The rulebooks clearly state the strike zone limits, but many umpires neglect this in favor their own little zone. I'm just wondering why this doesn't bother fans more, and why anyone except Sandy Alderson seems to care in the MLB offices.
I can't imagine umpires arbitrarily calling balls fair or foul, or runners safe or out, so why an arbitrary strike zone? I know you can argue that fair/foul and safe/out are more clearly defined, but the strike zone too is quite clearly defined in the rules.
So why isn't this more of an issue?
2007-08-06 05:31:50 · 10 answers · asked by Craig S 7 in Sports ➔ Baseball
The different strike zones that umpires have has bothered me for years. It really irritates me to hear an umpire refer to it as "my strike zone". I don't always agree with Joe Morgan, but I did when he said "It's not YOUR strike zone, you need to have the same strike zone as defined in the rule book".
The rule book says that the strike zone comes to the top of the letters, but it is rarely called. However pitches that are sometimes several inches off the plate are called strikes. Remember Eric Gregg in the 1997 NLCS? Where Livan Hernandez was throwing "strikes" a foot outside? What's worse, today's umpires, particularly the younger ones, are very confrontational. Players or managers can't question them, not to mention argue, without the umpire getting in their face and being thrown out of the game. Young pitchers are squeezed, and even veterans who depend on location struggle for the first couple of innings as they try to see what the home plate umpire will give them. Simply going by the strike zone as defined in the rule book would make it more fair for both the pitcher and hitter.
I think a consistent strike zone should be more of an issue. Umpires need to understand that the fans are not there to see them interfere or to have an effect on the game. I know that umpires are only human and make mistakes, but the strike zone should not be up for debate. They should not have their own individual strike zones.
As for Sandy Alderson, his going to San Diego was a loss for MLB. When he was in charge of the umpires, he made sure that they were made aware of their mistakes. They were sent footage of their calls so they could avoid the same mistakes in the future. Now that he is no longer working in the MLB front office, it's been a huge loss. As long as these arrogant, confrontational umpires are allowed to keep using "their" strike zones, these problems will persist.
2007-08-06 14:48:48 · answer #1 · answered by Jeffrey S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is a question where there can be no right or wrong answer. The umpire can't make a wrong call on balls and strikes because it is a judgment call and he is the judge. I would never want to see the umpire's role diminish because they are just as much a part of the game as the players. I really don't even believe that the players have a problem with most umpires as long as they are consistent with their calls. If they are going to call high or low strikes, than do it for both teams for the entire game. It is the inconsistent call that gives the players and managers fits. I would never be in favor of technology taking over the umpires role and would never be in favor of any kind of a challenge system for balls and strikes. Unlike football, very few bad calls will have a significant impact on the game and the best teams will persevere throughout a season. Reasonable people can disagree and I respect the opinions of those that feel differently but I say the game is perfect with respect to the umpires roll.
2007-08-06 12:13:01 · answer #2 · answered by Frizzer 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First, the strike zone changes with every batter. Some are taller than others. Some crouch in their stance. Some change their stances. So the strike zone changes quite a lot.
Second, the players are the ones to complain and they don't. As long as an umpire is consistent, they can hit. Most arguments are about checked swings.
Third, umpires are different sizes. They also have different ways of standing behind the catcher.
Finally, considering everything, like breaking balls and wild pitches and everything mentioned above, the umps do a fairly incredible job of calling the game and keeping order.
2007-08-06 07:15:25 · answer #3 · answered by Sarrafzedehkhoee 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
This is something that I had argued with a few friends of mine. They all said that the strike zone should be defined by the Umpire not the rule book, that the ump should call it has he sees it not as he is told. That is how we end up with anything above the belt or at the knees is a ball. My personal take is that they came up with a strike zone for a reason and that it should be followed to the letter of the book. You will get a little vary in the zone do to positioning and vision of the Umpire but I feel like they handicap pitchers by shrinking the zone and reward power hitters by forcing the pitchers to throw to a small spot in the power zone.
2007-08-06 07:14:48 · answer #4 · answered by bdough15 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is what keeps baseball exciting. There is always the possibility of human error. Now granted if it becomes an issue similar to the basketball refs then baseball needs to look into it, but I am pretty sure they have a scoring system for their umps that prevents from too many bad calls. If an umpire misses 3 calls in 1 game that is pretty impressive, considering they are making over 250 calls per game.
2007-08-06 06:47:05 · answer #5 · answered by B G 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because the ball is coming in at 80mph or more and most of the time it's moving. If the strike zone is bigger it's harder for the ump to make sure, since he's got his eyes trained on a certain area that he considers his strike zone. And a bigger strike zone makes it much easier on pitchers and much harder on batters.
2007-08-06 05:43:24 · answer #6 · answered by steffiegirl520 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because fans dont focus on the little things in baseball most of the time.
Baseball fans are focusing on the Barry Bonds prusuting Hank Aarons home run record and so
Most fans focus on the headliner news.
Check this out, you may be suprised. http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/team/injuries.jsp?c_id=oak
Did you know the A's have that many people on the DL?
Most people dont!
As I said most fans dont focus on some of the little things in baseball, but you can find some die hard fans on here who know what thier talking about and know much about Baseball.
2007-08-06 05:52:11 · answer #7 · answered by #1 New York Yankees Fan 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
specific, no question approximately it. have you ever seen Prince Fielder's look after a pitch he believes is a ball? The look he provides the ump is remarkable. it incredibly is like, "do no longer you dare call that a strike, you would be an fool"
2016-10-01 12:30:29 · answer #8 · answered by cris 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think about this too. That should be something that you should never have to worry about except occassional human error.
When did the high strike dissapear. It should be to the armpits, but it is really to the waist.
2007-08-06 05:35:54 · answer #9 · answered by Carnac 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i agree with u but don't be angry
2007-08-06 09:21:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