Quote:
Originally posted by DG
I just saw Joe West get hit in the head by a bat on a backswing. I don't think that would happen with GD system because PU would be farther back.
I don't worry about getting hit. It's part of the job, and mostly unavoidable. I recall getting hit in the face mask one time this year with a fast ball in a 4A varsity HS game. It was not a foul ball, but the catcher did not get a glove on it. I tracked it right from the pitcher's hand to my mask, as I was locked in the GD. The mask leaped off my head and landed at my feet and I looked at the catcher and said "is that the best you can do?".
I also suffered my first broken bone this year, a broken pinky finger on my left hand. It was in the first inning of the first game of a college double header. Inside pitch the catcher did not get a glove on. This was in February before I had fully converted to GD.
I don't think I get hit any more or less in GD system than before. But I also don't worry about getting hit any more or less.
|
I think you have the absolute right view of all this. Although I maintain that statistically, as a function of physics, you more prone to get hit in the GD stance, I do *not* think that should be an overriding concern since it would still be too infrequent to be an issue.
Like you, I believe getting hit by a pitch, on occassion, is simply part of the job. If an umpire compromises on the quality of his ball/strike calling based on his fear of getting hit with the ball, he should probably not even be umpiring.
Probably the biggest problem with the GD stance is this ...
If you are in a league where you are subject to evaluations and your evaluator does not understand or appreciate the GD stance, it will stunt your advancement. Also, many managers and fans will recognize the unorthodox style as "weak" umpiring.
You can talk until you're blue in the face about how much improved you are with calling balls and strikes, but it may well fall on deaf ears.
David Emerling
Memphis, Tn