Expert: Tom Schott - 10/7/2011

Question
why does only one play per team wear the old time type uniform.
why do most of the players wear what looks like a polyurethane rope around their necks.
if any part of the ball touches the strike zone is it a strike.
lastly: why do they put the strike zone little box in r/h corner to show the strikes without referring to it like the instant replay in football.  
thank you for your time.  Larry

Answer
Hello, Larry,

What do you mean by "old time type uniform"? If you are referring to the fact that some players don't wear the uniform pants all the way to their shoe tops and have their colored stockings showing, that is strictly a matter of individual choice by the players. And it is usually more than one player who opts for that look on a team. There are two guys like that who I can think of on the Rangers, for example: Ian Kinsler and David Murphy.

Game commentators don't always refer to the little strike zone box because they don't want to criticize umpires when they miss a call, and if they did always refer to it, it would get pretty tedious, because there are always somewhere around 300 total pitches in a game. The box shows the location of each pitch, and it is there for the viewer's information. It has nothing to do with the actual game going on. Commentators are free to comment or not comment on individual pitches as depicted in the strike zone box, whenever they choose, which is usually on strikeout pitches or close calls. And you will never hear them say that an umpire missed a call, even when it's clear they did. Why say so when it's obvious?

And would you mind telling me why you marked me down for being discourteous? Was it because your question was not clear and I did not understand it? And I'll have you know I was out of town which is why I could not get to your question immediately. Unbelievable. People answer these random questions from total strangers out of their own generosity and on their own time--sometimes a good bit of it--and get judged this way. That's pretty cold, if you ask me.

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I don't understand your first question.
Those polyurethane ropes supposedly impart some physical benefits to the wearer.
If a ball touches any part of the strike zone, it is a strike by definition. But what really decides is whether the umpire =calls= it a strike. It's not a strike no matter where it is till that happens.
Instant replay in baseball is limited to a very narrow range of issues involving determining whether some batted balls are homes. This may change in the future, but for now it's just HR issues.