The Strike Zone

[DGS49]

According to the current MLB rulebook, the strike zone is...

"...a vertical prism that extends from the midpoint between the batter's shoulders and the top of their pants to the hollow below their kneecap."

"The home-plate umpire calls strikes and balls after each pitch passes the batter. A pitch is a strike if any part of it crosses through any part of the strike zone."

Note the top of that strike zone: "...the midpoint between the batter's shoulders and the top of their pants..." See graphic below.

Unstated is WHEN that strike zone is fixed: when the batter is standing in the batter's box, or when the batter assumes his batting stance. Those who pay attention to such things know that it is the latter, as many players over the years (e.g., Ricky Henderson") have effectively shrunk their strike zone by assuming an extremely crouched batting stance. But regardless...

It is conspicuous when you are actually looking for it, but the strike zone that is shown on the television when looking in at the batter is not even remotely like the foregoing definition. Indeed, the top of the indicated strike zone is basically at the top of the players pants, at his belt buckle. This is, to coin a phrase, bullshit.

One wonders, Who is it that sketches that strike zone for the television viewers? Is it just some guy? It is a retired umpire? A baseball official of some kind? Inquiring minds want to know.

It is also significant that the ball&strike calls are generally consistent with the rectangle that is shown on the television screen, excepting only "blown calls" by the umpire.


https://www.google.com/imgres?q=graphic of baseball strike zone&imgurl=https://www.conceptdraw.com/How-To-Guide/picture/Sport-Baseball-Pitching-and-the-strike-zone-Sample.png&imgrefurl=https://www.conceptdraw.com/How-To-Guide/baseball-pitching-and-strike-zone&docid=LK2tC0Br3vEePM&tbnid=wCyD-SvapELNTM&vet=12ahUKEwjMut-I7JGJAxVsF2IAHar3IB0QM3oECBkQAA..i&w=1122&h=789&hcb=2&ved=2ahUKEwjMut-I7JGJAxVsF2IAHar3IB0QM3oECBkQAA

 

[lennypartiv]

The strike zone is...different for each game. Imagine if they changed the size of the end zone for each football game.

 

[Dogmaphobe]

Back when I played in high school, I wanted the strike zone lowered. I was able to drive a lower ball much better as my weight shift was more natural and my extension was a lot better. High, in and hard was my Achillies heal.

When I watch pros, though, most seem to like it at or just above the belt.

 

[carloz]

Now that's a batting stance.

 

[DGS49]

Many years ago, baseball fans and pitchers made a big stink about the evaporation of the top third of the strike zone - everything above the belt line was called a "ball" - and MLB promised to rectify the situation. They did for a few seasons, but apparently that experiment went by the boards.

I am all for electronic ball&strike calling. You would still need a home plate umpire for foul tips, check swings and whatnot, but consistency would be a good thing. I personally would suggest STANDARDIZING the strike zone - say, "from 24" above the plate to 48" above the plate" and let the players deal with it. That eliminates another area of judgment, the line at which one draws the top of the zone.