Pitching and Pitchers Discussion Low strike?

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Great point Bertman. I have even had umpires tell my catchers that if the pitcher continues to constantly hit the same spot that is just on the edge of the zone, they will begin calling it to her advantage.

Feistymom my dd has had umps tell her similar things. Another one is that if you hit the glove you will get the call. I don't see anything in any rule book that says a strike will be called the third time you throw a pitch in a particular spot and I think a strike should be called when the pitched ball passes through the defined strike zone even if there is no catcher. Balls and strikes are judgement calls but only with the parameters of the rules. Bottom line the pitcher has to adjust to the umps strike zone, but it is easier when they call the rules defined strike zone consistently.

There isn't a rule that says this, but you will get umpires that will tell you in "their opinion" if a particular spot or consistantly hitting the glove as you say is being successfully hit they will give the call. Just remember that a defined strike zone is in the eyes of the umpire. Pitchers have to pitch to the umpires strike zone not the rule books. I think all of us would love it it the was the ability for all umpires to have the exact same strike zone across the board. Reality is that is physically impossible to achieve.

I'll throw my hat out there, No I haven't seen this original topic as an issue. I see pitches missing the zone by 1/2 to 1 balls width. Tiny adjustments would give them their strike. Again, it's the umpires zone and we all as pitchers and batters have to adjust to it.

 

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We played a tournament the weekend before last, and in a certain game, the umpire wouldn't give our pitcher anything at the knees, but one of our batters was actually out on a called strike 3 when the ball hit the plate. The catcher had to throw her out at first because technically, she didn't catch the ball. That was tough to swallow. So I think sometimes it just depends on the umpires mood at the momoent.

 

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I think the problem is the inconsistancy with the calls. If th ump is consistance the pitcher and the batter can adjust and play the game with the better team winning most of the time. If inconsistance the outcome is more driven by the umps calls and not the players.

So far this year i have seen a lot of inconsistance calls. I hope after the first couple tournaments the rust will be gone and so will this thread....

 

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They need to be consistent within the context of how the strike zone is defined by the rules, how whichever sanctioning body interprets this definition and wants it enforced and, to some degree, with whatever expectations there are for a given age group or skill level.

If the umpire is always calling strikes on pitches a foot outside, over the batter's head or on pitches that bounce off the plate he is being consistent- consistently bad!

There are pitches that go through the huge strike zone in softball that even your grandmother in the cheap seats can tell is a strike. The umpire should be calling those all the time.

There are pitches that are so far out of the strike zone that they are obviously balls. Those should never be called strikes.

And then there are those pitches that skirt the defined edges of the strike zone. These are the ones where the umpire's judgment and consistency is put to the test.

Before he can get to the point where he can refine his judgment and consistency on those pitches, an umpire needs to: 1) Have a solid grasp on how the strike zone is interpreted, and; 2) Be set up behind the plate in such a way that he can actually see the entire zone and the plate.

If he never gets a handle on numbers one and two, he will never make it successfully to number three- being consistent on the borderline pitches.

 

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Once again you post something here and people add information to what the post was about. I was interested in seeing if people are noticing umpires not giving the low strike. No mention of poor performance or blaming the umpire. My daughter adjusted well and pitched well. I also used the phrase low strike. Not low ball or low inside ball or low outside ball, just low strike. I also would like to add that the umpire was consistent with the high strike zone for both teams. Thanks for the input from those that didn't add information not provided in the post!

Sounds like you did not get the answer you were looking forIf multiple umpires call the pitch low then its low not a "low strike". Oh wait to answer your question exactly as asked. NO:lmao::lmao::lmao:

 

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As a catcher, even in 12-13u, where u hav kids w/ different heights. I hav never had a problen w/ low,"strikes".wen the umps call a ball, its a ball. wen they call it a strike, it is a strike. thats wat i hav been told and i hav a feeling im right.

 

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I have seen several variables influence the umpires decision making. First and foremost is to get the confidence of the offical by putting enough of the ball over the plate to and high enough at the beginning of the game to prove you are a quality pitcher then move it further out on the corners.

Where the catcher sets up also influences the call if the catcher sets up and falls out for the outside corner it will be a ball, if she sets up outside and falls in, it will be a strike. Same thing about how the catcher snags the ball if her elbow is up and glove down he will call it a ball low. If she can keep her elbow level of down it will be a strike.

Next the pitcher and catcher can gain some favor of the officals by a little small talk some jokes, smiles, and laughs go a long way. It is suppose to be fun, even for the officals.

Parents can shrink a strike zone to the size of a coffee can by dogging the officals judgement. If the coaches can keep the game friendly with the officals they can approach a questionable decision, which won't change it but the officals will give the next close call your way.