Please help me out with what I think can be a very awkward play for an umpire: checked swing on a ball in the dirt. What is the most efficient way to handle this situation ?

Be very careful
 

Quickly signal strike and point to the ground with your right hand.

Everybody on defense will think you helped the batter get to first base.
Everbody on offense will think you quickly called a strike on a ball into the dirt.
It appears everybody will be happy because they now know exactly what to do.

Yet nobody will be happy with your right-handed mechanics.

The ball in the dirt is irrelevant. You either believe he swung or he didn't. I would point and say "YES HE DID" if I thought he swung. If it is the third strike and first base is empty or if there are two outs, you will have a dropped third strike. The batter will know to run and the defense will know to play on him. If you don't think he swung, say "BALL". Chances are you will get a request for an appeal from the catcher. You check with your partner and go from there.

I should clarify my earlier reply. If there is a question of the ball being in the dirt and you believe there was a swing, say "YES HE DID" AND POINT down. If the catcher tries to hold it up as a catch, say "BALL DOWN" and give him the chance to make a play.

I'd also add that if the PU rules the batter didn't swing, PU should immediately appeal to BU.

one piece of advice: learn from the doug eddings situation on a third strike not caught. while we are still in the preseason; think about what signal set you use and think about the possible situations coming out of the original post, along with the hand signals/verbalizations you would use for them. eliminate any confusion if you can.

I should add that I meant to pose this question in the situation where the pitch may or may not be strike 3. Most of you understood that, I think. Thanks for the responses. I guess my main question is, if I do not think the batter swung, and the ball caroms off the catcher, the batter is sort of doing a dance like he may or may not decide to run to first - do I IMMEDIATELY appeal to the BU ? Mr. Jenkins says yes.

in the situation you just talked about, i'm on bob's side. ask right away.

Why would I appeal my own call of swing or no swing? Wait for the defense to appeal. Don't start laying your calls on your partner.

I think the reason would be to try and prevent a problem, such as: no call on the swing, runner takes off, catcher thrown the ball down the rf line, etc. then an appeal is requested after all that. That's a mess.

OT,

The fact that the BR is heading to first must mean that this was a "dropped third strike". This is when you must get the call right, quickly, or all holy hells bells will break loose. I go to my partner, ASAP, without appeal on these.

On a dropped 1st or 2nd strike, the need for speed is negated. Then you would go to your partner on appeal, if you feel you need help (FED), or automatically (OBR).

Bob P.

in order to prevent mass confusion, world war III, etc.

if im the BU and this situation comes up, id be ready to give my side of the story right away in order to keep coaches in the dugout and their words in their mouths.

The fact that the ball is in the dirt is VERY relevant. Think about the ALCS series and the play with Podsednik.

The problem is mostly likely going to arise as a result of the umpire not making it clear as to whether the ball was caught in flight and NOT whether the batter swung or not ... as happened in the controversial play in the ALCS.

In that case, the umpire was very clear as to whether Podsednik swung or not but he was NOT clear as to whether the ball was caught by the catcher for the immediate out.

In light of that controversial play, every umpire should reevaluate their mechanics for a play like that - especially those umpires who use the hammer (and not the point) as their normal strike signal.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN

Let me ask you a question. If the batter had stood still and not checked his swing, would there have been a question on the pitch? The correct mechanic is for the umpire to make a decision and then the correct signal for the decision. In reference to the infamous World Series call, I believe the ump had a faulty mechanic- something he himself questioned in a later interview. The strike signal should not be the same as the out signal. But whatever mechanic is used, the key here is still whether or not the plate ump thought there was a swing. If not, the pitch is a ball. If yes, the pitch is a strike. Want to avoid problems with coaches? Don't complicate things. If the ump thinks there was a swing, say "YES HE DID". If there is a question on the ball hitting the dirt, say "BALL DOWN".

Keep something else in mind. Ballplayers are also supposed to know the rules and something about how to play the game, especially at the major league level. We teach Little League batters to run and catchers to throw the ball if there any question on a dropped third strike. If the Angels catcher had simply stood up and tagged AJ, we'd have nothing to talk about.

Correction
 

The strike mechanic is EXACTLY the same as the out mechanic. Back me up here pro school guys, but I am almost certain that is what is taught. Take a look at signal E on page 70 of the NFHS book.

The difference is in what we verbalize. Bad timing and poor salesmanship killed Eddings not bad mechanics.

As Randolph Duke said in Trading Places, "SELL, SELL, SELL"

D

I don't think I would ever use the term, "Ball down!"

If the ball is in the dirt and the batter failed to check his swing I would ...
1. Point at the batter,
2. Say "Yes he did,"
3. Signal a strike

... and leave it at that.

I simply wouldn't say "Out!" The absence of my saying out means; he's <b>not</b> out. I don't think there is any need for the umpire to get verbal diarrhea and engage in a play-by-play regarding everything that is happening. The nature of the play clearly indicates that the players bear some responsibility.

I called it a strike.

It is exactly as I've said ... it's a strike, and nothing more.

If he was out, I would have said so.

I've read where some recommend giving a Safe signal after the strike, emphasizing that the batter is <b>not</b> out. I could see that as a reasonable mechanic, also.

I just don't like the term, "Ball is down!", mostly because it is unusual and not common in baseball parlance with regard to an umpire's communication with the participants. It sounds more like something one umpire would say to another umpire. It also sounds too much like the umpire is giving guidance to the defense.

Just a personal opinion. I think it would probably work, though.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN

I don't believe that just because the BR takes off for 1st when the ball goes into the dirt means it is a 3rd stikre. Many teams are taught to run to 1st at that time and let the umpires sort it out. If the catcher throws the ball up the right field line - his mistake.
I think the real concern occurs if it IS ball four/strike three and the runner runs past 1st base. A heads up F3 may tag the runner after he passes 1st. Now if you appeal to your BU immediately, and the BU says " no he didn't go ", you have ball four and runner is out on the tag. If you appeal immediately to your BU and he says " yes he went " and the runner has beat the ball to the bag but got taged by F3 after he overran the bag, he is safe. The immediate appeal allows the BU to make a correct call at 1st when all this happens in a second. If he calls him safe on the tag, then you appeal and he says " no, he didn't go ", he is now out on the tag - and the conversations begin. I agree 100% with Bob J. If you call ball as PU, immediately go to your PU if the ball ends up in the dirt. You're not throwing him under the bus, you are doing the right thing for the sake of the game.
Windy way of saying make the immediate appeal to your partner. Job done right.

If I thought the batter offered, I'd say, "Yes, he went". If I did not think he went, I'd say, "Ball" and IMMEDIATELY go to my partner, without being asked. The sooner the game gets his input the more smoothly things unfold. Lag time isn't good in this situation. I'm with previous posters who say the ball in the dirt isn't nearly as relevant, and will actually take care of itself as long as I don't indicate "out".

JJ