[mick]

Originally posted by WindyCityBlue
Thanks Mick, that was my point.

It was and is still being taught at the two major schools.
It was also used in the CWS by the entire crew.

We all have idiosyncracies that we pick up from talented partners and then other glean them from us. Pretty soon, everyone in our area is doing it.

I work with a few guys that work a lot of Minor League ball. They started announcing "Time..Ball's Dead" when signalling it. I argues that it was repetitive and they countered that it was proactive umpiring (where did I hear that before?), especially in loud ball parks. The "Ball's Dead" part is audible but not loud. Anyway, I started saying it and pretty soon a number of us were. Nothing wrong, just a different mechanic.

Uh, oh!
WindyCityBlue, could you please talk sl-o-w-ly for me?
(I am in my all too familiar state of confusion.)

So, like bob and Peter, you do verbalize.

Why is the ball declared dead on a dropped third strike? I know I'm missin' sumthin'.

mick