If it touches the strike zone, it’s a strike. The ball IIRC is 2.9 inches in diameter The plate is 17 inches wide in the front part so the strike zone is technically 22.8 inches wide which includes the ball. 2 X 2.8 plus 17.
The same concept applies vertically. If the top of the knee is a strike, the ball can be 2.8 inches below the topi of the knee and the top .1 of the ball at the top of the knee and that’s a strike.
Right, that would be the rulebook zone to my understanding and how this should be called. Just use the zone as described in the rules.
This would mean no more speeding up things/manipulation in extra innings or blow out games by umps. Which is a good thing for integrity, but might make for a lot more extra innings and longer games. Which they are trying to get away from I think.
Freegards