[lex24]

DC, Bobbb, Lex and Giants. How many of you guys pitched in college or in very high level semipro?

There was an almost universal strike zone so the pitchers had a VERY GOOD idea where the zone was. The hitters, unless they were brain damaged like the guys in Chico, knew it too. Made a better game.

I don't care if the zone is armpits to knee or dick to socks it shouldn't vary between umps. Lex, I prefer human error too but there is no recognized base zone and no matter what MLB says there isn't.

Plus nobody ever called them "Blue." It's a bush term.

Never played at that level but did ump games.  

Every big league ump has a strike zone.  The issue, as expressed regularly by Mike Krukow, is consistency.  If you are giving the pitcher the off the plate a bit away from the hitter pitch, then call that pitch a strike every time.  At the beginning of games, Kruk goes over the ump’s tendencies and sets the stage for the game.  As long as the ump is consistent, Kruk cuts the guy slack on his calls.

Until we receive an electronic system, this is what we will have to live with.

Here is my question:  is this a relatively new (last 30 years or so) development?  Or have MLB umps always had their own zone?

Every game didn’t used to be on TV.  And the strike zone box (or whatever they call it) is a relatively new item.  So every pitch is subjected to analysis with the help of the cut out.

I don’t remember this being  talked about in the days of yore.  But that may be more of a function of the technology and the fact every game is televised.

If I’m running MLB I have a strike zone that is mandatory. Mid-knee to the letters.  And I judge a home plate ump on how the game is called against that zone. 

You don’t get extra width. Or pitches below the knee.  Largely to compensate for the top of the zone being taken away.

Course, it’s not enforceable.  Umps have their own Union.

I think technology has everything to do with this discussion.  I can’t believe this is something new.  Rather, I think MLB umps have always had their own strike zone.  Heck, I can remember when AL umps wore their chest protector outside their jacket and commentators always made a note of how that impacted their calls relative to NL umps who wore their chest protector inside their jacket.

---

Stallings had a great year in advanced fielding metrics.  For example, he led the Majors in Defensive Runs Saved by a wide margin and he was in the Top 5 in Framing and Defensive Runs Above Average.

Defensive ability is no longer measured by the traditional stats.  It is all about advanced metrics now.

He was 1st in total Defensive Runs saved by a of immense proportions margin (21 vs. Austin Hedges, who had 12), T4 for framing (rSZ) and 5th in FRM (another framing measure), 25th in rSB (Stolen Base Runs Above Average), 3rd in rCERA (essentially handling a pitching staff), 1st in rGFP (good fielding plays) and 5th in (Fielding Runs Above Average+ Ultimate Zone Rating)

…and those are Gold Glove stats.  I think Stallings earned the award this year.  

One other note re: Stallings.  He is 6’5”.  I can’t think,of too many catchers who are that tall.

Tom Haller!

Tom was a big guy…. 

He caught pitches during my one at bat at Candlestick (I won the chance to hit a home run between games of a doubleheader years ago).  McCormick was dealing some fast pitches that day. No, I did not knock one over the fence.  A fly ball to medium deep centerfield was my best shot.

I’m impressed. I would have hit a ground ball up the middle….

[lex24]

DC, Bobbb, Lex and Giants. How many of you guys pitched in college or in very high level semipro?

There was an almost universal strike zone so the pitchers had a VERY GOOD idea where the zone was. The hitters, unless they were brain damaged like the guys in Chico, knew it too. Made a better game.

I don't care if the zone is armpits to knee or dick to socks it shouldn't vary between umps. Lex, I prefer human error too but there is no recognized base zone and no matter what MLB says there isn't.

Plus nobody ever called them "Blue." It's a bush term.

Never played at that level but did ump games.  

Every big league ump has a strike zone.  The issue, as expressed regularly by Mike Krukow, is consistency.  If you are giving the pitcher the off the plate a bit away from the hitter pitch, then call that pitch a strike every time.  At the beginning of games, Kruk goes over the ump’s tendencies and sets the stage for the game.  As long as the ump is consistent, Kruk cuts the guy slack on his calls.

Until we receive an electronic system, this is what we will have to live with.

Here is my question:  is this a relatively new (last 30 years or so) development?  Or have MLB umps always had their own zone?

Every game didn’t used to be on TV.  And the strike zone box (or whatever they call it) is a relatively new item.  So every pitch is subjected to analysis with the help of the cut out.

I don’t remember this being  talked about in the days of yore.  But that may be more of a function of the technology and the fact every game is televised.

If I’m running MLB I have a strike zone that is mandatory. Mid-knee to the letters.  And I judge a home plate ump on how the game is called against that zone. 

You don’t get extra width. Or pitches below the knee.  Largely to compensate for the top of the zone being taken away.

Course, it’s not enforceable.  Umps have their own Union.

I think technology has everything to do with this discussion.  I can’t believe this is something new.  Rather, I think MLB umps have always had their own strike zone.  Heck, I can remember when AL umps wore their chest protector outside their jacket and commentators always made a note of how that impacted their calls relative to NL umps who wore their chest protector inside their jacket.

---

Stallings had a great year in advanced fielding metrics.  For example, he led the Majors in Defensive Runs Saved by a wide margin and he was in the Top 5 in Framing and Defensive Runs Above Average.

Defensive ability is no longer measured by the traditional stats.  It is all about advanced metrics now.

He was 1st in total Defensive Runs saved by a of immense proportions margin (21 vs. Austin Hedges, who had 12), T4 for framing (rSZ) and 5th in FRM (another framing measure), 25th in rSB (Stolen Base Runs Above Average), 3rd in rCERA (essentially handling a pitching staff), 1st in rGFP (good fielding plays) and 5th in (Fielding Runs Above Average+ Ultimate Zone Rating)

…and those are Gold Glove stats.  I think Stallings earned the award this year.  

One other note re: Stallings.  He is 6’5”.  I can’t think,of too many catchers who are that tall.

Tom Haller!

Tom was a big guy…. 

He caught pitches during my one at bat at Candlestick (I won the chance to hit a home run between games of a doubleheader years ago).  McCormick was dealing some fast pitches that day. No, I did not knock one over the fence.  A fly ball to medium deep centerfield was my best shot.

I’m impressed. I would have hit a ground ball up the middle….