My gf and I were greeted by name by Goth Twink, New Twink and a blonde barista when we walked in. We must be infinitely better than you lot!!! 
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I was told I had a nice strike zone by three different people last night.
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I thought mine was solid last night too. butā¦got very few comments on it.
Youāre in the market for a new shovel, not a new hoe? Obligatory: why not both?
The funny thing was, I thought my outside was off. First time out this year and I just couldnāt find that outside corner consistently. U10/U12 and had like six different catchers, four of which didnāt seem to have any experience. Put my new pads to some good use though. Two solid shots to the shoulder that got "ooh"s from the crowd.
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I coached travel ball for 5 years.
A good strike zone is a consistent strike zone.
A good strike zone is a big strike zone.
Nobody wants to watch a kidsā ball game where the umpireās zone is tiny and there are too many walks in a game. Encourage kids to swing the lumber.
I agree but it is a balancing act at the lower ages. You donāt want to teach batters to swing at garbage pitches and you want the pitchers to learn control.
One of my girls was complaining this year after being called out looking at a low pitch. I told her, āThis guyās been umping your games for 10 years. He always has a low strike zone, you shouldnāt be surprised. Swing the damn bat.ā
Iām pretty consistent with my zone. To the point that I was doing a scrimmage game last year where I knew it was a strike on the outside bottom corner and I meant to call it strike. But I said āBall!ā and the parents behind me gave an āoohā even though it was in their favor. At the half inning, I turned to them and said, āYep, that one got away from me.ā That got a chuckle.
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I recall one game at 14U travel ball. The umpire that we had running the game was also the chief umpire for all ages in the house leagues. 3 of my 14U players were also 1st year umpires in the 9 & 10 year old house league, so they reported to him.
His strike zone was consistent, but tiny. For a whole game he had 1 strikeout (swinging) and about 16 walks across both sides. He affected the outcome of the game, because our hitters were free swingers and aggressive, but the other team was more patient and just more willing to take a base on balls that the ump was giving away for free. I told him afterward he set a bad example for the would-be umpires who were playing that day.
It surprises me to see how many volunteer coaches, officials, and such there are here. I could never imagine my dad doing something like that. Not sure Iād be up for it either.
In fairness theyāre probably farther removed from potty training than you are, give it time!
That can be a fair criticism. However, it sounds like many of the batters figured out how to work the zone and the pitchers didnāt. Did you coach your pitcher to bring it in, bring it up, and bring it down? Did you coach your aggressive batters to hold on the edges and wait for only their favorite pitch that they could drive? Figuring out the umpire is as much a part of the game as knowing that a close backstop means you canāt be aggressive on a passed ball or that you can take an extra base on an outfield hit when the fence is 220.
I had a coach come up to me after a U14 game once and he told me that his pitcher walked more batters in that game then she had the rest of the season. She had like six walks in the game. I asked him how many left handed batters she had faced? He asked why that mattered. I told him, she was two inches outside the plate on every single outside pitch he called against left handed batters and the team they played had seven batters hitting lefty. If he had been watching his catcher, he would have seen her trying to frame every single one of those pitches in. He liked to call pitches down and away which resulted in a bunch of walks in that game. Iām certain he complains about my tiny strike zone when he tells this same story. He didnāt like me anyway. I called one of his players out for stepping on the ball after a bunt and he didnāt understand why that was interference.
When I coached youth ball, that was all volunteer but my daughter was playing so it was kind of like family time. Brought us a lot of together time and enjoyment. As a high school coach I get paid. All of the umpiring I do is also paid regardless of level. In my neck of the woods, there is no volunteer officiating. Youād have to be nuts to do it for free.
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Speaking of strike zones, did anybody get hit on by a drunk mom - or 2??? 
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In an arguably insignificant way, of course
not yet 
Sounds like youāve got some homework.
ā¦buuuut thereās a chanceā¦
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And no one has unintended sex with their ex.
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Most couples build trust, and most ppl like the se><ors. Iāve done it (humblebrag many times!!!)