Question for current umpires.....

First of all, Moderators please close this thread if it turns into a umpire bashing parade.

As a parent I am new to the varsity softball scene and seem to be witnessing tighter strike zones than I expected. Understandably we are only into the third week of the season but I have witnessed two different plate umpires that produced deep pitch counts and above average hits and walks. I've noticed at least two posts on TBR with claims of tight strike zones that seemed to get tighter as the game progressed.

I was curious if the strike zone location is discussed during winter meetings and clinics? Has someone suggested high school ball needs more offense and the umpires listened? Are they tightening to better prepare these pitchers for college ball? Could just be me and where I sit but the catchers seem to frame the ball a little longer insinuating the pitch was a strike.

 

Why would someone bash an umpire??

 

Strike Zone

A friend of mine (very good umpire) told me in some of the meetings that the strike zone was going to be lower, below the letters more waist to knees. We had a ump the other night that was calling them below the knees. Almost got thrown out of my first game ever.

 

not the strikezone again........just play ball



yawnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

 

A strike is where it is called.....ain't seen one changed yet.
ERMS

 

Strike Zone is......

...whatever the Judge behind the plate says its PERIOD. Get over it. As a pitcher, I'm looking to get ahead on a batter. It may be fast and straight down the middle if I think you can't hit it. Once control of "the zone and count" takes place, the strike zone changes from the mindset of BOTH batter and pitcher. In my example, if my pitcher blows a heater by your batter, you can bet, no offspeed stuff is gonna be over the plate. From a batters point of view, the "truly" experienced, batters can sometimes dictate what pitch is coming from a pitcher. Say Big Betty from Fla. comes with a rise ball in the high 60s on the 1st pitch, and the batter turns on the ball only to have it go foul. Whats coming next? Most likely, offspeed, or off the plate, etc., but it won't be the same pitch as before. ....My point, batters get respect and maybe calls from umps by "stepping up at bat" just like pitchers do when they are considered "all that". In the end, the ball has to cross that plate in a column over the plate, and any GOOD batting coach will teach to their kids to hit a ball high or low and not let the ump decide if you looked at a strike. Whew!

 

Priceless

Still laughing....great comment.

 

Not a strike

What I was talking about was the calls being made the first couple of innings. Umpire was calling strikes below the knees (pitches were not drops or drop curves) a batter should not be swinging at balls that low. If they do make contact its just a ground ball. Thanks God his strike zone moved up some (maybe he was a new ump on the trail)

 

There are...

There are 3 strike zones the the pitcher's, batter's and the umps??? I suggest you strive to work within the umps! Because his/hers is the only one that truly matters!!