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"I wonder how many hands behind the back umpires he will seriously use in this tournament."
Easy answer... Exactly Zero. Garth has made it quite clear that anyone opting for personal protection versus doing it the way the pros do, has no place on his, or any other assignors' fields.
Unless the plate ump is making shadow figures with his hands behind the plate, I've never considered the position of the arms or hands during the pitch to be an indication of anything relative to his or her level of knowledge or abilities. Unless it's a distraction, It's simply not a factor. You and Garth can use your criteria for what you're looking for and how you judge an umpire, and I will use mine.
I have never had a single complaint from anyone involved with the league I do assignments for regarding mechanics of the umpires. Respect for an umpire comes from knowledge and proper application of the rules and from effective game management. I have not found either of those items is covered in the mechanics books.
Like I said earlier, if I had wanted to advance to pro ball, I may have chosen to follow the herd. Since that is not my chosen course in life; I have opted for what works best for me.
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