The Rules of Baseball : Baseball Strike Zone

[briandawn95]

Note: for any Little Leaguers out there, by rule, the strike zone goes from the armpits to the top of the knees, over the plate.

[ThumperOne]

The top of his strike zone in incorrect. Unbelievable!

[ikasnob]

i hope you dont umpire dude

[shankopotamusss]

also if you tip the ball with 2 strikes and the catcher catches it- youre out, get it straight.... a strike is not as high as your waist, it is halfway in between your waist and your shoulders as your swing (not standing) and is usually around the letters on your jersey

[PUMA70518]

On vysvětluje to co už všichní ví.......

[bobjrj101]

is it right to give kids (8-9) year olds 1 or so inches out to the sides of the plate?

[jonas129830]

u dont explain dead ball

[Emieliboy]

expertvillage please stop with the captions they suck so hard and after "so the" it doesnt go further and you dont see a thing

[babdon]

Depending on the level of ball (and at that point, the quality of pitching from both sides), umpires who really know the game will adjust accordingly. I track the number of walks and if I am seeing more than usual on both sides of the inning then i open-up a little bit. I always tell the catchers about this so they can let the coaches know. I've NEVER had a problem with this. Keeps the game moving and everyone happy. If the pitching is lopsided then I don't change. one teams bad luck.

[7424mike]

good vid bro just got into it with this bullshit umpire that didn't know what the fuck he was talkin bout he said the strike zoen included 8 inches off the plate

[sportspro100]

I watched another vid and it said the strike zone was from the chest to the nees

[babdon]

bottom of the knees to a midpoint between the armipts and the waist (commonly "the letters" - but not always).

[smulozrout]

fucker, you create your own destiny...

[14JRock14]

For our league and almost all others, its armpit down to the knee.

[lgradyl]

MLB umpires have no reason to call strikes that are in conflict with the definition of the strike zone. If it were needed, they would just redefine the strike zone. They've certainly done it many times before, as recent as 1996 when the bottom of the strike zone was moved from just above the knee to just below the knee.

[CAScreaminDude]

The top of the strike zone is halfway between the batter's shoulders and top of belt. Usually that means just above the diaphragm (commonly at the bottom or the middle of the letters).

[Bluesteve32]

By rule, perhaps, but not in practice. In most levels above Little League, you are not going to see strikes called above the navel. That is actually expected and the high school and college level up to the professional level.

Give most umpires a choice, they would love to call that pitch at the letters a strike, if they could get away with it.

[CAScreaminDude]

At the beginning of a game, I will, and I do, definately call a pitch at the letters a strike. I've never been contacted by my association negatively regarding my strike zone, in fact, I had my crew chief one game praise me for ringing up a slugger (the Barry Bonds of Varsity Ball, I suppose) on a pitch at the letters in a key situation.

[Bluesteve32]

Do you work playoffs?

[CAScreaminDude]

It's my first year at this level, so I'm not working playoffs quite yet.

[Bluesteve32]

As you work a higher level of ball, you will see what is expected and what you can get away with at a lower level varsity game or JV or frosh, you would not be able to get away calling at the highest levels.

College conferences are trying to get thier umpires to call a higher zone, about the navel or two balls above the belt, but that is because many guys were calling things a bit too low.

[lgradyl]

Two balls above the belt IS halfway between the shoulders and the top of the belt.

[redverter]

I just started umping (11, 12, 13 year olds). Can u give me some tips and advice on the strike zone? A game hasnt yet gone by where I get crap from the coaches. Help!!!

[lgradyl]

You have that backwards.  They are more lax in little league. The higher you are, the more accurate the rule becomes. Halfway between the shoulders and the top of the belt. It might not look like it On TV, but believe me, they call those strikes.

[Bluesteve32]

Have you been on a 90' diamond during a game (not in the stands)? Have you ever been behind the plate in a college or HS playoff game?

BTW, two balls above the belt is not close to halfway between the shoulders and the belt on HS age and above. It is slightly above the navel.

I have been working ball for almost three decades at various levels including HS and college and know what I am talking about.

[lgradyl]

Dont be offended. I am telling you what the rule book says. My uncle is a CURRENT MLB (PBUC) umpire. I have worked many HS games. In fact, he was there at one and had to tell me that my strike zone was not high enough. The strike zone that HE CALLS is exactly what it says in the rule book. They get reviewed just like players do, and you don't call games at that level if you don't know where the strike zone is. You might have your own strike zone, but its not the right one.

[lgradyl]

Yes, I have been on a 90' diamond during a game before. Baseballs are between 2 and 7/8 inches and 3 inches. 6 inches above the belt is well above the naval, unless they are violating one of the uniform rules of the game in which case would never get an at bat in the first place.

[lgradyl]

Also to clarify. This actually might clear something up. The strike zone can be different for different players obviously depending on their size AND stance. The strike zone that Umpires in the PBUC are asked to enforce is from the bottom of the kneecap to the midway point between the top of their shoulders and the top of the belt, while in their natural batting stance. So not while standing upright. We actually might be talking about the same thing here, now that I think about it.

[UserOfCommonSense]

cool. I'd really like to watch a lot more baseball, just to understand why the americans love it so much. That has really cleared some stuff up for me.

[critter2]

really is the umpire judgement not where hitters think. the ball can be outside. and still be called a strike. if it is close enough to the plate .