Quote:
Originally posted by SAump
I listed 9 points when an UMPIRE should raise his right hand and POINT. You don't use any of these signals to call a strike.
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With the exception of you mentioning the improper base on balls award mechanic none of the items you listed above are relevant to this discussion. You mentioned that people would laugh at an umpire for signalling strikes by pointing to the right. You're sadly mistaken if you truly believe this. The hammering motion to indicate a strike is a relatively new mechanic. For years the signal used for indicating a strike has been the point to the right. You'll find that most of the veteran umpires still use this mechanic. We've all made it very clear that using a pointing motion with the right hand on a base on balls award is the improper thing to do. I suggest before you continue to argue about this you watch some professional or even college level umpires call a game or two. You won't see any of them use this mechanic you suggest beacuse it's frowned upon in every umpiring school or clinic.
Quote:
Originally posted by SAump
There is a signal and mechanic to properly communicate a strike. If you confuse any of these signals for a strike call, which may or may not require finger pointing, then people in TEXAS and MOST of BASEBALL will laugh at you, instead.
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Well, I'm not from Texas, but Carl, PWL , and Mike Crowder are Texans. I would suspect that all of them would tell you that using the hammer to indicate strikes is not the only acceptable mechanic used in Texas.
Quote:
Originally posted by SAump
The "Take Your Base Award Batter" is actually a Base on Balls AWARD that is not communicated to the batter. The catcher and batter should hear the original BALL call. The Base on Balls AWARD is communicated to the scorekeeper who may not hear the umpire's Ball 4 call because he is sitting in the cooler press box AC. I suppose he can see the batter THROW the bat and run to first, but an umpire's signal makes it OFFICIAL.
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I'm not sure what you're trying to say here. Are you suggesting that an umpire needs to make a verbal announcment to a scorekeeper for a base on balls?
Quote:
Originally posted by SAump
I guess some umpires just don't signal at all. Their union boss probably okayed it after complaints to allow them to remove their thin polo shirts from under the plate coat on a hot night, but that is another story. SO now there is one less signal to raise their right hand for.
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It's not a guess. Experienced umpires do not signal a base on balls with a point. It's just that simple. This has nothing to do with your statement about their 'unions'. It has nothing to do with them being lazy. It has to do with proper protocol so as not to confuse anyone.
Quote:
Originally posted by SAump
Some have already swtiched to the left hand toward the 1B umpire just to check to see if the batter committed a check-swing. I think its entirely okay for the ambidextrous veteran, but its a little too much to ask from us right-handed NEWBIE types. Just get a clue coach, what more do you want our union officials to cave into?
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No one has switched to anything. Using the left hand to go to your partner for help on a check swing has always been the proper mechanic. What does being a newbie have to do with using your left arm to signal the appeal? Are you suggesting it's too much work for you, or are you saying it's too hard for you to remember to use the proper mechanic.
Quote:
Originally posted by SAump
STANDARD baseball terminology and definitions are easily transmitted through proper signals and mechanics. Believe me, NO ONE will be confused about the pointing unless they saw you make some unrecognizable strike call. The UMPIRES on this board know to expect anything from a NEWBIE. It is there purpose in life to correct you, to improve your mechanics and to avoid any further confusion. Check that again, CREATE CONFUSION for entertainment purposes only.
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I would address this last paragraph if I could understand what you were trying to say.
Tim.