the book; I like to where it's evolved; if they aren't calling the high strike then they better call the one just below the knee a strike everytime, etc. How can anyone meet those expectations? It's like trying to understand/please a woman. EX: What do you want for your birthday? Oh, nothing. Yeah, right.
Throw in the fact that most catchers (not all) today don't have the strength to frame pitches. Sure they can frame the ones that would hit them in the chest, but what about the one where they set up on the inner third of the plate and the pitch is on the outer third? They can't hold it and they continue to drift out making it appear to be outside. The one pitch frame probably started about 15 years ago and it has ruined many catchers. While everyone knows that it's where the ball crosses the plate, it's just a fact that HOW the catcher receives it can affect the call.
Those that know baseball know that the strike zone is exactly what the umpire is calling that day. Every umpire will call a different strike zone on different days. That isn't what they strive to do, but it happens just like when you are having an off day. I have seen the best umpires just absolutely butcher games. Maybe his wife was raking him over the coals, maybe he has to burn a whole day of vacation because he got an assignment for a 9:00 a.m. game, maybe they got drilled the previous night. Maybe, maybe, maybe, maybe.
If they are consistently bad, then the chapter needs to address it. The partner has a responsibility to let the chapter leaders know. Fix it.
Most people don't understand the philosophy of officiating, just like I don't understand the philosophy of officiating in the NBA. I can guarantee you one thing - if an umpire called everything "by the book" he would have to have a police escort off of the field.
I have watched countless games over the years, and there are two things that I know. #1 there are some really good umpires, some that are so-so, some that are learning, and some that are horrible and will never improve. #2 we need to respect the game, and that includes the umpires. They are taking time away from their family, taking time off of work, to provide an opportunity for the teams to have an official apply the rules. For what? $35-40 a game? I guarantee they ain't doing it for the money.
Going back to the pitches "just off the plate", what if the pitch is an inch off of the plate? Inch and a half? Two inches? Two and a half? Are you going to get out the surveying equipment and slide rule? Quick, what was it?!?!
Regarding SWAC, I believe I know who he is and if it is who I think, the chapter that he is in is a good one. They go a long way trying to make sure their guys are improving. That chapter was started by a good man.
This is what I see in SWAC as an official: relatively new to officiating higher level of ball (maybe a couple of years), a desire to do a good job, and the ability to not let the game get away from him. Strike zone.....guys better bring the bats. Tell me if I'm wrong.
You may or may not agree, but what I see and hear is what I see and hear. I have no horse in this race and haven't for many, many years. I guess I'm just getting crotchety in my old age, and it's a slow Friday night.
Start swinging.
How are the umpires suppose to please you, when there are so many expectations, such as: it doesn't matter where as long as it's consistent; call it as defined in the book; I like to where it's evolved; if they aren't calling the high strike then they better call the one just below the knee a strike everytime, etc. How can anyone meet those expectations? It's like trying to understand/please a woman. EX: What do you want for your birthday? Oh, nothing. Yeah, right.
Throw in the fact that most catchers (not all) today don't have the strength to frame pitches. Sure they can frame the ones that would hit them in the chest, but what about the one where they set up on the inner third of the plate and the pitch is on the outer third? They can't hold it and they continue to drift out making it appear to be outside. The one pitch frame probably started about 15 years ago and it has ruined many catchers. While everyone knows that it's where the ball crosses the plate, it's just a fact that HOW the catcher receives it can affect the call.
Those that know baseball know that the strike zone is exactly what the umpire is calling that day. Every umpire will call a different strike zone on different days. That isn't what they strive to do, but it happens just like when you are having an off day. I have seen the best umpires just absolutely butcher games. Maybe his wife was raking him over the coals, maybe he has to burn a whole day of vacation because he got an assignment for a 9:00 a.m. game, maybe they got drilled the previous night. Maybe, maybe, maybe, maybe.
If they are consistently bad, then the chapter needs to address it. The partner has a responsibility to let the chapter leaders know. Fix it.
Most people don't understand the philosophy of officiating, just like I don't understand the philosophy of officiating in the NBA. I can guarantee you one thing - if an umpire called everything "by the book" he would have to have a police escort off of the field.
I have watched countless games over the years, and there are two things that I know. #1 there are some really good umpires, some that are so-so, some that are learning, and some that are horrible and will never improve. #2 we need to respect the game, and that includes the umpires. They are taking time away from their family, taking time off of work, to provide an opportunity for the teams to have an official apply the rules. For what? $35-40 a game? I guarantee they ain't doing it for the money.
Going back to the pitches "just off the plate", what if the pitch is an inch off of the plate? Inch and a half? Two inches? Two and a half? Are you going to get out the surveying equipment and slide rule? Quick, what was it?!?!
Regarding SWAC, I believe I know who he is and if it is who I think, the chapter that he is in is a good one. They go a long way trying to make sure their guys are improving. That chapter was started by a good man.
This is what I see in SWAC as an official: relatively new to officiating higher level of ball (maybe a couple of years), a desire to do a good job, and the ability to not let the game get away from him. Strike zone.....guys better bring the bats. Tell me if I'm wrong.
You may or may not agree, but what I see and hear is what I see and hear. I have no horse in this race and haven't for many, many years. I guess I'm just getting crotchety in my old age, and it's a slow Friday night.
Start swinging.
quote:Originally posted by Train:
SWAC...don't kiss and make up with me. Your strike zone stinks and that is being polite!
HIGHSCHOOLPLAYER....don't ever agree with SWAC unless you play for him. It might go to his head!
TRAINS BACK
Train glad to have you back. John G was trying to talk your place on the board. There is no other
The strike zone I saw this weekend at a BBI game was so tight " a shoe box" couldn't have fit inside.
I do expect the umpires to encourage the batters to swing the bats and to encourage the ptichers to bring it to / through the strike zone most of the time.
Hitters sitting on fat pitchers won't get better and pitchers throwing fat pitches don't mlast long. Neither developes well.
I do expect the umpires to encourage the batters to swing the bats and to encourage the ptichers to bring it to / through the strike zone most of the time.
Hitters sitting on fat pitchers won't get better and pitchers throwing fat pitches don't mlast long. Neither developes well.
I hae to agree. SWACs zone is pretty good.