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Originally Posted by kfo9494
As I watched the NCAA toury this weekend, I noticed that ALL the umpiring behind the plate was so boring.
I think in the Oklahoma game, (or the Florida game)the plate-umpire was so late with the call that the announcers were not sure what was going to be called. I mean like three good seconds would go by before the umpire would make the robotic jester of a strike. Many times the annoucers would say 'Ball' and then the umpire would stand up. Raise the hand above the head and give a pump motion.
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I know that this is the way they want the plate umpire to handle calling balls and strikes but to me they whole thing makes it robotic and unrreal. Let umpires have some personal expression.
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I am not saying that the umpiring was poor, in fact I saw alot of good umpiring last weekend. But since I watch umpires more than the game, I notice things from an umpire's point of view.
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If you notice things from the umpire's POV, and call any level of serious ball, you know that the purpose of signals is to convey a message. Is it simplier and clearer to convey any message in a concise, uniform manner, or 26 different ways? We all know the answer. For example, SOS in morse code or "mayday" broadcasts have a very clear, universal meaning. Do you think if you decided to key GOF in place of SOS, or broadcast "junenight" via radio, you would convey the message you desire to communicate, and subsequently get the desired results?Therefore, uniform signals and mechanics are preferred for that reason.
The umpires are not to be entertainment. If you umpire to be an entertainer, then you are in the wrong avocation. Might I suggest karaoke? As umpires, our job is to simply rule on the play, and signal our ruling in a form that everyone present will understand.