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Originally Posted by GarthB
As taught to this year's crop of new MiLB umpires:
Give the strike signal to the side, even if using the hammer for normal strike calls, to avoid the appearance of an out signal.
Then, while giving the safe signal, use the verbal, "No catch."
However, in practice, several new MiLB umpires have explained that most times the catcher has tagged the batter before the umpire can give the "no catch" mechanic. In that case, they simply go from the strike mechanic to the out mechanic.
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This mechanic is many years old now. It was being taught in the pro schools starting about 7 or 8 years ago or so. Immediately upon seeing it for the first time at a AAA Pawtucket Red Sox game, I incorporated it into my own mechanics. It works quite well, but Garth is right. The vast majority of the time you won't get to use it because the play will be over before you have the chance. It took a long time between when I decided to use the mechanic, to when I actually got to use it.
Another thing that complicates this mechanic is that, quite often, you are opening the gate to let the catcher by on a passed ball. You also have to make sure you are clear of the throwing lane from the catcher to first base. That can delay the mechanic.
I also think it is far preferrable to the old mechanic that was taught years ago -- the, "unfinished out," signal. Essentially, you started an out signal with your hand going up, but stopped and held it unfinished without bringing down the hammer until after the out was recorded. Although that worked just fine too, there is something about the new mechanic that looks polished and proper.