As we all know calling a good game starts well before the first pitch is thrown. A clear and focused mind is a must if one hopes to do a great job. With such an emphasis on pre-game preparedness, it shocks me that so many baseball umpires choose not to track the pitches of a warming-up pitcher. This is something often associated with younger umpires, although I have seen veterans do it as well. Even though it is taught, many officials seem to stop doing it once they get into the field. After the pre-game, I always make sure that I track all eight warm-up pitches. To do this is to give yourself such an advantage, especially in that crucial first inning when you are trying to establish your zone. By not tracking pitches, umpires are doing the equivalent of running a mile without stretching. Here are the reasons I track pitches and why I feel it is so important:

• See what the kid’s got. Where is that curveball coming in at? I like to see if it is catching the corner, or if it is coming in high. Find out if his/her fastballs are staying up or if he/she is living on that low spot. Like with anything in life, it is better to have some knowledge going into a situation, calling pitches is no exception. You want to have a good idea where your zone is going to start and end prior to the beginning of the game, by then it is too late.
• Each catcher is different and as such it is necessary to get a feel for how each catcher sets up. Find out if your catcher stays down or if he/she comes up blocking your view. You don’t want to have that first pitch fastball right down the pipe, and the catcher pops up in front of you. Bad catching habits can be addressed during the warm-up and hopefully put into check.
• Worst case scenario. You got two great teams pitted against one another, the pitching match-up is stellar and your catcher butchers every pitch that is thrown. His/her framing work is poor to put it politely. It is better to find this out early rather than after the game has started. Being a former college catcher many times I can give a catcher a crash course in framing. Often times a little suggestion here or there can help to aid the situation. Although you may have never caught, you still know what works and what just looks terrible. Help a struggling catcher with any piece of knowledge you have.

Those eight warm-up pitches are just as important to you as they are to the pitcher. It is not just a time to calibrate your zone but is also a time to help any little problems that may create bigger problems for you later. We all long for the perfect game where our zone is just right and we couldn’t miss a call if we tried. It all starts with tracking pitches. Don’t start yourself behind, take full advantage of tracking pitches, and have a good one!