CHAPTER 3 WORKING THE PLATE

WORKING THE PLATE

THOUGH ALL PHASES OF UMPIRING ARE IMPORTANT, A PROSPECTIVE UMPIRE MUST PROVE HIS ABILITY TO CALL BALLS AND STRIKES IF HE IS TO EXCEL AND BUILD A SOLID REPUTATION AS THE COMPLETE UMPIRE. GOOD JUDGMENT IS NATURALLY A PREREQUISITE FOR ACCOMPLISHING THIS TASK. JUDGMENT ALONE, HOWEVER WILL NOT SUFFICE. ONE MUST UNDERSTAND THE MANY FACETS OF WORKING THE PLATE. THESE INCLUDE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE STRIKE ZONE, THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER POSITIONING, AND THE CRITICAL NEED FOR DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE MECHANICAL TECHNIQUES.