I thought about putting this in the Ask the Umpire thread, but wanted to get some coaches input as well.
Jake - if you want to move this please feel free to do so.
My son (14y.o.) has been taking umpiring seriously this season and has been umpiring many Little League minor games and a few majors. In minors, as you may know, the pitching can be spotty and can easily turn into a walk-fest. My son knows that the strike zone is armpits to knee caps and a ball's width on either side of the plate. He has been doing just fine and has even been praised by winning and losing coaches alike that he is doing a good job.
I have been in discussions with my son and other umpires about how to umpire, how to call certain situations, acting professional, not putting up with obnoxious coaches/parents, etc... There is one question that has come up and that is, what do you do as the home plate umpire when the pitchers are not hitting the strike zone? Some umpires have said that they call it as they see it, but if they are late in the game and there does not appear to be any one that can hit the strike zone, they will open up a little to get things moving. Others have said they call a fair strike zone and leave it, and if the game goes long then so be it. Others have said they know Minors can be tough for the young pitchers and have an open strike zone from the beginning.
I've told my son that if it ever comes up (which it hasn't yet) that he calls it like he sees it and if he feels it necessary (e.g. its getting late or the team has just walked in 7-8 runs in a row and no indication that any ball will be put in play and its extra hot that day, etc...)then open it a little but to open it for all pitchers, not just one that is having trouble. And by no means, discuss this with the coaches or parents in the stands.
So, as umpires and/or coaches - what would you do? Do you wait until the last inning to open up? Do you keep it the same no matter what? Do you have a wide strike zone from the first pitch?
Again, this is hypothetical and has not happened to my son yet, but I have seen 20-21 (or more) run games with all scores made off of walked batters, so I know it happens.
Is there a "right" answer to this?
Jake - if you want to move this please feel free to do so.
My son (14y.o.) has been taking umpiring seriously this season and has been umpiring many Little League minor games and a few majors. In minors, as you may know, the pitching can be spotty and can easily turn into a walk-fest. My son knows that the strike zone is armpits to knee caps and a ball's width on either side of the plate. He has been doing just fine and has even been praised by winning and losing coaches alike that he is doing a good job.
I have been in discussions with my son and other umpires about how to umpire, how to call certain situations, acting professional, not putting up with obnoxious coaches/parents, etc... There is one question that has come up and that is, what do you do as the home plate umpire when the pitchers are not hitting the strike zone? Some umpires have said that they call it as they see it, but if they are late in the game and there does not appear to be any one that can hit the strike zone, they will open up a little to get things moving. Others have said they call a fair strike zone and leave it, and if the game goes long then so be it. Others have said they know Minors can be tough for the young pitchers and have an open strike zone from the beginning.
I've told my son that if it ever comes up (which it hasn't yet) that he calls it like he sees it and if he feels it necessary (e.g. its getting late or the team has just walked in 7-8 runs in a row and no indication that any ball will be put in play and its extra hot that day, etc...)then open it a little but to open it for all pitchers, not just one that is having trouble. And by no means, discuss this with the coaches or parents in the stands.
So, as umpires and/or coaches - what would you do? Do you wait until the last inning to open up? Do you keep it the same no matter what? Do you have a wide strike zone from the first pitch?
Again, this is hypothetical and has not happened to my son yet, but I have seen 20-21 (or more) run games with all scores made off of walked batters, so I know it happens.
Is there a "right" answer to this?
Comment