[nickrego]

Short version:

It works exactly as it has been advocated to work.

Synopsis:

Locks you into the same spot every time. Gives you a longer look at each pitch. I felt as strong at the end of the game as I did at the beginning. Gives you a better view of the batter, pitcher and the entire field. Definitely exposes your un-protected areas more than any other stance. May require you to make slight modifications to your strike mechanics. You may want to consider giving up the Indicator (our security blanket).

Long version (very long actually…Sorry, but there is a lot to say about this):

I have been reading all the posts and articles I could find over the last few days about the Gerry Davis system. Out of the blue, I received a call asking me to cover a Babe Ruth 13 YRO game. The light bulb went on, thinking this was the prefect opportunity to try it out. I avoid making major changes in my mechanics this late in the season for HS games. I usually have a list of things to change by the end of the season and I work on them the next season during the pre-season schedule, when the games don’t matter.

Since the game was 2 minutes from my house, I dawned my gear early, got in front of a mirror and practiced getting into the stance consistently. Getting my elbows locked took more tries than I thought it would. You really have to turn the heels or your hands inwards to make this work. You also have to drop your butt a little bit more than you do when working the bases. The biggest problem I faced was being consistent with my left hand, which holds my indicator. After a while, I learned to wedge my thumbs under my upper knee guards, which helped a lot.

At first, it was really uncomfortable. Forcing yourself to stand so far behind the catcher really took a lot of concentration. I kept finding myself creeping back up and had to adjust back. The first thing you notice is how everything opens up. I use the Heel – Toe Slot mechanic and always felt like I was looking down a tunnel. Well, goodbye tunnel. From the GD, you can see everything, and have great depth of field perception.

It did take me about two innings to get used to the NEW Strike Zone. I say new because it looks quite different. Instead of looking down over a ball snapping past the plate, you are looking at a ball traveling towards you. You feel like the ball is in flight longer and that you have longer to make your decision about the pitch. I no longer felt like I had to concentrate to keep my pitch calling mechanic slow enough, it just happened. The only way I can describe it is the difference between using the sights on a snub nose pistol (slot) and using the long sites on a rifle (GD).

The first change I saw was the low end of my zone came up. Most umpires think my zone is a little low, but they always off-set that with how consistent I call the pitches there. Now the low pitches really look low ! The high end didn’t seem to change too much, but the outside corner is much easier. Now that my nose in on the inside edge of the plate, and that long site angle, the outside pitches seemed easy. Because your looking out at the pitch instead of down at it, tracking the ball to the mitt with your eyes is a piece of cake. There were times when the catcher would set up inside and block me out. Sometimes I rose up a little, but most of the time I didn’t worry about it. It’s easy to know exactly where the inside part of the plate is, your nose. I will say though, if I got any complaints about my zone, I never heard them.

Once I was comfortable, I could really start analyzing the details of the system. Using an indicator is kind of a pain. It just doesn’t fit into the structure. Eventually I found a home for it in my fingers and rested my weight on the heel of my hand. Tucking your thumbs under your upper knee guard is a big help. I noticed that after a few innings, I was naturally dropping my butt more. That seemed to take away the strain I felt at first in my neck. It was kind of a funny feeling once I had it down. You are really locked in tight. And getting up to make a pitch call or follow a foul ball was a little different feeling. Sometimes I felt like it took me forever to move. I’m sure it didn’t, but everything seemed to happen slower, I think because I could see everything !

The only down side I can see is your un-protected areas are much more exposed than in other stances. And being farther back from the catcher makes you a bigger target if the ball gets by him. I haven’t been hit all year long in the hands or forearms using my slot stance because I tuck my hands and forearms behind my upper thighs. Today, a ball hit the top part of my knee guard and bounced up into my arm. Normally this ball would go past me or into my chest protector. I have read some posts where guys were saying you just need to by good equipment. I disagree. The areas that are exposed are areas we don’t wear equipment. I hope it does become an accepted practice to wear Forearm guards as Carl does. I take enough flack on these boards for wearing a helmet, so I don’t think I am ready to add that to it. I’ll just suck it up for now and take the hits.

Early in the season, I saw an umpire using what I now know to be the GD system. When I saw him, I said to myself, “What a lazy piece of crap ! Come on man, work hard, get down in a stance, get close to the plate you chicken.” I now realize I said this out of ignorance and was glad I only said it to myself. Fortunately, ignorance can be cured and only stupid is forever. The GD system is so much easier, I felt like I wasn’t working hard enough. But I was everywhere I needed to be (working alone) for every call. I found myself wondering if anyone was saying what I said to myself about me ? It just feels funny to be so far back and so high up…But it works !

Anyway, I have one more HS game left tomorrow afternoon, on the bases. But next week, when my Babe Ruth 14 -18 and Adult leagues start, it is the GD System all the way. My son is doing his Senior HS project on umpiring. I will show him the traditional stances and positions, but I will teach him to use the GD system from the start.