Hey everyone – My first NFHS BASEBALL game is this weekend in NJ and would like some opinions from other officials (The more responses the better) (for mechanics – please indicate your own personal mechanics for the following – plus any suggestions)

1)What is your typical strike mechanic? Some use the NFHS/ASA/ NCAA punched fist *(like an out signal) some still pointÂ…
2)What is your typical strike three (sell) mechanic? punched fist or arm up, punch or other
3)How do you signal play? (Waive emÂ’ in? point?) Do you verbalize?
4)Foul tip mechanic – The hand sweep or the arm sweep?
5)What does your pre-game duties consist of? How long do you wait until you get dressed without a partner? EtcÂ…
6)Tips/Comments on Sunglasses?
7)Tips/Comments on Mask or Hockey Helmet protector – Left hand removal?
8)Tips/Comments on one ball bag or two?
9)Tips/Comments on how you keep your lineups (do you rewrite them, etcÂ…)
10)Any additional tidbits?

Thanks
Pat

I have attended a local one ... But I wanted everyoneÂ’s opinion

I was told some of my mechanics are wrong - but its bad habits...

1)I still point for strikes
2)I "punch out" the batter on strike 3
3)I signal play by pointing... Or stop sign
4)Foul tip mechanic – The hand sweep
6)Sunglasses? Yes... If needed
7)Mask or Hockey Helmet - Own both --- use mask more often
8)one ball bag
9)keep your lineups the coaches give

1)What is your typical strike mechanic? Some use the NFHS/ASA/ NCAA punched fist *(like an out signal) some still pointÂ…

I use the Gerry Davis like many others, we hammer the strike call.

2)What is your typical strike three (sell) mechanic? punched fist or arm up, punch or other

Straight forward bow and arrow. (Left arm forward and slightly down; right arm follows and is dramatically snapped back, like you are drawing a bow.)

3)How do you signal play? (Waive emÂ’ in? point?) Do you verbalize?

Universal mechanic, point at the pitcher with right hand and say, "Play". If he is sleeping or taking too long - right hand out and a quick 'beckon' motion with your hand is all it takes.

4)Foul tip mechanic – The hand sweep or the arm sweep?

A lot of guys use the whole forearm because they are holding a 'clickacounterindicator'. They don't want to risk losing it while indicating the strike. I just turn the hand over and swipe the back of the hand skyward twice. If it is the third strike, I then hammer it forward.

5)What does your pre-game duties consist of? How long do you wait until you get dressed without a partner? EtcÂ…

The parks I work usually have locker rooms. I set my gear in there and may head to the field if it is new to me. This allows a couple of things to happen; I can scout any problems and alert my crew and it shows the staff that the crew is arriving. If you are working a two man game and don't see a partner fifteen minutes prior...get dressed and hope that he shows up.

6)Tips/Comments on Sunglasses?

Use them on the field when necessary. Bolle, and Oakley make nice ones. I don't like the way it looks on a PU. But, if they built your fields so that the batter is looking into the sun, have at it.

7)Tips/Comments on Mask or Hockey Helmet protector – Left hand removal?

More and more guys are going to a HSM, but I'm too old to want to try it and too cheap to buy one. Always remove and hold your mask with your left hand.

8)Tips/Comments on one ball bag or two?

I use two, but that is something I've done for too many years. On a college field, you usually have a ball boy or team member to bring you extra baseballs. I don't like to have to wait and it feels more balanced.

9)Tips/Comments on how you keep your lineups (do you rewrite them, etcÂ…)

Davis, +POS and Honig all make line up holders. I use a GD one and found a pen the same size as a bullet pencil. I like to use pen because it is permanent.

10)Any additional tidbits?

Get there early, don't fraternize with the teams/coaches/fans, trust your partners and have them trust you, always carry more gear than you think you'll need, clean your gear after every game (it'll last longer and it's ready when you're late the next day!), try to debrief the crew for a few minutes after the game, NEVER leave before your partner(s), bring some water and a small first aid kit for your trunk (for headache, cut or stinger), call your partner(s) the night before so there are no surprises, don't sweat the small stuff (it's all small stuff) and RELAX!

Good luck and let us know how you did.

