Quote:
Originally posted by senior
One doesn't need a scorebook to know the score, but most folks would find the scorekeeper more believable than some spectator without anything but his memory saying "it's 10-6 in favor of Smitty's".
Rich, why would anyone NOT want the extra evidence to back up an answer? A favorite thought of mine is that we are impressing no-one but ourselves when we go without this count keeping tool. Who, other than our fellow umpires even notices?
Senior
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This is your opinion, and for me it simply is not persuasive. I keep the count in my head on the bases and the only time I get involved in the count is when my partner asks. When a player on the field or a coach asks, I refer them to the plate umpire -- HE keeps the count. Even with an indicator, the count still belongs to the plate umpire.
I've had partners ask me to take an indicator on the field and I still won't. Problem is, I'm so accustomed to not working with one I'd hold it in my hand and not turn the wheels. And nothing aggravates me more than a partner out on the bases with his face in his indicator.
I'm sure that in some locations, the indicator is an acceptable tool for the base umpire. But all the top umpires I work with wouldn't ever consider taking one on the field, and neither would I.