Strike three, Ball four

Rich · #1 (**permalink**) Tue Jun 07, 2005, 06:16pm

Quote:

Originally posted by GarthB

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave Hensley

Quote:

Originally posted by Bfair
I was somewhat amazed and said I'd see if Hensley would attempt to confirm this technique through Evans.............

So.......how 'bout it, Dave........
Can you find out if this is new era umpiring technique????

My "ask Jim Evans" chits are precious and must be conserved. It's not like we're having pajama parties.

That said, I can confirm that 3 and 4 years ago, instructors at Wendelstadt's were training guys to verbalize the ball or strike number with each pitch - "ball 1, strike 1, strike 2, ball 2, etc." I can also confirm that professional umpires i've observed closely are, to a fairly consistent level, announcing locations where pitches have missed, as well as using the body language technique - slight turn of the head for inside/outside - to convey that "where it missed" information.

I announce locations on close balls - "that's down," "that missed," etc. I do not announce numbers on balls or strikes, until my called strike three, which is a classic "chainsaaw pull" with a verbal "THREE!"

Both schools instruct students to verbalize the number with each pitch. However, that ends when one goes to PBUC.

I haven't seen an MLB ump narrate every pitch that misses. It seems to be reserved for those that are "close" misses.

Personally, I announce strike three, but not ball four.

I announce both "Strike 3" and "Ball 4."