Quote:
|
Originally Posted by bkbjones
You are correct. They should get royalties. Here is a quarter so he can go call all the other lazy ******* who use this mechanic.
The other thing that gripes me about it is when I hear this from players: "Why don't you give that signal like the other umpires do?"
Umpires that use unapproved mechanics, just like those who work a game in half a uniform, no uniform or a sloppy uniform, do a disservice to every other umpire, no matter if they wear a blue, red, white, gray, green, black or some other color shirt.
Why do some point to first? Do THAT many batters still not know the way to first base? Why do we hit our fist with our palm or palm with our fist on a ball that hits the plate? Would we use that signal on an uncaught foul ball when it strikes the ground beyond a base? why not? People use it all the time to signal a dead ball.
Just as it is either a ball or a strike, it is either live or dead. If I point at the ground, you can bet your a$$ it's a fair ball. Bull$hit mechanics bring all of us down, whether it is half-baked buttonhooks, mirroring your partner on foul ball calls (or even worse, the ball/strike count) and crappy mechanics.
More after supper...I just got home from a slow pitch double header. I pointed toward fair territory four times during the games - to signify foul balls. I did not hit my fist with my palm. I survived.
|
God forbid we should ever use a non-prescribed book mechanic that actually helped a player understand the game.
Why should we point to first base when a 35 year old office manager walks in her first game ever?
Or hit our fists to let a 60 year old minister know his pitch was a ball because it hit the plate?
Well, without the players enjoying the game, we have no job.
We owe everyone hustle, a knowledge of the rules, and the mechanics that puts us in position to see the play.
How we signal a strike or a sellout defines us and cannot ever be copied from a book written by a committee.
So, pardon me, if I use my individuality to make calls and to use signals the players can understand and learn from.
I am not changing after 35 years to become a clone.