[simple simon]

here i sit watching my Red Sox beat the Tribe in Game 1 of the ALCS .. and i cant help but think, it's time to solidify the strike zone

(if my #'s are off please correct them)

each crew has 4 umpires and they rotate who is at the plate during each series ...... so obviously in a 3 game series you face 3 different umpires at the plate ....... let's say over the course of the year your team deals with 10 different crews ...... so you may come to the plate during the season with 30 different umpires calling balls and strikes

of course imo, 30 different umpires can mean 30 different strike zones (however slightly) ... of course over 162 games each of those umpires you face will call 5 games at the plate on average ....... will they see the strike zone the same time each time they are behind the plate ?

let's say they call the same strike zone 3 out of 4 times ...... that means over the course of a 162 game season, you will come to the plate and see 40 different strike zones (of course that doesnt take into account when the umpired may be peeved with you)

imo 40 strike zones is unacceptable ...... its actually stupid imo ...... and something needs to be done

[bears9]

When I was learning to play baseball I learned "the letters to the knees" now why can't umpires learn that

[LSC9901]

Simon, you know this is a dangerous discussion. I think we did this before in respect to an electronically called ball/strike. Many feel that it removes an important part of the game.

Now the question is (again) do you want consistency and correct calls or do you want to keep the history of the game and the unknown ??

I also firmly believe that certain umpires have larger and smaller strike zones for different players. Get under my skin and your strike zone shrinks. Possible ???? I think so.

[Powerhitter0418]

Originally Posted by bears9

When I was learning to play baseball I learned "the letters to the knees" now why can't umpires learn that

It would be too easy. They've got to cause some controversy it seems like.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Now the question is (again) do you want consistency and correct calls or do you want to keep the history of the game and the unknown ??

im all about getting it right and consistent .... i would be all for a ball with a chip in it and a computer if it always calls the same strike zone

I also firmly believe that certain umpires have larger and smaller strike zones for different players. Get under my skin and your strike zone shrinks. Possible ???? I think so.

i agree totally .... and not only with one umpire ... but with all in a crew .... you pissed me off today, so tomorrow my buddy will get you back

but i also think it can work against pitchers ..... Pedro can look at an umpire wrong and maybe he just lost the corner of the plate

[EmpireWF]

I love the human element of the strike zone (of course not when certain ump's squeezed Glavine's outside pitches). As long as you don't have one of those Livan Hernandez 1997 playoff strike zones, things shouldn't be too complicated. Guys have to adjust to the umpire and do so. If you can't figure out which ump calls what a strike and a ball, perhaps you should study more tape.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by EmpireWF

I love the human element of the strike zone (of course not when certain ump's squeezed Glavine's outside pitches). As long as you don't have one of those Livan Hernandez 1997 playoff strike zones, things shouldn't be too complicated. Guys have to adjust to the umpire and do so. If you can't figure out which ump calls what a strike and a ball, perhaps you should study more tape.

I agree with Empire here. As long as the strike zones are similar, and aren't getting too large or two small, I enjoy seeing the pitchers adjust to the variances in each ump's calls. It's part of the mental aspect of the game that I really enjoy. Baseball would be far to boring if every call were standarized down to the Nth degree, you know?

[azrael492]

I dont want to see anything electronic for it, but I do think umps need refresher courses on strike zones. Some may be consistent, but their zones are too small. I have seen... as I'm sure everybody else has... an ump call a ball too high when it was belt high. It really hurts the pitchers because then a batter can just sit on low pitches. I think Bears9 said it. In little league it was the letters (armpits) to the knees.

[azrael492]

each crew has 4 umpires and they rotate who is at the plate during each series ...... so obviously in a 3 game series you face 3 different umpires at the plate ....... let's say over the course of the year your team deals with 10 different crews ...... so you may come to the plate during the season with 30 different umpires calling balls and strikes

This is true unless you are talking about post season baseball. I believe they add 2 extra umps for OF play. Home run calls, foul balls, trapping catches, etc.., but you are correct, a crew rotates who calls the game. I remember something about time inservice to be eligible to call games though. Some may have to just work the outfield and be skipped on their turn.

[desertrat]

Originally Posted by simple simon

im all about getting it right and consistent .... i would be all for a ball with a chip in it and a computer if it always calls the same strike zone

i agree totally .... and not only with one umpire ... but with all in a crew .... you pissed me off today, so tomorrow my buddy will get you back

but i also think it can work against pitchers ..... Pedro can look at an umpire wrong and maybe he just lost the corner of the plate

It was fairly obvious in game 2 of the NLCS that the umps were favoring the Rockies, not only the home plate ump but the ump down the first base line that called all those bogus check swing strikes.