How to Be a Baseball Umpire : Calling Strikes as a Baseball Umpire

[KESHAandCYRUS]

in MLB there is no paint.. if there is the plate is put in wrong you fuck tart

[washnton23]

You are NOT serious!! Terrible!!

[2222jetsfan]

that kid must be laughing at this bafoon thats why they couldnt show his face

[beastlystud4life]

If you press 2 you'll learn that this ump like to itch the catchers head while umping.

[Everimmortallaura]

That was creepy when he looked at the kid in the end...

[SakamotoOsoraya227]

he is very noisy

[jrteel25]

First, you never set up over the catcher's head. You lose sight of the ball and cannot make an accurate strike/ ball call. Second, in Little League Baseball, in the rule book it states that the strike zone is from the batter's armpits to the top of the knees. No where in the book does it say the strike zone is at the bottom of the uniform letters. Finally, if you are going to do instructional videos on proper calls and mechanics, don't wear your cap backwards and get a shirt that fits properly.

[DevilsMetsGiants]

@jrteel25 i agree, i always lean towards the inside corner slightly as an ump, and yea, i use armpit height to knee height, uniform letters would be stupid, they're all in different spots for different teams

[beaverpitt]

WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE SLOT??? You can't see any of the corners from hugging the catcher.

[blueshockey41]

why is the batter not wearing a helmet?

[UMP1R3]

He's OBVIOUSLY just a rec league ump and the standards are a lot lower.

[Misstakeda]

@guitarmanreviews1993 You are right and wrong about what the plate sides are called. In different areas it's called different things. You call it the "black", this guys calls it the "paint", my father calls it the "lip". Just because you call it one thing does not make everyone else wrong. And just because some Joe Shmo in the NBL calls it one thing, doesn't make it law. I'll call it the rubber and I am right, and anyone that hears me call it the rubber, will know it's the rubber.

[poppyseeds1823]

i think that kids emo

[mywhalefartssmellbad]

It's Bill Nye the Baseball Guy!

[rockiestring]

How in the hell is he giving instruction when he doesn't even know where to set up? Wow!

[Brammy007a]

@rockiestring Well, there's the "slot" concept (adopted by almost everyone these days) and the old "scissors" concept where you are are right in the middle. I'm surprised that he's advocating the scissors stance without even mentioning the slot. Also, he's wrong about the "paint". The black edge of the rubber plate is not part of the strikezone. This guy is enthusiastic, but overall he thinks he knows more than he really does.

[rockiestring]

How in the hell is he giving instruction when he doesn't even know where to set up? Wow!

[rockiestring]

How in the hell is he giving instruction when he doesn't even know where to set up? Wow!

[mttwlsn16]

Over the catchers head?? lmao then your too high. Gotta be in the slot (between the catcher and batter) its not rocket science. This dude is a moron imo

[bigbrit93]

@mttwlsn16 I totally agree. This was my first year umpiring and we were taught to get in the slot and get your eyes to the top of the strike zone.

[straightarrow123]

Since he's using an inside protector, he should be in the "slot" rather than over the catcher's head, mainly for his own protection. The hands should also always be BEHIND the back, never out front. Pro umpires can get away with somewhat different mechanics because they're always working with catchers who can catch. Since I am one of that small minority of High School umps who uses an outside protector, lining up over the catcher's head is the proper technique for me.

[drbill28]

The point was to show what the strike zone technically is. Not how some people might call it. Many people give the "paint". The black technically is NOT part of the plate, 'nor is it technically part of the strike zone by definition.

Home plate must be 17" wide in LL. This accounts for the white portion of the plate. The black is merely there to prevent damage to the plate. You still have to get over the 17" portion (the white) for a strike. Not saying that's how you have to call it.

[critter2]

@drbill28 correct yet if it does hit the black part of the plate it ususally grabs some what part of the plate if its close enough that for sure.

[drbill28]

His explanation is NOT what the official Little League strike zone is. The strike zone is from the armpits to the TOP of the knee (not the physical joint) as the batter is in his natural stance. Now your actual called strike zone may vary, but that's the official zone. Also the "paint" is not part of the strike zone in little league.

[Avalanchedd]

I hate when someone explains something wrong.

[Quik148]

I agree with the first point you made, but the paint is ALWAYS part of the strike zone, ESPECIALLY in little league, if anything alot of umpires widen their strike zones 4-6 inches off the paint to keep the game moving. The most important thing is CONSISTANCY, if you have a low strike zone, so what? As long as its the same for both teams.

[drbill28]

No, you missed the point. I explained it. There's a difference between what is called and what the actual definitions are.

Yes, you MAY use the paint or call a few inches off the paint. But that doesn't make the black part of the actual plate. Which then by definition is not part of the strike zone. Note, definition. NEVER, I mean NEVER in explaining baseball rules or in training do you put your interpretation directly place of the actual definitions.

[Furax02]

I agree that the slot is preferable (I use it, in the true 'slot' form vs. the box-in-the-slot form), many pro umps still use the box and over the center of the catcher. I'm assuming that they still use it because it's generally very balanced and because catchers are going to move generally sideways (and significantly) such that you can still track the ball through the zone. However, having said that, new umpires especially will be more successful in the slot vs. the box, IMHO.

[kmcnelly]

These guys are right. You want to be in the slot; the area between the batter and the catcher. If you're 'directly over the catchers head' and the catcher moves, he's going to block you out. Also, you should never wear your hat backwards, it's looks horrible. And the black part of the plate is not called "the paint". A pitch is a rulebook strike if it goes over the white part of the plate.

[vanparty]

As "telleson said...NEVER EVER put your head over the catchers head. You NEED to be in the SLOT. Get some plate shoes, take the mask off, and put it on w/ your LEFT HAND....always. Indicator also in LEFT hand. It may take some getting used to, but I can see that you love this, so WORK ON IT, it's the proper way to do things. Have fun.

[gandhitaymour]

lol kid's hiding his face

[telleson]

You never, ever work over the catchers head. Get in the slot. Plus, there is no "paint" in baseball. There's the 17" of plate.