The problem with a pitcher as color is that pitching tends to be only thing they talk about. Petry tends to this side - plus it's disappointing he doesn't fix his verbal 'ya know' tic. It's not that hard to do if you are at all serious about doing the job well. Morris, for all his other faults did at least talk about position play a little. Catcher - a la Jim Price - is probably the best you can do if it's going to be an ex-player. Close to the pitching but still has a hitter's perspective.
yup - In fact I'd say in general one of the reasons that so few guys throw the curve anymore is that so many umps don't give the pitcher the whole K zone on a good curve.
The ump is probably right on these calls. A curve is falling rapidly as it crosses the plate. That fact that the catcher catches it below the box doesn't mean it's not a strike.
I get why he they don't want to give up on him - it's a big arm and he has a pretty good slider to go with the FB, but it's like the light just doesn't come on all the time.