Full-count

[His High Holiness]

Originally posted by DrC.
I have to agree with GeeBee. Although it is not the "TAUGHT" way of doing it, using either 1 or 2 fist up high
will be appreciated more by an outfielder than 3 fingers on the left and 2 on the right. If you were an outfielder in a night game, do you really think he can distinguish each individual finger. No he can not. A fist can not be mis-understood. I don't think it could be miscontrued as no count since the batter has been up for at least 5 pitches already.
-- Only my 2 cents worth --

When I played outfield in college, I appreciated the umpires that held up two fists for full count for the exact reasons that you gave. Even a high school student should be able to tell the difference between 3-2 and no count. :o) Like you said, at least five pitches worth.

When I went to umpire school, I questioned this insane insistance that 3-2 had to be three fingers on the left hand and two on the right. I argued your position of the hapless outfielder. I got a long speech from the instructor about how ball players were not that smart. After I umpired a while, I realized that it was your umpire partners that were not that smart, not the ballplayers. Realizing that getting along was more important than being right, I always indicate 3-2 with three fingers on the left hand and two on the right.

BTW, I was told that the term "full count" was a carry over from poker where a full house is trips and a pair.

Peter