1)pointing for strikes isn't too bad....schools teach the fist, but you can get away with it...
2)keep your mechanic straight out in front of you (ie, pointing towards home) i prefer "the lawnmower", but that is just me
3)Signal and say it. Every single time. Mix it up a bit as well (ball's live, let's play, play, etc.)
4)That is the only foul tip signal. make sure to follow it with the strike signal
5)Make sure to cover players being properly equipped, special ground rules, substitutions, and pick a point of emphasis. I will wait in the parking lot until 5 mins before game time. If partner isn't there by then, time to go it alone.
6)Sunglasses. Absolutely if your vision is impaired by the amount of light. Don't keep them on if you don't need them. And make sure to buy ones that stay on your face and are impact resistant....i use oakley m-frames (cheap on ebay!)
7)Pure preference
8)one ball bag is all i ever need, but sometimes i do two if i am on a field where a lot of balls are lost.
9)you need to do more than just keep the lineup cards. You need to keep the actual lineup, and learn the substitution rules. Remember, any starter gets reentry

Good luck!

A lot to ask.
1) Fist, as if pounding on a door.
2) Right arm with a fist towards the pitcher, and then exchange with the left.
3) Point with right hand shaped like a pistol, verbalize loud enough for batter and catcher only.
4) Right hand sweep across the top of left hand.
5) Get dressed when I get there.
6) Wear them when needed, bases or plate.
7) Mask
8) Two. I keep pen, brush, car keys, small sweat rag, (small bottle of water sometimes) in the left bag, along with one or two baseballs. In the right bag I only keep baseballs (I am right handed). Start every inning with at least one in the left and two in the right. Better to have two in each.
9) I take the lineups from the coaches and then keep changes on a form I designed. The form is in the left bag with the pen.
10) Tips - ball/strike, fair/foul, safe/out. Getting these right are most important. Develop a plate stance where you track the pitch with your eyes, while not moving the rest of your body. Track it straight to your mask if necessary. A bobble head doll calling pitches is not good.

[Edited by DG on Mar 8th, 2006 at 11:48 PM]

hammer. i used to be a pointer when i worked the box, and i got in the bad habit of trying to be a big shot and looking to the side when pointing. i use the hammer now, and i like it.

the old motion where you look like you are tearing a piece of paper in half. i do it straight back from the catchers helmet, rather than how some do it from the side. of course that is only on a looking strike three. if you were talking about selling a third strike not caught or something, a stronger hammer works here.

point and say 'play' to start an inning. this may be a bad habit, but after a foul ball or something along those lines, i dont verbalize those but i do make sure that i point the ball in. i make sure we are all ready to go, and point it in.

go over coverages, partner-to-partner signs (for rotations and such), etc. standard pre-game. as far as getting dressed without a partner, i really dont know since ive never had to do it, but i guess if it was like 15 minutes before the game id suit up for the plate. i am hoping like hell that this never happens.

oakley m-frames with the hybrid lenses. i used them when i played, i use them when i umpire. i dont wear them off the field though.

im not going into hockey helmets, but never take off any mask with your right hand. i have it so ingrained in my head that i wont even pick up a mask with my right hand, out of my bag, off a shelf, etc.

i like using two, for two reasons. one being that i am usually given 5-6 balls to start, and new ones come in here and there when a ball gets too crappy. 5-6 balls dont fit in a single bag. the second reason is being that i like the look of two bags a lot. even when i work summer ball and stuff where we get like 3 balls, they all fit in one bag but i still use the same system i do for when i have 6 balls. i work out of my right bag all the time. new balls i get go in the left, and i filter them through to the right.

tee has a good system for this that i am going to be checking out this year. traditionally i have just used the sheets given to me at the plate meeting and its gone just fine, but i want to try out tims system and see how it works for me.

have a great first season, im sure you will do fine

Thanks....
 

Thanks everyone for your comments –
I know I have to break the habit of “the point” for strike… and this is the first season I’m working with other schools that assign themselves… so, I wanted to know your comments on partners not showing up…


Thanks Again

Pat,

I may be the dinosaur in the group, but I still point for strikes. I don't turn my body away from the plate, most of the time if my body turns slightly I try to keep my head looking forward towards the plate. I know the hammer is an exceptable signal but I have a reason for pointing. I use the hammer when a player is out. In other words on a swinging strike three, I will use the hammer. I use the bow and arrow for a call strike three (straight back and no head or body turn). I have been doing it this way for the last 8 years or so and no one has asked me to change. Futhermore, the Eddings incident last year solidified my opinion that a called strike and an out need to have a different signal. I know some will disagree but that's my reasoning behind the point..

Lawrence

Strike Three
 

I agree about the whole strike three mechanic - even the NFHS umpire manual (baseball) says that you should "experiment" and it needs another very visible mechanic

Pat,

Are you being told that you can't point a strike?

