Baseball Guru
07-16-2001, 10:17 PM
MLB to Respond to Pitch Count Flap
by RONALD BLUM
AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- Umpires have overreacted to baseball's directive to call more strikes, according to a top official of the commissioner's office, who seemed surprised at the attention given the matter,
Sandy Alderson, the executive vice president of baseball operations, said his labor lawyers were preparing a response to the grievance filed Saturday by the umpires' union, who said pitch-count pressure was threatening ''the integrity of the game.''
''All I've said is there is a fairly strong correlation between the misapplication of the strike zone and a high pitch count,'' Alderson said. ''Not that a high pitch count was determinative, but it was an indication of a misapplication of the strike zone. On that basis, there was a communication with some umpires.''
Umpires have interpreted that as pressure to call more strikes, cut down on the number of pitches each night and quicken games. They say that violates their new labor contract.
New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza said that while the strike zone has gotten bigger this season, he hasn't noticed dramatic change.
''Just to call more strikes is messing with the integrity of the game,'' he said. ''Let's go baby steps now. Let's not say every game has to be under two hours and a certain number of pitches.''
The rule-book definition of the strike zone hadn't been enforced in years, with umpires pulling the strike zone lower and making it wider through the 1980s and 1990s. Commissioner Bud Selig and Alderson wanted that changed, and emphasized that to umpires during the offseason.
This year, with more high strikes being called, many offensive statistics have decreased 5-10 percent.
''What we're looking for is an appropriate, consistent application of the strike zone,'' Alderson said. ''There are a whole host of ways we're able to focus in on who is able to do it. Pitch count is one of the tools. It was never used in the absence of prior direct observation, observation through television and videotape.''
Toronto manager Buck Martinez, a former catcher and television broadcaster, thought the debate was silly.
''I think we're making way too much out of it,'' he said. ''I don't think it's that big a deal.''
Piazza urged caution.
''I don't think the game can go from an offense-dominated game to a pitching-dominated game overnight,'' he said. ''I'm sure pitchers wouldn't mind.''
by RONALD BLUM
AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- Umpires have overreacted to baseball's directive to call more strikes, according to a top official of the commissioner's office, who seemed surprised at the attention given the matter,
Sandy Alderson, the executive vice president of baseball operations, said his labor lawyers were preparing a response to the grievance filed Saturday by the umpires' union, who said pitch-count pressure was threatening ''the integrity of the game.''
''All I've said is there is a fairly strong correlation between the misapplication of the strike zone and a high pitch count,'' Alderson said. ''Not that a high pitch count was determinative, but it was an indication of a misapplication of the strike zone. On that basis, there was a communication with some umpires.''
Umpires have interpreted that as pressure to call more strikes, cut down on the number of pitches each night and quicken games. They say that violates their new labor contract.
New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza said that while the strike zone has gotten bigger this season, he hasn't noticed dramatic change.
''Just to call more strikes is messing with the integrity of the game,'' he said. ''Let's go baby steps now. Let's not say every game has to be under two hours and a certain number of pitches.''
The rule-book definition of the strike zone hadn't been enforced in years, with umpires pulling the strike zone lower and making it wider through the 1980s and 1990s. Commissioner Bud Selig and Alderson wanted that changed, and emphasized that to umpires during the offseason.
This year, with more high strikes being called, many offensive statistics have decreased 5-10 percent.
''What we're looking for is an appropriate, consistent application of the strike zone,'' Alderson said. ''There are a whole host of ways we're able to focus in on who is able to do it. Pitch count is one of the tools. It was never used in the absence of prior direct observation, observation through television and videotape.''
Toronto manager Buck Martinez, a former catcher and television broadcaster, thought the debate was silly.
''I think we're making way too much out of it,'' he said. ''I don't think it's that big a deal.''
Piazza urged caution.
''I don't think the game can go from an offense-dominated game to a pitching-dominated game overnight,'' he said. ''I'm sure pitchers wouldn't mind.''