June 20, 2017

Strike Zone Misconceptions

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Strike Zone Misconceptions

How an umpire calls balls and strikes is the single most influential factor in any baseball game. If the umpire has a “hitter’s strike zone” the pitcher doesn’t get the marginal pitches and the game often is riddled with walks, more hitting and higher scores. If his zone is loose or big, the opposite occurs.

The most common complaints or arguments during a baseball game revolve around the home plate umpire and his call of the strike zone. During a nine-inning game the home plate umpire might see 300 pitches. If only 10% of these are close pitches, it means the umpire must call 30 close pitches that could swing the momentum of an at bat and affect the outcome of the game.

All umpires and most coaches, fans, and players think they know the definition of a called strike. However, how many people have read the definition of the strike zone and understand how umpires are taught to interpret pitches near the edges of the zone? Are you one of those?


Watch it here to quickly get a primer on the real strike zone.

 

Umpires Must Read This:

https://baseballrulesacademy.com/user/insider-report/good-ballstrike-positioning-benefits/

The Little League Strike Zone is Different

The strike zone is that space over home plate which is between the batter’s armpits and the top of the knees when the batter assumes a natural stance. The umpire shall determine the strike zone according to the batter’s usual stance when that batter swings at a pitch.

High School and College Strike Zones are the Same

NFHS

Rule 2

35 – STRIKE ZONE

The strike zone is that space over home plate, the top of which is halfway between the batter’s shoulders and the waistline, and the bottom being the knees, when he assumes his natural batting stance. The height of the strike zone is determined by the batter’s normal batting stance. If he crouches or leans over to make the shoulder line lower, the umpire determines height by what would be the batter’s normal stance.

NCAA

Strike Zone

SECTION 73: The area over home plate from the bottom of the kneecaps to the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants. The strike zone shall be determined from the batter’s stance as the batter is prepared to swing at a pitched ball (see diagram below)

 

 

Don't strike out!

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