Yes...
 

I was evaluated by a "SR" umpire and he told me that it's the old mechanic... Ive been calling balls & strikes for 5 years (rec & some HS) but now...

He said the arm punch is the "ONLY" mechanic that should be used...

Ill try to keep him happy but personally I like the point.

You are not the 'lone' dinosaur. I point for strikes & never turn my body or head. I stand up, point & I continue to face forward so that I can keep my eyes on the ball. The hammer strike mechanic looks too much like an out to me but a lot of people use it, especially in softball around here. My 3rd strike mechanic is exactly like yours.

The associations I work for worry less about our strike mechanics (point or hammer) and more about our strike zone consistency.

1)What is your typical strike mechanic? Some use the NFHS/ASA/ NCAA punched fist *(like an out signal) some still pointÂ…
2)What is your typical strike three (sell) mechanic? punched fist or arm up, punch or other
3)How do you signal play? (Waive emÂ’ in? point?) Do you verbalize?
4)Foul tip mechanic – The hand sweep or the arm sweep?
5)What does your pre-game duties consist of? How long do you wait until you get dressed without a partner? EtcÂ…
6)Tips/Comments on Sunglasses?
7)Tips/Comments on Mask or Hockey Helmet protector – Left hand removal?
8)Tips/Comments on one ball bag or two?
9)Tips/Comments on how you keep your lineups (do you rewrite them, etcÂ…)
10)Any additional tidbits?

Thanks
Pat
[/B][/QUOTE]

1. I point to the right side
2. I pull back the right arm, and yell like a dying cow!
3. I point at F1, and yell, PLAY!
4. brush my fingers as I do when I eat to wipe off crumbs
5. I begin getting dressed once I arrive, without a partner, I still get dressed when I arrive, about 30 min.
6. I wear Oakley in the field, glare shield on my day mask. Yep, I have a day mask, and night mask does not have a shield.
7. I wear the Gerry Davis mask, I use my right hand-instinct.
8. I use 2 bags, it looks better and holds more balls, fewer delays. =====
9. I use what the coaches give me, I keep the changes, I also have the card for CR and such.
10. Just stay calm, relaxed and don't be to anxious behind the plate. When calling balls and strikes, when the F1 catches and you know it's a strike, say to yourself, "that is a strik." Then, yell, your strike sound. The same goes for balls. Remember, you have a partner, you don't have to do it all yourself.

Good luck

Re: Yes...
 

Pat,

The SR evaluator that is trying to help you improve as an official isn't doing a very good job of focusing on the right thing. I mean, rules interpratation and knowledge, judgement, positioning, situations, any of this type of stuff then ok, listen to him, but style? You're working a new level of ball for you and he is worried about your style? Come on!

There is nothing wrong with the point at all, and many top college and professional umpires point. In fact I worked a Div 1 series this past weekend and all 3 umpires on the crew pointed. Infact I have worked roughly 25 Div 1 games and another dozen JC games this season and every single umpire pointed.

Point is a strike, hammer is an out. Safest thing to do IMO.

Well,
 

This past weekend at the 3 day Evans Clinic it was taught that a strike call is a personal selection. The only taboo is to NEVER turn to the side to make the call. ALWAYS keep shoulders square to the field and make "a" strike call.

Seems pretty simple to me. Can't wait for one of the six "all time" crew chime in.

But, of course, this is just my opinion.

Re: Re: Yes...
 

I also agree, it's a comfort that we have. Of course we all remember this past baseball series when the umpire done the hammer thing, I am sure he has thought about changing that. Tough to do for someone who has done it for so long.

Re: Well,
 

The NEVER turn thing is also just a suggestion and a very good one for an umpire that has poor timing. I have talked with Jim about this and he agreed that with proper timing this is not a bad or forbidden mechanic. I turn with no action and stay straight ahead with action. It takes good timing but it can be done with no problem.

Hmm,
 

Have you talked with him since Sunday afternoon?

Sunday afternoon, when asked this exact question he said:

"There is no reason to look to the side . . . never call a strike to the side."

Maybe you have more recent information than we were given.

Re: Hmm,
 

Nope, not since then. But his info helped get me ranked #2 at PBUC several moon's ago, and the number one thing they liked was Plate Work, Strike zone, Mechanic and style, oh yeah and timing.

I point this out because those that worry about style over the nuts and bolts of umpiring are worrying about the wrong thing. If turning causes problems, don't do it; if it doesn't, then don't change it.

