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Originally Posted by Andy
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Haven't read the thread, may later but really don't care!
The wide stance is one I fought a while. It just can't be done! Jim Craig had me in such a wide stance at a clinic one year I thought I would never get up! Dick Gayler "dinged" me at Nationals saying I needed to be wider. I was also hit at HS state and told to go wider. Man, were those guys wrong, until I really tried to widen out. There is no way (thought I) with my bad knees, back, and other parts I could ever go more than about 3' or so. I am now up to over a 5' spread, and must admit---Jim, Dick and others knew what they were talkng about!
The wide stance allows an easy "drop to set" that doesn't strain my knees and back as bad as they used to be. I can keep my back straighter than I used to thus I am seeing the track of the ball better, not looking at an angle. I feel my consistency is much better with this type of stance. You might feel a bit "exposed" in this stance, but one leg is behind the catcher, and the other behind the batter. I haven't been hit as much it seems. I have also learned to shift to one leg or the other and can still get up without wobbling. It takes some practice.
The strke is called while down, I am a loudmouth, most players can hear the vocal, (strike) as well as the dugouts. I do give the hammer when up, but still in the "spread". It seems to go smoothly.
I don't care for the navy britches either, but would wear pink if that was the official uni! Just no royal blue polyesther shorts and white knee socks! (I saw that locally this week!).
I don't even own a "clicker", but I do use an indicator at all positions, even when I have worked a 6 man crew. I also keep a scorecard in the field and record CR's and pitching/catching changes. You never know when the PU may need your assistance, or suppose he were to go down? I have as much game inf as possible recorded. The "gripe" I've heard from some is that after a play, it seems all umpires tend to immediately bring the indicator up, and take their eyes off the field. That may be, but if used correctly, the indicator shouldn't be noticeable.
I also carry and use a plate brush in the field!
I use these same basics when I am playing with the "little balls" (except I don't sweep the rubber, may sweep a base every now and then) and have been evaluated with no negatives, and have also worked deep into HS state finals.