[WhatWuzThatBlue]

"No catch" - while signaling a safe, anytime it matters (good mechanic)

I humbly disagree. "Catch" and "No Catch" sounds very similar - there is no need to say this. I was watching a high school ball game a year or two ago. The back end of the double header had the better umpire on the bases. He was being critiqued by one of the state evaluators when I we both saw him do this mechanic. R1 and R3, ball hit to right-center field for a decent sacrifice fly. He drops back and lines up R1 with the fielder and yells "Catch" when the ball was caught. He doesn't signal anything and immediately starts moving with the runner for the play at second. The game ends and we are all walking through the parking lot - Illinois' best locker rooms - and the evaluator asks him why he announces the catch. He says that he does it to let his partner know and for the timing of the tag. I ask him if he does this on every sacrifice and he proudly says that it is his habit. That habit kept him from getting a decent evaluation.

I've worked with guys who will say "Ball's down partner" loud enough to let me know that a catch has not been made. The calling umpire always uses the "safe" signal to indicate that no catch has been made. In a heated game and a lot going on, I enjoy this banter more than trying to figure out whether he said "Catch" or "No Catch".

I've also witnessed high school umpires say "Ball Four - Take your base." or some such nonsense. I always ask them, "Do you say, 'Strike three - go sit down.'?" It makes as much sense to tell them what to do then.