Sun May 30, 2004, 09:44am
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Official Forum Member
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Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Edinburg, TX
Posts: 1,212
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Quote:
Originally posted by scottk_61
Quote:
Originally posted by LDUB
That is all fine and dandy, but there is a difference between challenging an umpires mechanics, and an umpires signals. If an umpire is out of position for a call, or if he does not apply a rule correctly, it is OK to talk to him about it. But when you walk up to the umpire and tell him that his is signaling his strikes wrong, that is a totaly different story. You said that it is OK for umpires to have some personality introductions in their strike calls. When you talk to him about his signals you are insulting his personal way of signaling a strkie. This is his personal preference. You wouldn't go up to an umpire and tell him that he should use a different mask. What mask he wears is his personal choice. These are the kinds of things that you should just leave alone.
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I did say it is ok for an umpire to have some personality in his stike call.
I dont walk up to him and tell him he is doing it wrong, I tell him there is no way he can watch teh play and call a strike looking over in the stands and not miss something.
This is something you guys need to think about,
WHY are you looking off to the side to call a strike?
Are you making sure the scorekeeper understands your call?
Or are you apeing some big dog that you have seen.
What is the purpose of taking your eyes off of the field of play, of course this side look mechanic gives you a great opportunity to look at the lovely baseball moms out there.
Frankly guys, you can add all the personality you want into a strike call AND keep your eyes on the field with no problem. There are hundreds of guys who do it every day.
The point is, it is a bad mechanic to turn your head off to the side while you have a live ball.
Sure you make sure of the pitch and whether you have a tip or foul but what about after?
What about that shootout attmept by the catcher on the runner at third, did the batter interfere? or not?
etc etc etc.
When you turn your head to PERSONALIZE your call, you lose sight of the game.
Granted most of the time there will be no problem but one day it will happen unless you happen to umpire some very uninspired games.
When I know I have an umpire who is going ot look to the side, I will have my players jump and go because he is already behind the play most bangers will go my way. Why, he is hehind the play and 99% won't guess at an out instead they will go with safe.
A bad mechanic by the umpire gives the offense a distincg advantage.
So in effect, you become my extra offensive player.
Think about it guys, why do you do it?
What purpose does it serve?
What advantage or disadvantage do you get from it?
How does it improve your game?
How does it help or hurt the players attempts?
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Oh, to put it more simply: There's nothing to be gained and much that could be lost.
But people with bad habits will always try to rationalize their weaknesses.
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