---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The strike zone should be what the rule…"
description: "\"The strike zone should be what the rule book says it is and not a personal idiosyncrasy.\" — Frank Deford"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/283/frank-deford-3856_baseball_the-strike-zone-should-be-what-the-rule_787535.png"
---

#  The strike zone should be what the rule book says it is…

![“The strike zone should be what the rule book says it is and not a personal idiosyncrasy.” quote by Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/283/frank-deford-3856_baseball_the-strike-zone-should-be-what-the-rule_787535.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/283/frank-deford-3856_baseball_the-strike-zone-should-be-what-the-rule_787535.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/283/frank-deford-3856_baseball_the-strike-zone-should-be-what-the-rule_787535.png)

> “The strike zone should be what the rule book says it is and not a personal idiosyncrasy.”

[Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Rules should define the strike zone objectively, not be altered by personal bias.

**In simple terms:** Follow the official rule, not personal quirks.

Key Takeaway

Adhere to standardized rules.

Themes

sports fairness objectivity rules

Mood

analytical objective

Type

sports motivational

When to use this quote

- baseball coaching
- referee training
- player development

Key Concepts

ethics performance statistics

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you ensure impartiality in decision making?
- What are the risks of personal bias in sports?

A Different Perspective

Personal preferences can undermine consistency and fairness.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Baseball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rule/) [Rule Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rule-book-1050655/) [Says](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/says/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Strike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strike/) [Strike Zone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strike-zone-280695/) [Zone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zone/) [Zone Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zone-rule-6055279/)

## Related quotes

> [Number one, from a tackling standpoint, we teach strike zone hits, and we want to hit absolutely as hard as we can in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quinn/number-one-from-a-tackling-standpoint-we-teach-strike-zone-hits-and/)

[Dan Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quinn/)

> [There's only a certain percentage of the strike zone that you can do extra-base hit, barrel damage with the ball. Just because it's in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-votto/there-s-only-a-certain-percentage-of-the-strike-zone-that-you-can-do/)

[Joey Votto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-votto/)

> [I don't want the electronic strike zone. I like the element of sometimes pitches don't get called. Guys don't receive it well or whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/i-don-t-want-the-electronic-strike-zone-i-like-the-element-of/)

[Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/)

> [The main thing you want to look at is, am I swinging at strikes and am I putting good swings on the balls within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-pham/the-main-thing-you-want-to-look-at-is-am-i-swinging-at-strikes-and-am/)

[Tommy Pham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-pham/)

> [AT&amp;T Park, chalk it up. This is a great pitcher's park, great weather. It's a great place to pitch. It's all positive and no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-hudson/at-t-park-chalk-it-up-this-is-a-great-pitcher-s-park-great-weather-it/)

[Tim Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-hudson/)

> [Balls and strikes are the basic tenet to everything in baseball. From the perspective of hitting, pitching, offense and defense, it's all about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/balls-and-strikes-are-the-basic-tenet-to-everything-in-baseball-from/)

[Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/)

> [If you're a photographer, they give you a camera. If you're a writer, they give you a typewriter. If you're an umpire, they give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-harvey/if-you-re-a-photographer-they-give-you-a-camera-if-you-re-a-writer/)

[Doug Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-harvey/)

> [I understand why there is a push for an automated strike zone. However, I do think there would be some unintended consequences of having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-scherzer/i-understand-why-there-is-a-push-for-an-automated-strike-zone-however/)

[Max Scherzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-scherzer/)

> [I love the game, it's the greatest game on earth, that's why I can't understand all of this talk about trying to make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-davis/i-love-the-game-it-s-the-greatest-game-on-earth-that-s-why-i-can-t/)

[Eric Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-davis/)

> [I don't think you can set up a computer to do a strike zone on a guy who's 6-foot-5 and then a guy who's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-bench/i-don-t-think-you-can-set-up-a-computer-to-do-a-strike-zone-on-a-guy/)

[Johnny Bench](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-bench/)

> [For me, the strike zone has always been, If it's something I can drive, it's most likely a strike. I feel like if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-judge/for-me-the-strike-zone-has-always-been-if-it-s-something-i-can-drive/)

[Aaron Judge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-judge/)

> [Once you can control that strike zone, you can make better swings and hit the ball better every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/once-you-can-control-that-strike-zone-you-can-make-better-swings-and/)

[Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/)

> [I got into a bad habit of dropping my elbow and pushing the ball to the plate instead of getting on top of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-cain/i-got-into-a-bad-habit-of-dropping-my-elbow-and-pushing-the-ball-to/)

[Matt Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-cain/)

> [Typically, being under the strike zone with the sinker isn't a big issue. I need to be a little bit higher with the strike…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jake-arrieta/typically-being-under-the-strike-zone-with-the-sinker-isn-t-a-big/)

[Jake Arrieta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jake-arrieta/)

> [You can't see the bat hit the ball if you're generating any bat speed. If you're just laying the bat through the strike zone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wade-boggs/you-can-t-see-the-bat-hit-the-ball-if-you-re-generating-any-bat-speed/)

[Wade Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wade-boggs/)

## More by Frank Deford

> [Because I lost a daughter, eight years old, to cystic fibrosis, I think that anytime that I'm dealing with people who, like Andrea Yeager,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/because-i-lost-a-daughter-eight-years-old-to-cystic-fibrosis-i-think/)

[Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/)

> [I never wanted to be an editor. I never wanted to be a boss. I just wanted to write, and it didn't make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/i-never-wanted-to-be-an-editor-i-never-wanted-to-be-a-boss-i-just/)

[Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/)

> [Dan Rather pulling on a sweater and thereby winning a whole new chunk of the populace: That's television. President Reagan's press conferences: That's television.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/dan-rather-pulling-on-a-sweater-and-thereby-winning-a-whole-new-chunk/)

[Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/)

> [I am something of a ham. Yeah, I'd always been a writer. But in high school, I acted in plays. So it wasn't as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/i-am-something-of-a-ham-yeah-i-d-always-been-a-writer-but-in-high/)

[Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/)

> [I think the four major leagues ought to set up a joint commission - say, of retired judges - to rule on athletes who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/i-think-the-four-major-leagues-ought-to-set-up-a-joint-commission-say/)

[Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/)

> [If I'd grown up in Sao Paulo, I'm sure I would've been a great soccer fan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/if-i-d-grown-up-in-sao-paulo-i-m-sure-i-would-ve-been-a-great-soccer/)

[Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/)

> [The dollar is a winner. The euro is a tie. Get off the dime, Europe, and play to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/the-dollar-is-a-winner-the-euro-is-a-tie-get-off-the-dime-europe-and/)

[Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/)

> [I grew up in Baltimore and that's why I root for the Orioles. I'm very suspicious of people who move and take on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/i-grew-up-in-baltimore-and-that-s-why-i-root-for-the-orioles-i-m-very/)

[Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/)

> [I remember one time I wrote something very, very critical about Wilt Chamberlain. The next time I saw him - and Wilt was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/i-remember-one-time-i-wrote-something-very-very-critical-about-wilt/)

[Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/)

> [If the players aren't getting paid, there's something terribly, terribly wrong, and that's true only in the United States. Everywhere else, where money is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/if-the-players-aren-t-getting-paid-there-s-something-terribly/)

[Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/)

> [Johnny U was an American original, a piece of work like none other, excepting maybe Paul Bunyan and Horatio Alger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/johnny-u-was-an-american-original-a-piece-of-work-like-none-other/)

[Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/)

> [If there ever was an 'America's team,' it would be itty-bitty, little Green Bay, stuck way up there somewhere, owned by the salt-of-the-Earth citizens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/if-there-ever-was-an-america-s-team-it-would-be-itty-bitty-little/)

[Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/)

> [That's the greatest compliment I can get: when somebody from Key West says, 'Hey, Bubba.' That means I'm in!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/that-s-the-greatest-compliment-i-can-get-when-somebody-from-key-west/)

[Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/)

> [To see the glory in sport, where somebody comes from behind and does something, sinks a shot in the last second or throws a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/to-see-the-glory-in-sport-where-somebody-comes-from-behind-and-does/)

[Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/)

> [When Juan Antonio Samaranch said the Olympics are more important than the Catholic Church, I just couldn't believe it. I said to myself, 'Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/when-juan-antonio-samaranch-said-the-olympics-are-more-important-than/)

[Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/)

[Explore all 120 Frank Deford quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/)

