Could the pitcher throw strikes without a catcher?

The issue is not a catcher. I think the catcher position should be eliminated on humanitarian grounds. The issue is whether someone can throw consistently and accurately without a physical target.

Imaginary strike zone. Saturday, August 8, 2009

There are no physical limits to the strike zone. It is an imaginary three dimensional area hovering above ground. To make it even more elusive, it's size varies with each batter.

The pitcher imagines its location, then throws and hopes to place the ball within it. The batter imagines where it might be and swings through that area. Finally, the plate umpire imagines whether a baseball traveling over ninety miles per hour and moving erratically has passed through any part of it or possibly grazed the edge of it.
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One part of that quote is incorrect. The pitcher does not throw to an imaginary place. The pitcher throws to the catcher: mitt, left/right shin guard, left/right shoulder, mask. Whatever. The pitcher throws to a physical target.

Have you ever tried throwing to a batter without a catcher? You know, like when you were a kid or an adult in softball practice with only a few guys. It's really difficult. If you had a physical target, you'd do a lot better.

This also touches on the elusive subject of throwing inside. 99% of the time that is a euphemism for throwing at the batter. What else would be the target?

Touch your body at the top of the strike zone. Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Baseball has a lot of really stupid rules but the strike zone is probably the most stupid...

Who can expect umpires to correctly determine if ... pitches pass through some part of that imaginary three dimensional strike zone? ...

The top of the strike zone from 1963 to 1988 went from shoulders to armpits to midway.

What the heck is midway?  Try it.  Quickly touch your torso midway between your armpits and "pants".  Then measure for accuracy.

Who the heck thinks that makes any sense?  Especially when the batter may be moving and armpits is much less definitive than shoulders...

This midway rule since 1988 is moronic.  It compounds the already stupid rule into total idiocy.  And all we hear is complaining but with no real solutions.
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Automated strike zone within five years. Tuesday, August 25, 2015