Midland Blue with no concept of the strike zone

[Lowerleftcoast]

In My Opinion...

Midland is... Midland. Ok, fine. Overall, the blues were good. However, there was an exception. One blue appeared to be very capable at calling a base play. However, he was totally inept at the strike zone. Not just a bit... off. Way off. How far off? Far enough that when I took these photos there were four coaches from four different teams standing right behind me, between me and snack bar, just shaking their heads at first... then shaking their heads in disbelief and then just plain laughing at how BAD this blue was. They all took note of him as he, literally, changed the game. He was calling pitches so far off the plate, usually outside, that batters were forced to swing at pitches 6-9 inches off the plate. No joke. No exageration Those that made contact hit it between 1st and 2nd. This happened over several games. Once the word got around, coaches attempted to adjust. They also told their pitchers to pitch to the opposite batters box line, NOT the plate.

Sour grapes ? No, hardly. Word got out to many. We got past him but it was pathetic to watch other teams as they were very, very frustrated.

While the majority of the blues at Midland were very good, when a bad apple (IMHO) arrives it should be noted. Oh yes... for those that lament about angle and perspective and all the usual defend-blues-at-all-costs rethoric, I don't need to hear it so don't bother to respond. I was there. You were not. If there are coaches, players or spectators on this forum who were at Midland and had this guy, feel free to speak up. This person, in my opinion, is a discredit to the other competent ASA umpires who worked hard and called good games. This guy, however, in my opinion, was a clown.

Picture 1, note a right handed pitcher and where the ball is in relation to the opposite hitter box line.
Picture 2, note where the catchers glove is when the ball is caught. It is about 1/3rd of the way into the opposite batter box. The camera doesn't lie and this is not an exception photo. Some folks were video taping the calls (for reasons TBD).
Picture 3, blue calling a strike.
Picture 4, strutin' off the field.

At this particularly game, BOTH teams were livid, outraged and stupified. They couldn't believe it. Regardless of who won the game, this blue butchered the play. Game after game, all the hits were bludgeoned to the right side as batters were forced to cover balls 6, 7, 8 or more inches off the plate. Everyone moved WAY up in the box but is still wasn't anywhere near enough.

IMHO, a bad apple with a major ego. He earned his rep early and, at the least, was the brunt of some fairly severe jokes. Congrats to those coaches who noticed his abilities early and played to it as much as was practical. Too bad he reflects bad on the other blues that were, overall, very, very good. He owes the others an apology.

All in my opinion, of course... free speech and all that...

[Lowerleftcoast]

.

[Powerbait]

Guy behind the umpire is ready to light him up
Nice nokona

[Lowerleftcoast]

oh... there were a l-o-t of very, very grumpy people, whether they won or lost. Too bad, too, as it didn't need to be that way.

All in my opinion, of course.

[wadeintothem]

jeez, all that "butchering" you'd think you could at least take 1 single picture showing a call.

These pics are nothing and show nothing.

You had one function in life, take a decent pic.

And you failed.

Lucky you arent an umpire with many things going on at the same time. Imagine how bad you would be.

[artomatic]

when I took these photos there were four coaches from four different teams standing right behind me

rare footage of the 4 coaches:

[JEL]

[quote="Lowerleftcoast"]In My Opinion...



Picture 1, note a right handed pitcher and where the ball is in relation to the opposite hitter box line.
Picture 2, note where the catchers glove is when the ball is caught.



All in my opinion, of course... free speech and all that...

quote]


ASA RULE 1 DEFINITIONS STRIKE ZONE: The space over any part of home plate.......

Maybe Blue ain't the one who is far off.

[wadeintothem]

ASA RULE 1 DEFINITIONS STRIKE ZONE: The space over any part of home plate.......

Maybe Blue ain't the one who is far off.

well.. we'll never know. SInce he did not choose that part of the zone to photograph.

You know what they say...

When it doubt, call em out.

So I'm thinking good call blue.

[Bill_B]

I was there and noted that the strike zone was about 1 1/2 to 2 balls off the plate on the outside and maybe a 1/2 to one ball on the inside. I certainly saw nothing in the conduct of the umpire that would give me the impression that he was arrogant. He was actually pretty tolerant given the remarks being made by spectators.

As long as the umpire is consistent I'm okay with the strike zone wherever it is, and I thought he was consistent for both teams. I saw him do about three games but we never had him as a PU during any of our ten games. His strike zone is not uncommon.

As a pitch-caller I would rather see this type of strike zone than one that is being squeezed. I think squeezing is far more problematic since pitchers are forced to get closer to the middle of the plate and that's dangerous in terms of come-backers injuring pitchers.

[narent]

It's difficult to tell if the second picture shows the point where the ball was caught or the point where the catcher's glove ended up after the catch. Not enough information in the picture to make an opinion on my part.
But as Bill_B said, consistency is the key. If his strike zone is consistently large, then there shouldn't be any complaints as long as he's not calling unhittable pitches strikes. I prefer a wider strike zone -- it takes the bats off of the girls' shoulders.