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PLATE MECHANICS SET POSITION the Umpire Should Position in The PLATE MECHANICS SET POSITION The umpire should position in the slot behind the catcher and slightly inside the inside corner of home plate so that the eyes are lined up just inside the corner closest to the batter and at the top of the strike zone. This position allows the catcher free movement up and down without obstructing the umpire's view and enables the umpire to see all of home plate and the batter's strike zone. For a right-handed batter, the plate umpire should line his right eye up with the left-hand edge of the plate. For a left-handed batter, the plate umpire should line his left eye up with the right hand edge of the plate. This position is referred to as working the 'slot'. The umpire's feet should be placed approximately shoulder width apart with the foot closest to the batter slightly forward. It is important that the umpire remain balanced and comfortable. Prior to assuming the set position, the umpire should assume a ready position by properly placing the feet while waiting in a relaxed fully upright stance. The proper time to drop to the 'set' position is immediately after the pitcher has taken the signal and has started the wind-up, but prior to the release of the ball. The umpire should never be moving to the 'set' position while the ball is in flight toward the plate. It is important to recognise that an umpire can 'set' too early, as well as too late. To assume the 'set' position, the knees should be bent while keeping the back as straight as possible. (Bend from the hips and not the waist) Shoulders should be square with the pitch. The eyes should be lined up at the top of the strike zone and it is essential that the plate umpire can see the whole of the strike zone and the entire plate with BOTH eyes. By lining up slightly inside the corner closest to the batter and at the top of the strike zone, the umpire has eliminated two difficult pitches to 'judge'. The umpire should always be able to see the plate and the batter's feet and hands. The umpire must track the flight of the pitch from the point of release, across home plate and into the catcher’s glove. The plate umpire must not make a call until the pitch has been caught by the catcher. Even though the decision is made as the ball crosses home plate, the umpire must not make the call until the ball is in the catcher's glove. (Track the ball all the way to the glove!) This point cannot be stressed enough. 2 STRIKE ZONE (The Official Bulletin of the Victorian Umpiring Rules & Systems Sub-committee Issued - 22/03/02) The Strike Zone is the space over home plate, which is below the bottom of the batter's sternum and the top of his knees, when the batter assumes his natural batting stance. The sternum extends from the base of the throat down the middle of the chest and is approximately a hand span long. At the base of the sternum there is a small depression which may be felt by using the thumb or index finger. The full ball must pass below the base of the sternum. Some part of the ball must pass above the top of the batter's knee. The top of the knee may be defined as the highest point of the kneecap when in an upright position. The batter's strike zone is taken from when the batter is opposite HOME PLATE. The position that the batter takes in the batting box DOES NOT affect the strike zone. He may be in the front of the box, at the back of it, or opposite the plate and still the strike zone remains the same. The ball need only pass through the strike zone at some point while over home plate for it to be considered a strike. This is especially important for balls that either drop or rise. This does not include the ball that touches the ground before reaching home plate. Any ball that touches the ground before reaching home plate and bounces up through the strike zone is NOT a strike. Any part of the ball that goes over Home Plate and passes through the Strike Zone is a strike. This is especially important when calling pitches that curve on either side of the plate. 3 PLATE MECHANICS – CALLING BALLS & STRIKES Timing Proper timing and rhythm is perhaps the key to being able to consistently call ‘balls and strikes’. Everyone appreciates the umpire who has developed proper timing in administering decisions. This development lends more to setting the tempo and controlling the game than any other facet of umpiring. An umpire can't have good judgement without good timing. They go hand-in-hand. Get your timing right and everything else will fall into place. It is not only important to know when to drop to the set position but it is equally important to develop a definite rhythm in making all calls. That rhythm should not vary. Only the 'emphasis' of each call need vary. An umpire who makes calls quickly on every pitch will appear to be guessing. Timing must be slow enough, yet deliberate and consistent. It is very important that plate umpire watches the pitchers’ warm-up so that he becomes familiar with the pitchers motion and rhythm because an umpire must learn the proper timing and rhythm for each pitcher. In the first inning, it is useful for the plate umpire to go behind the plate to observe each pitchers five warm-up pitches. The umpire must wear his mask. Calling Balls and Strikes A ‘strike’ has both verbal and signal component. A ‘ball’ has just a verbal component. The verbal call is for the batter, catcher and immediate infielders. The signal is for everyone else. Both forms of signal have to be made clearly, unambiguously and with conviction. The actual calling of a ball or strike is always made whilst the plate umpire is still in the set position. The physical signal for a strike is made from an upright position. When moving to the upright position to make the strike signal, avoid stepping back or away from the catcher. This makes the strike signal more convincing. However, make adjustments as necessary to avoid interfering with the catcher if a play is being made on a runner. Verbal Call – Strike. The verbal call for strike one and strike two is ‘STEERIKE!’ For the strike three call where the batter is out, simply call OUT! For strike three call where the batter is not out simply call ‘STRIKE THREE!’ In situations where the batter has made an obvious swing at the ball, there is no need to make a verbal call, just make the signal. Signal – Strike. Come to an upright position, bringing your left hand into your body, just above the waist. Raise your right arm high above your head with the hand open. The palm should be facing your right ear. Then drop the arm to the 90o ‘hammer position’ and clench the fist. Don’t rush the signal – make sure everyone has a chance to see what the call is. Verbal Call – Ball. For each ‘ball call’, simply state ‘Ball’. Remember make this call from the set position. If necessary call ‘Ball Four’ to remind the batter that they have received a walk. 4 Strike Zone Strategies by Bob Fontaine, UIC • Every pitch that leaves the pitcher's hand is a strike until it proves to you that it's not. • Get into the habit of crisp game flow by calling many strikes during your game. • Coaches want consistency more than anything else. A key ingredient to consistency is proper timing. The most common problem with umpires at all levels is calling a pitch too fast. Slow down, relax, see the pitch, hear the pop of the catcher's mitt, then call the pitch. Develop a rhythm that is deliberate, it affords you more time to rerun the pitch several times in your brain. Call balls and strikes, it's hard to develop a rhythm if you just call strikes. Learn how to "bulldog" a pitch. • Borderline pitches are strikes - any part of the ball passing through the strike zone is a strike. • Your strike zone in the 7th inning must be exactly the same as it was in the 1st inning. Umpires have a tendency to squeeze the zone late in the game because they are tired. Boxers are trained to finish strong, train yourself to finish strong. • Your strike zone for strike three must be exactly the same as it was for strikes one and two. Attention to this one aspect of your game will identify you as an umpire who is CONSISTENT and therefore respected. • Call strikes as they are defined by the rulebook, not your version of the strike zone. There are many benefits: hitters become aggressive, pitchers develop a rhythm and games move along faster. • North, South, East, West - Wherever the Twain Shall Meet. In lopsided scoring games don't you be lopsided. When your strike zone is from dugout to dugout you lose respect from everyone at the game, undermine your own authority while holding yourself up for criticism. There are subtle, effective ways to move the game along without the whole world knowing that it is being done. • Box, Slot, Scissors, knee, Rock, Paper. Whatever style you use you have got to be able to clearly and consistently see the catcher catch the pitch on the outside corner.
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