## More Baseball quotes

> [I'd always have grease in at least two places, in case the umpires would ask me to wipe one off. I never wanted to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gaylord-perry/i-d-always-have-grease-in-at-least-two-places-in-case-the-umpires/)

[Gaylord Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gaylord-perry/)

> [When you're in the middle of a pennant race, you can't go up there thinking about home runs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammy-sosa/when-you-re-in-the-middle-of-a-pennant-race-you-can-t-go-up-there/)

[Sammy Sosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammy-sosa/)

> [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/)

[Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/)

> [Spring training means flowers, people coming outdoors, sunshine, optimism and baseball. Spring training is a time to think about being young again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-banks/spring-training-means-flowers-people-coming-outdoors-sunshine/)

[Ernie Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-banks/)

> [Pitchers pitch differently. Hitters, hardly anyone has the same stance. That's just how it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-zimmerman/pitchers-pitch-differently-hitters-hardly-anyone-has-the-same-stance/)

[Ryan Zimmerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-zimmerman/)

> [Five World Series rings, 3000-plus hits, the fame, the fortune and playing for the second most historic franchise in baseball... These are just some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mookie-betts/five-world-series-rings-3000-plus-hits-the-fame-the-fortune-and/)

[Mookie Betts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mookie-betts/)

> [I don't want the electronic strike zone. I like the element of sometimes pitches don't get called. Guys don't receive it well or whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-schwarber/i-don-t-want-the-electronic-strike-zone-i-like-the-element-of/)

[Kyle Schwarber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-schwarber/)

> [I sang the National Anthem at Dodger Stadium - at a baseball game - which was crazy; there was, like, 60,000 people there, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-devine/i-sang-the-national-anthem-at-dodger-stadium-at-a-baseball-game-which/)

[Adam DeVine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-devine/)

> [If I was going to make one rule change, I would bring the DH to the National League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-brett/if-i-was-going-to-make-one-rule-change-i-would-bring-the-dh-to-the/)

[George Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-brett/)

> [In all honesty, once you become a professional, number one, you're no longer a fan. I don't root for the Dodgers, really. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vin-scully/in-all-honesty-once-you-become-a-professional-number-one-you-re-no/)

[Vin Scully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vin-scully/)

> [I'll tell you what's helped me my entire life. I look at baseball as a game. It's something where people can go out, enjoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-caray/i-ll-tell-you-what-s-helped-me-my-entire-life-i-look-at-baseball-as-a/)

[Harry Caray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-caray/)

> [When I step into the batters box. The fans, the noise, the cheers, they all disappear. For that moment, the world is just a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/when-i-step-into-the-batters-box-the-fans-the-noise-the-cheers-they/)

[Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft-shelley/)

> [What we should have done is kept the same team that played in the '95 World Series. Those trades (Eddie Murray &amp; Carlos Baerga)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-belle/what-we-should-have-done-is-kept-the-same-team-that-played-in-the-95/)

[Albert Belle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-belle/)

> [“I can buy baseball cards to view an entire career on the back of a little square of cardboard. But nobody sells major league…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ortberg-jr/i-can-buy-baseball-cards-to-view-an-entire-career-on-the-back-of-a/)

[John Ortberg Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ortberg-jr/)

> [The wind always seems to blow against catchers when they are running.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-garagiola/the-wind-always-seems-to-blow-against-catchers-when-they-are-running/)

[Joe Garagiola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-garagiola/)

[Browse all 7,461 Baseball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/baseball/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "The strike zone should be what the rule book says it is and not a personal idiosyncrasy.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Frank Deford"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/the-strike-zone-should-be-what-the-rule-book-says-it-is-and-not-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Baseball"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/the-strike-zone-should-be-what-the-rule-book-says-it-is-and-not-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/283/frank-deford-3856_baseball_the-strike-zone-should-be-what-the-rule_787535.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/283/frank-deford-3856_baseball_the-strike-zone-should-be-what-the-rule_787535.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/283/frank-deford-3856_baseball_the-strike-zone-should-be-what-the-rule_787535.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The strike zone should be what the rule book says it is and not a personal idiosyncrasy.” — Frank Deford",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Frank Deford",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "The strike zone should be what...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/the-strike-zone-should-be-what-the-rule-book-says-it-is-and-not-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/the-strike-zone-should-be-what-the-rule-book-says-it-is-and-not-a/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
