Will Newly Mandated Strike Zone Survive or Fall By the Wayside?(interview with Bruce Froemming, baseball umpire)(Interview)

BRUCE FROEMMING, WHO BEGAN HIS MAJOR LEAGUE UMPIRING CAREER 30 years ago, was talking about the newly mandated strike zone that was scheduled to go into effect with the start of spring training exhibitions and extend into the 2001 season.

Vertically, the new zone conforms closely to the traditional rule book definition. It was ordered by commissioner Bud Selig, and requires plate umpires to call strikes on pitches as high as the batter's armpits.

"I don't know whether it will be as high as the armpits," said Froemming, "but I know the strike zone this year is going to be higher, and will be enforceable beginning with spring training games.

"We'll work out the kinks in spring training so batters and pitchers will be able to identify and get used to the new strike zone area."

Froemming was among umpiring crew chiefs who discussed the vertical expansion of the strike zone with major league managers last December during the winter baseball meetings in Dallas.

All managers were on hand for the lively discussion with the exception of Joe Torre of the Yankees and Bruce Bochy of the Padres. Some of them took a dim view of altering the zone so it aligns more closely to its rule book definition.

"This isn't as monumental as bringing in the aluminum bat, but it's one step below," argued John Boles, manager of the Marlins. "Jim Palmer (Hall of Fame pitcher who threw a lot of high strikes) is going to make a comeback."