Go to this site and let me know if I am doing the GD stance correctly. I found this by accident. Any suggestions or comments? BTW, I love this stance, and I highly recommend it.

http://www.illinoishighschoolsports....c;f=7;t=002947

Looks pretty good to me. Question though. Do you always walk around with that bat growing out of your head?

BP

The bat-in-my-head thing is a long story. It don't hurt so much anymore, and it's a great conversation starter! Better that having it where some coahes would probably like to put it.

gd stance
 

the first pic looks good, however if you look at the other pics your hands are in a diff. position making it so your not locked in the same postion on every pitch.
just a thought.

Did anyone else notice on the second picture that the pitcher was throwing soo hard he s**t himself?

Actually, the second picture is not me. The game was a Varsity/JV DH. I worked the plate the Varsity game and the bases the JV game. However, I too, noticed that my artner had a differrent placement of his hands. This umpire is a first year HS umpire that worked alot of LL for me when I wqas UIC of the local LL. He does a nice job, and is only 19.

my bad, if i would have looked closer i would have seen the diff in hair color. sorry first pic looks great. this is my second year using the gd stance, havnt had a gross miss since, even converted about five other varsity guys to use it also. of course there will be the real old timers that would never think of changing, too bad for them.

I have been checking games on TV hoping to catch Gerry Davis umpire a game. Are there any other MLB umpires who use the GD stance?

saw one the other night in the Atl-houston game, but cannot remember his name, sorry.

Illini_Ref

I would suggest keeping your hands off your thighs. If a ball hits your hands whil,e locked into that position you have a greater chance of suffering broken bones. The picture where your hands are dangling is much safer.

Michael

Tonight's Red Sox Blue Jays game. Mark Carllson was using the GD stance.

I have tried the stance and it seems to me to be one that is less stressful on the body parts, until you get hit by a pitch. It may be great in MLB where the catchers are going to catch, or at least stop a pitch, but in HS and below it is a bit risky. I like keeping my hands flexible in front me, so that if I am hit, there is some give.

Jim Reynolds (MLB #77) also uses the GD stance along with Mark Carlson (#48 i think). I cannot think of anybody else who uses the GD stance though besides GD himself.

That defeats the whole purpose of the GD stance.

Exactly. The hands on the legs provide the lock point and provide consistency. Without the hands, there's nothing to stop you from moving up and down during the pitch or setting differently for each pitch.

There's a lot of fear of getting hit with a baseball showing up on the boards lately. I'm not sure what's up with that, but it's always been a part of umpiring and is part of the tradeoff for not using a balloon protector and getting a superior view from the slot. Buy good equipment, trust your equipment and realize that you're going to get hit once in a while -- being afraid or flinching isn't going to make you more or less likely to get hit. If you are uncomfortable working a stance (like the GD stance), work the standard heel-to-toe stance or work the scissors. Or go Carl's route and buy forearm protectors, but be aware that Carl can get away with such things, being Carl. A newer umpire may find this to be a career limiting move because of the perception of wearing such things -- you may be viewed in the same way as an umpire that puts his hands behind his back to call balls and strikes -- afraid of getting hit and a lesser umpire because of it.

I've been smashed in the left hand this season by an untouched fastball in a HS game and I don't work the GD stance. Happens once in a while -- at all levels.

--Rich

[Edited by Rich Fronheiser on May 14th, 2004 at 09:54 AM]

I love the GD stance. As a matter of fact, I have used it for most of this season and haven't been hit anywhere that I haven't been hit before, or not any more frequently.

I see the plate well, and feel that I call a much better game. I learned long ago that the best stance is what you are most comfortable with and most efficient with. I am an old catcher and worrying about getting hit doesn't really play into my game plan when it comes to calling a game.

Also, I think some umpires get hit because they crowd the catcher. I know that I used to hate those umpires that were breathing down my neck. I've had catchers tell me this year that they like all the room that I give them. That's another plus of the GD stance.

Mark Carlson, that was the guys name in the Atlanta game last week. Thanks. Funny thing was in the game, he warned the pitcher for hitting a batter, the commentators called him everything under the sun. People just love critizing umpires.

