Interference on A-Rod, Game 6 ALCS

David Emerling · #11 (**permalink**) Thu Oct 21, 2004, 12:07am

Quote:

Originally posted by Rich Ives

Quote:

Originally posted by WindyCityBlue
No he wasn't.

He signalled "Safe"; the mechanic for anything else is to "Say and Display". Watch the replay - he did not say "No tag".

I'm not sure what mechanic they teach in your area, but we don't have a "No Tag" signal. We verbalize "No Bag", "No Ball/No Control" and "No Tag", while signalling the call. that way there is no confusion.

Then why do they signal "safe" on a trapped ball?

You're right, Rich.

It is a personal umpire technique to give a safe signal for any unusual event that could possibly result in a runner or batter being out. The umpire quickly signals safe and now everybody knows that, whatever they just saw, one thing is for sure, nobody is out.

It's a good mechanic, in my opinion.

The safe signal has many meanings:
1.) Safe
2.) He didn't swing
3.) The ball was not interfered with (by a fan)
4.) The ball was not caught (probably trapped or short hopped)
5.) A tag was missed - usually a swipe tag

During very unusual plays, sometimes the safe signal is used to convey, "That's nothing! Keep playing."

I might be missing some other meanings. These just came to mind.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN