Turning your head calling strike

[Carl Childress]

Originally posted by JRutledge

No Carl. I feel it does have a purpose for me and I gain a lot by doing it. But you have come to your own conclusion, just like I have come to my own conclusion.

Peace

No, I didn't ask if you had a "purpose" in doing it. My question meant: Do you gain something on the call by doing it?

I know you like it.
I know no one has told you to stop.
I know you don't thnk it's a bad habit.
I know you don't believe umpires should be robots.

What I don't know is:

What does turning your head gain?

For example, I track the ball from the pitcher's hand to the catcher's mitt. I gain something from that: I don't fall prey to tunnel vision; I don't lose the ball at the cutout and so judge it too soon.

After I call a strike, I continue looking straight ahead. I gain something from that: I keep the whole field in sight, and I'm ready to halt play if something untoward happens behind the field umpire (dog runs onto the field, a ball is loose, and so forth). I'm also alert to any shennaigans a pitcher or someone else wants to try.

I have been told to keep my eye "everlastingly on the ball." I can't do that if I turn my head when I call a strike.

I repeat:

Turning your head gains nothing.
Turning your head may lose something.