Quote:
Originally posted by bkbjones
Quote:
Originally posted by Tim C
Bandit wrote:
"It's funny how baseball seems to be going more and more to the slot position behind the plate even in the majors, isn't that a "softball" mechanic? Hmmmmmmmm ? Maybe us robots do know something!"
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Help me. What the he11 does this mean? Baseball has been working "the slot" siince 1938.
Another non-umpire answering a question.
Lah Me!
Honest I am out of here.
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No, baseball has not been working the slot since 1938. for one, AL used the box while using the outside protector. I see more than one MLB umpire working over the top. I saw more than a few Mariner games this year and saw Mr. Emmel working what would best be described as the Paul Emmel, which is neither Gerry Davis nor the box nor scissors nor anything else.
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You need to be careful because the umpire schools use the term "box" to describe a
slot position, where the umpire instead of heel/toe is in the wrestler's balanced position. John McSherry used that. In his career, I think he missed three pitches.
Emmell is using the sliding box, not what you called the box (the AL true box). He starts in the slot and slides down while the pitch is on the way, moving more of his body behind the catcher. It's guaranteed to be the safest place for a slot umpire.
I used the AL box from 1954 until 2002. I switched to the Gerry Davis. I can't imagine using any other stance.
Of course, I get the bejezzus knocked out of me on a regular basis, but I am still fresh after four hours of plate work. That's because in GD, the skeleton supports the lock/load position rather than the muscles.