Much better for a pitching coach to find an umps 'zone" and pitch to it. I would think this would be much easier these days. To have a database on an ump, sounds like a REALLY SMART thing.

No one frames like the catcher from Jackie Robinson West. That was a least a 2 second count after the ball hit the mitt.

Framing a pitch quickly and smoothly can make a big difference.

Ok. Points taken. I just didn't think an MLB ump would be that easy to manipulate.

And thanks to his dad(and a recruitment letter), his favorite player is Johnny Bench

And maybe, just maybe we can convince him to stay at Kenwood for high school (to hell with all-boys schools which need not be mentioned )

I think Earl Weaver kept tabs on umpires with the Orioles, but mostly just to remember which ones he could curse at more.

I did see the kid see his favorite player was Johnny Bench...that went uncommented upon, though it was awesome.

Just look at the opposite case. How often do you see a catcher set up inside or outside and the pitcher completely misses and throws it right over the plate? It happens all the time and the ump rarely calls it a strike because all the catcher movement throws him off.

If a pitcher hits a catcher's spot and he barely moves it over they are more likely to get the call.

They did talk to his dad about it during one of the games. He said the kid found out there was a Johnny Bench trophy that was awarded to the top college catcher and asked him who Johnny Bench was. Then the kid said, "I'm gonna win that." The dad said he didn't want the kid to catch at all, but the kid whined about it until he allowed it. So he told him, "If you're going to catch, you're going to learn how to do it right." And then he made him block balls for months without ever catching a ball. Finally, the kid asked, "When do I actually get to catch?" And the dad said, "When you're in college!"

umpires in general seem to be rather dumb and easy to fool.

My favorite Bench story was when he called for a curveball three times from a pitcher who insisted on throwing a fastball, which Bench thought wasn't popping that day. The pitcher ended up throwing a fastball, and Bench caught it barehanded, just to prove a point.

I've heard that story. I'm not sure if it's true or just a legend, but the pitcher was supposedly Jim Maloney.

Well Jim Maloney threw pretty fucking hard so Im not sure if it went down like that.

I been saying this for 10 years, a sensor on home plate..these umps blow, not to mention they get hit in the nuts n stop play for minutes ...baseball needs several rule changes to improve the game.

Time limit on pitchers
batter can only leave box 1 x per atbat
only 1 mound visit per inning..that includes catcher , pitching coach n manager...so make it count if you want to stop play.
no more changing balls every time it hits the dirt ...ya use one ball until its in the seats..then grab another one.
shorten season to 112 games..season starts on may 1st.

implement a salary cap and floor.

The instant replays are awful...no challenges, just get the play right n quickly .
either the N.L. gets a DH or the A.L. loses theirs...have to be the same.