Gerry Davis Stance
 

I gotta ask, has anyone using the GD stance been criticized for calling the low outside pitch? I am thinking of switching from the box to the GD after reading childress's articles, but I am worried that that low outside ball that always got called ON me by my umpires will start getting called BY me. How easy is it to see low balls?

I guess it don't matter much since I am told I call the low strikes anyway, but I was just wondering.

in my limited experience
 

switching to GD raised my zone 1-2 inches automatically.

And i needed it badly too.

thank you
 

I was hoping it would raise it and not lower it, but in Childress's article on working the plate, he stated that the low outside pitch was hard to see/judge from the slot position.

Thanks.

Any other opinions?

He's using the Gerry Davis stance, so your comment is not appropriate. The POINT is that going to the set position (hands on knees) prevents fatigue and brings him to about the same spot every time throughout the game.

A small suggestion: Drop your hands down to your knees. Hand bones to knees bones: The skeleton, not muscles, supports your weight. I tuck my thumbs into the top of my shin guards, a little trick recommended by Scott Ehret. He should know: He teaches the stance in the Gerry Davis clinics.

Thanks Mr. Childress. I do try to keep my hands somewhat tucked to use my kneww protector as much as I can. My biggest complaint is the uncomfortableness of holding my o****er in my hand while it is pressing into my leg.

Gosh, you still use a counter? (grin)

low outside corner
 

wobster wrote -- I gotta ask, has anyone using the GD stance been criticized for calling the low outside pitch? I am thinking of switching from the box to the GD after reading childress's articles, but I am worried that that low outside ball that always got called ON me by my umpires will start getting called BY me. How easy is it to see low balls?--


This stance has helped me become more consistent on the low and away pitch. I have had catchers comment about my consistency on that pitch, compared to other umpires. I feel like I rarely miss this pitch anymore. Before I started using the GD, my bottom outside corner was a crap shoot.

thanks
 

I am going to have to try it. I umpired a game this morning and it was probably the worst game I have called. My strike zone was alright, I think, just a few missed calls on the bags.

The reason I am going to switch is that I had 2 catchers today, both of whom were bigger kids and did not get down low. Add that they were moved pretty far forward and the mitt stretched out farther than that. Couldn't hardly see the plate.

Dana DeMuth is working the stance also.

Since starting to call games this year, I read Carl's article on the Gerry Davis stance and started out using it. I have called all but two games in that position and I must say, it definitely cuts down on any fatigue that you will feel in a more traditional stance.

I called a two games yesterday, about 5 hours worth of baseball behind the plate, and at the end of the day, my legs felt fine and my back was as good as good be expected (I have some slight lower back issues to begin with).

I called one game last week using the box stance and I felt it in my legs and back.

The GD stance really locks you in nicely and gives me the feeling that I am in the same position each time to call balls and strikes.

As far as the low outside pitch, I try to tell the catcher to try and catch it out in front and hold it versus letting it come into or across their body. I obviously track the ball fromt the pitchers hand, but using the catchers glove as a reference also helps. If he is framing the pitch nicely, it is much easier to call the strike.

another question
 

How is the GD stance suited for younger players. 1/4 pints around here are 9, 10, 11 and I do a lot of there games. With the GD you can't get as low to be "in" his strike zone. Has anyone had problems with this?

I really want to give this a try as soon as I get a game that doesn't count for anything. It is looking like saturday is that day.

Re: another question
 

My guess is that your equipment will be of use, but then the balls are't moving at high velocity.
With that low speed pitch, you may have to concentrate to resist that involuntary flinch.
mick

ya, I get pegged 3-4 time a game with the younger kids, but it never hurts. I haven't taken one in the cup yet, thank god.

I caught my first good shot to the arm last night doing a HS varsity contest. Catcher set up outside which left me wide open. Pitch was over the inner portion of the plate. Batter fouled the pitch and it got me in right forearm just below the elbow. It is totally pruprle today and I can hardly straighten my arm out.