Ump calls

[RADcatchers]

I forget his exact wording, but the implication was "big zone," not "any ball that doesn't hit the backstop." When I say he was calling pitches a couple feet outside, I'm not exaggerating. Several pitches that crossed the batter 6-12 inches over her head were strikes, too. And it's not a case of a very slow pitcher and batters up in the box where it can pass the batter over her head and still be in the strike zone. The pitcher threw a typical speed for what we see. She just had no control, and it benefited her.

There's not really any adjusting to that until you see it. It's also hard to get a pitcher who is used to trying to hit corners and throw good pitches to just intentionally throw bad ones.

For the hitters? I don't really want them over extending and swinging at pitches they're never going to swing at in 99% of the other games. We're not talking about a couple pitches in the river. There's adjustments and there's needing a 55" bat to hit a ball. I'll take the "L" in one game over ruining them for the next several.

I don't think people can fathom just how bad the umpiring around here actually is. My list of umpires that I'll hire for home varsity games is only 4 or 5 people. It's rare we have an away game at a public school where I don't have to explain several rules to the umpires (and the other coach).

What you have described seems to be a very beginning level pitcher with pitcher on the opposing team that has some control and an Umpire that's in between the two trying to make an adjustment.

You may not care for the strike zone.

But as far as teaching your pitcher how to not throw strikes...
she's going to have to learn how to do that at some point in her pitching career!

And in that situation both pictures are working hard with the same strike zone. One has to learn to get the ball inside it and one has to learn to get the ball further away from the plate. Both learning control which needs to happen regardless of the size or shape of the strike zone.

 

[RADcatchers]

I forget his exact wording, but the implication was "big zone," not "any ball that doesn't hit the backstop." When I say he was calling pitches a couple feet outside, I'm not exaggerating. Several pitches that crossed the batter 6-12 inches over her head were strikes, too. And it's not a case of a very slow pitcher and batters up in the box where it can pass the batter over her head and still be in the strike zone. The pitcher threw a typical speed for what we see. She just had no control, and it benefited her.

There's not really any adjusting to that until you see it. It's also hard to get a pitcher who is used to trying to hit corners and throw good pitches to just intentionally throw bad ones.

I don't know what type of softball this is City League or travel? Brings this question...
if you want batters to develop with a more normal strike zone...
why are you playing at a level where the opposing pitcher is such a beginner the Umpire has to open up the strike zone that much?


Going to guess the Umpire did not want a walkathon
Otherwise it sounds like you could just have a walk festival. Hmmm won't really help your batters learn to swing and connect. Might help them with their eye and not swing
sounds like an adjustment on your competition needs to be made.

 

[Northball]

... I have reached the point that it isn't worth the aggravation (physical and mental) for $75. I'm not killing myself because there is a plastic ring on the line for you.

I'm sensing you're not too far off from changing your name to The Man in Floral Print and Bermuda Shorts...

 

[CoachCeetar]

I knew that, but I guess I never really paid attention to the way that is written. That is not an EFFECT as nothing in the rule says that. That should be part of the rule.

yeah I couldn't figure out what the cause was of that effect, seems like it should just be a straight rule. I don't get TOO worked up about the zone in general, though when they call ones at/above the helmet, or ones that hit the plate, it's kind of frustrating.

But as long as they know the other rules..

When I first started coaching in games that 'matter', I never realized just knowing the rules could be that much of an advantage, now I read through at least the league rules at least a few times a season. (which aren't written particularly well either..)

 

[clarity]

I have never once said to myself "Gee, that umpire's strike zone is too small." And I have a kid who pitches.

 

[joe720]

When my DD was a pitcher, i always said to her, doesn't matter where you "think" the strike zone is. The zone is what the umpire calls and that's what you have to pitch to. And as long as it's called both ways, i never cared.

 

[Agcy]

I have never once said to myself "Gee, that umpire's strike zone is too small." And I have a kid who pitches.

Challenge Accepted!

 

[The Man In Blue]

I have never once said to myself "Gee, that umpire's strike zone is too small." And I have a kid who pitches.

 

[OmniscientFan]

Everything you said was spot on. I just want to call this out because it largely is true. While people with their gin cup Stanley and position under the popup want to believe that they know the scientific irrefutability of what a strike is, they have no clue. Even umpires have to dial it in and then stay on it for two+ hours.

I don't agree with all of your points - DD is a pitcher, so I have my own bias, of course - but I have to give you credit for the funniest line I have seen in all my years on DFP. Kudos, TMIB!

 

[The Man In Blue]

I thought maybe you heard my exchange yesterday …

Pop up dad behind the backstop: “She leaned into that!”

Coach comes out of the dugout: “Did she lean into that?”

Me: “No, sir.”

Coach: “But she didn’t move.”

Me: “She doesn’t have to, that was completely in the box.”

Pop up pop: “She leaned into it!”

Coach: “Are you sure she didn’t lean into it?”

Me: “Coach, I ain’t a genie. I don’t grant wishes and he’s starting to rub me the wrong way. Anything else?”

Coach: “Tim, knock it off.” Walks away.