[Mick]

Do they call them this far off the plate in Little League?

https://twitter.com/cjzero/status/878731203016372225

Two thoughts:

1)  Take a look where the umpire and catcher are set up.  The umpire's sight line is set up on the far inside of the plate.  But he isn't doing it because that's where the catcher sets up (which is common).  The catcher is set up right behind the plate, both glove and body, the ball is thrown far to the outside (2.5 balls or so), and the catcher tries to sell it as he's taught.  The ball is so far outside that the ump doesn't have a real chance to gauge it because he's so far out of position.  To give the umpire the benefit of the doubt, he probably has somewhat severe depth perception issues -- in which case, he's in the wrong line of work.  I can't imagine anyone wanting to hire that guy at this point.

2)  Like Papa John, my son played in the 10U tournament.  And speaking of wild pitchers, I remember meeting with the umpire and the other coach prior to an interlock game, in which the Willow Glen and American league teams played each other because we didn't have quite enough teams to fill out a full schedule on our own.  The American umpire and coach obviously know each other.  The American umpire says "I want you both to know, I call a wide strike zone, I don't like kids walking, I want them swinging the bat."  The rules are already modified as Papa John pointed out, the strike zone was one ball wider, higher and deeper than the typical strike zone.

I saw right away why they were doing this.  The American pitcher threw flame...and he had no idea where the ball was going.  First three pitches were eye level, ankle level and six inches outside.  Strikes one, two and three.  I called time after the first inning and mentioned to the American manager to join me.  they did, and they were both grinning like crazy.  I said, "Look fellas, you guys aren't doing this kid any favors.  He now thinks he can bounce the ball on the plate or throw it over the other batter's box and that's a strike.  It's your field and your rules, but this is going to come back and haunt him."  Ump says, "I call them like I see them.  Play ball."

The odd thing was that the umpire saw the strike zone much narrower for our pitchers.  Halfway through the season, the five Willow Glen coaches checked their stats...in Willow Glen park, the visitors gave up an average of 6.5 walks and the Willow Glen pitchers gave up 7 walks per game.  At the American park, the American pitchers gave up three walks per game, the Willow Glen pitchers gave up an average of fourteen walks per game.

At the end of the season, there was a district tournament of all the 10U south bay leagues.  Sure enough, first game, the pitcher for the American team gives up 14 walks in the first three innings.  The manager was furious and pulled his team off the field.  I watched the game, calls were legit.  Chalk it up to another little league parent/umpire story, one of millions.

[Mick]

Do they call them this far off the plate in Little League?

https://twitter.com/cjzero/status/878731203016372225

Two thoughts:

1)  Take a look where the umpire and catcher are set up.  The umpire's sight line is set up on the far inside of the plate.  But he isn't doing it because that's where the catcher sets up (which is common).  The catcher is set up right behind the plate, both glove and body, the ball is thrown far to the outside (2.5 balls or so), and the catcher tries to sell it as he's taught.  The ball is so far outside that the ump doesn't have a real chance to gauge it because he's so far out of position.  To give the umpire the benefit of the doubt, he probably has somewhat severe depth perception issues -- in which case, he's in the wrong line of work.  I can't imagine anyone wanting to hire that guy at this point.

2)  Like Papa John, my son played in the 10U tournament.  And speaking of wild pitchers, I remember meeting with the umpire and the other coach prior to an interlock game, in which the Willow Glen and American league teams played each other because we didn't have quite enough teams to fill out a full schedule on our own.  The American umpire and coach obviously know each other.  The American umpire says "I want you both to know, I call a wide strike zone, I don't like kids walking, I want them swinging the bat."  The rules are already modified as Papa John pointed out, the strike zone was one ball wider, higher and deeper than the typical strike zone.

I saw right away why they were doing this.  The American pitcher threw flame...and he had no idea where the ball was going.  First three pitches were eye level, ankle level and six inches outside.  Strikes one, two and three.  I called time after the first inning and mentioned to the American manager to join me.  they did, and they were both grinning like crazy.  I said, "Look fellas, you guys aren't doing this kid any favors.  He now thinks he can bounce the ball on the plate or throw it over the other batter's box and that's a strike.  It's your field and your rules, but this is going to come back and haunt him."  Ump says, "I call them like I see them.  Play ball."

The odd thing was that the umpire saw the strike zone much narrower for our pitchers.  Halfway through the season, the five Willow Glen coaches checked their stats...in Willow Glen park, the visitors gave up an average of 6.5 walks and the Willow Glen pitchers gave up 7 walks per game.  At the American park, the American pitchers gave up three walks per game, the Willow Glen pitchers gave up an average of fourteen walks per game.

At the end of the season, there was a district tournament of all the 10U south bay leagues.  Sure enough, first game, the pitcher for the American team gives up 14 walks in the first three innings.  The manager was furious and pulled his team off the field.  I watched the game, calls were legit.  Chalk it up to another little league parent/umpire story, one of millions.