Umpires removing the Rembrandt from the game.

[spirit2]

While watching several NCAA game this season, I have noticed the extremely tight strike zone. There has been some speculation about the NCAA trying to make the game more exciting, I am not sure if that is the case. I realize the pitch at the arm pits will never be called, but now it looks as if a large percentage of the ball has to go over the plate to get a strike called. Several of the sports casters have also made comments on the zone. I know watching hitting and good fielding is exciting but watching a master Rembrandt was also fun.

Just an opinion....

 

[BretMan2]

I hope that they aren't calling the pitch at the armpits! The top of the NCAA strike zone is the sternum, almost one ball width below the armpits. Plus, they further define in their rules that the top of the ball must not be higher than that point.

This year the NCAA did instruct their umpires to call the zone as defined in their rule book. Inside and outside, the edge of the ball must actually be touching the edge of the plate (not necessarily be "over" the plate).

I think that over the years they started giving so much leeway for pitches off the plate, now that they're trying to call the zone exactly as it appears in the rule book everybody thinks they're being "too tight". Maybe they are- a lot of times when an organization emphasizes a rule, the umpires will overcompensate, just to show the "higher ups" that they are trying to comply.

 

[spirit2]

There must be several wanting to impress. ESPN camera angle is pretty good. I will say I am impressed how the pitchers handle it. I have seen several pitches clearly strikes, called balls, and the pitcher professionally walks back to the rubber and throws again.