[lawump]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

ozzy,

I was helping teach at a "youth umpire" clinic earlier this season, and one of my colleagues was demonstrating how to "kill it" when a runner interferes with a protected fielder attempting to field a fair batted ball.

He held up both hands and said (forcefully), "DEAD BALL!"

While conducting our "post-clinic" over adult beverages, I suggested that "TIME!" would be a more proper vocalization (following ANY event other than an uncaught foul ball) to indicate that the ball was no longer in play.

Anyway, I posted a "poll" on the subject on Rob Drake's website, and of the 43 respondents, 39 said they used "TIME!" exclusively, 2 said they used "Dead Ball", and 2 said they used each, depending on the situation.

During the year, I had the opportunity to work a Varsity DH with one of the other instructors. He had the plate the 2nd game, a batter was HBP and he came out from behind the plate, threw both hands in the air, declared "DEAD BALL!", and pointed the batter to 1B with his left hand.

He then looked at me, rolled his eyes, and gave a discreet "my bad" chest tap. When he got back behind the plate. He made a sign of the cross in front of his chest and bowed his head. I was cracking up.

Later in the game, another batter was HBP, and this time he came out with a big "TIME!" - he then looked at me, and I gave him the secret "good call" sign and HE started cracking up. A fun day at the ballfield.

JM

And its stories like this...that are the reason I umpire