Major league umpire Randy Marsh, from Edgewood, Ky., spent some telephone time last week with Enquirer sports reporter John Erardi before flying to Florida for spring training. The topic was the “new” strike zone. (Really, it's just a new enforcement of the old strike zone as it's described in the rulebook).

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        Q. So, you've been a big-league ump for 20 years. You umpired a lot before that in the minors. How did the strike zone evolve as you came up through the ranks?

        A. In amateur ball and the low minors, the strike zone was bigger and higher. The pitchers weren't as consistent, so you milked it for every strike you could get. In Triple-A, you had major leaguers-to-be and guys who'd already been up there. You'd get a lot of complaining about (calling) the high strike, so you laid off it. The catcher didn't want it, and neither did the pitcher, the pitching coach or the manager. They wanted the low strike (which is the harder pitch to hit).”

        Q. The rulebook says the bottom of the strike zone is the hollow beneath the knee cap, and the top of the zone is the mid-point between the waist and the shoulders. You guys have been calling the low strike for years, but not the high strike. What should the fans look for when it comes to judging how the umpires are doing back there?

        A. Well, it's important for (fans) to know that the strike zone (as described in the rulebook) does not apply when the hitter is standing up there in the batter's box. It applies when he strides into the pitch and his hands are down to swing at the ball. Generally that's 5-6 inches lower than when he's standing in the box ... Looking at the hitter's elbows (as the hitter strides into the pitch) is a pretty good indicator of (the top end) of the strike zone.”

        Q. How important is the catcher in all this?

        A. Very important. We're trying to cooperate with the catchers. If a pitch is over the plate, it's a strike. But if a catcher is setting up so far outside and a catcher is catching the ball right in front of him, the perception (of pitchers, catchers, fans and even the umpires in recent years) is: "Why isn't that a strike?' Well, we're getting away from that. Catchers who set up (way) outside, all that's going to do (this season) is tick off the umpire.

        Q. So how is Major League Baseball going to monitor and enforce the “new” strike zone?

        A. They will be watching us, game after game. I really think the players are intelligent enough to realize how serious everybody (the umpires and MLB) is about this.

        Q. What else is coming into play as regards the strike zone that fans may not be aware of?

        A. Body armor. When we met with the managers in the Winter Meetings, one of the managers — I won't say who, but he's a respected guy, a veteran — said: “I've got four guys in my starting lineup and there's nothing ailing them, but they're all wearing body armor from their (front) shoulder down to their wrist. They're hanging out over the plate, because they're not intimidated (about the pitcher throwing inside).” The manager said: “We're not a big-money club. We've got to be able to teach our young pitchers how to pitch. There's got to be some intimidation. Something has to be done about the body armor.” I think something will be. There's a dialogue between (MLB) and the Players Association trying to come up with something (limiting body armor).

        Q. What are some of the funnier things you've seen in your umpiring career that have to do with calling balls and strikes?

        A. In Tucson (during spring training when former Red) Champ Summers was with Oakland, I was behind the plate and the pitcher wound up, and just as he released the pitch, the lights flickered and went out. Champ dove out, I dove out, and the catcher ducked. We gave the pitcher a “re-do.” The funniest thing I ever saw — although I wasn't behind the plate; I was on the bases — was in a Pacific Coast League game. The hitter was Rich Childs. (Home plate umpire) Jim Quick had called strike one on Childs, and Childs was giving him a hard time. He wouldn't get back in the (batter's) box. Jim signaled for the pitcher to throw the next pitch. At that point, it doesn't matter where the pitch is, it's an automatic strike. So now, Childs was really ticked. Jim ordered him back in the box, but Childs wouldn't get in. He said he had to tie his shoelaces. So, there he was, outside the box and down on one knee tying his shoelaces and Jim called strike three. That was pretty funny.

Larkin, Reese spell double-trouble DAUGHERTY: LaRue learns 'art' from Michelangelo Reyes' starts suit Boone Game report: Reds 7, Pirates 5 Five Questions With: Randy Marsh

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