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Article: The Strike Zone Comes in All Shapes, Sizes
- Article from:
- Chicago Sun-Times
- Article date:
- February 25, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 1996 Chicago Sun-Times. (Hide copyright information)
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You will not find the strike zone on any map. It is not a
location so much as a concept, like Brigadoon, or the lost continent
of Atlantis.
Its boundaries expand or contract to conform to the individual
in the batter's box, his specific stance at the plate, and the
umpire's ability to distinguish the particular plane of pitches
thrown at speeds that sometimes surpass 100 m.p.h.
It is not a hopeless task, but it is hopelessly inexact. One
man's strike three is another man's ball four. One man's outside
corner is another man's on-deck circle.
Major League Baseball wants to reshape the strike zone this
season so that pitchers get the call at the knees and umpires agree
on exactly where ...