Again, over 75% of the guys I have worked with in Pro ball and NCAA, point and turn when appropriate.

JM $0.02

[Edited by MrB on Mar 9th, 2006 at 03:14 PM]

<<<<<<<< pointer

our trainer prefers the point so there's no confusion with an 'out' call.

Point straight up? I've never seen that mechanic. Do you really point straight up or use the hammer motion?

No 3rd strike mechanic like the 'bow string' because it might show up the batter? Do you really think that you're showing up the batter and showboating? I haven't seen many (if any) umpires that don't have their own 'special' 3rd strike mechanic.

I think the strike 3 mechanic should be different. I don't think it is the umpire showing any one up, but letting everyone know that he has an out.

We do it on a foul after a made shot in basketball

We do it on a close picof off play on an out in baseball

We do it on a close play at the bag in baseball

We do it on a close TD in football

I just think those are different and carry weight, just MO

I have the bow on a batter looking, and a out signal after a swinging strike 3

i thought raising your fist straight up in the air was reserved for softball...

Some of us never said "you're out."

Before any of you get too invloved debating with this pathetic troll you should know something. btman is either Walter Rucker or his employee Donovan Hammond here playing games. This person registered on my forum and used three aliases and six different IP addresses to try and stir up some trouble. More than likely this is also the same person who had has his account deteted recently here as John Hastings. I know this because two the IP's used by Donovan Hammond matched up exactly with one of the IP's btman was using.

I wonder if we'll ever be rid of this jerk.


Tim.

[Edited by BigUmp56 on Mar 9th, 2006 at 09:46 PM]

Thanks....
 

Thanks everyone for your input... I am prob. going to keep my point mechanic...

One more question about the partner situation - Im working JV, and the school assigned me (and schools here in NJ for JV dont assign a position just that you will officiate the game)
I arrive 30 mins to game time.... my partner doesnt show up
its now 20 minutes to game time....

when do you suit up for the plate? what if your assigned to the bases? when do you just suit up?

Pat

Re: Thanks....
 

It's fairly standard here to call your partners for the week on Sunday night to discuss logistics. If who does what has not been established then do it then so you will know. So in your example, if I arrive 30 minutes to game time and my partner has the plate I am dressing for bases. If he does not show by 15 minutes to game time I will start to change and get serious about it at 12 minutes to game time. If he shows after I am dressed for plate, I am working plate.

This is my first year as a "pointer". I have always used the first as my strike mechanic.

The ALCS incident with Doug Eddings was a wake-up call for me. And *should* be for all the hammer guys out there.

The fact that a strike mechanic is IDENTICAL to an out mechanic can cause serious problems in certain circumstances.

Everybody who uses the hammer as their standard strike mechanic needs to ask themselves, "How would *I* have handled the same situation that Doug Eddings found him in?"

I have seen this topic discussed much on various internet umpire forums and I really haven't read what I considered a particularly good mechanic that maintains the hammer as the primary strike mechanic. Almost every solution involved a lot of TALKING since there is no signal remaining that describes the situation.

So, now, I point. I point for the strike and I hammer for the out. It's clearer to the participants and fans.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN

im not sure i agree with this. i wont be changing anything this season, i see no need to. i use the hammer, and i use it effectively. there is not, or i should say there hasnt been, any confusion for me when using the hammer on a third strike not caught. not everyone uses the hammer exactly as eddings does.

I would be curious as to your handling of this exact situation. I'm not challenging - I'm sincerely curious because I can be convinced to return to the "hammer" if somebody could come up with an acceptable mechanic that is not prone to confusion.

The batter swings and misses a pitch that is low.

You signal strike with a hammer?

Then, as the PU, you are convinced (a) the ball was caught, or (b) the ball was *not* caught.

What further signals (or verbalization) will you make for (a) or (b)?

David Emerling
Memphis, TN

in situation A, where i believe the ball is caught, i am coming up with an agressive fist. i will also verbalize 'out', but not 'batters out'. by agressively signaling the fist, pumping it a few times and verbalizing the out, everyone *should* get that the batter is now out. this somewhat normal, nothing new here, never had a problem.

now in situation B, i will take a step out and point at the BR (left hand) and come up with a regular old fist (not the agressive multiple timed fist from before where we have an out). this signifies that yes he swung, yes it is a strike. i will then verbalize "no catch" a couple of times. since this is the situation where i feel that the ball isnt caught; i feel that i have signaled that we have a strike on the batter, which is the third, and i have stepped out and verbalized that i do not have a catch. some have used the safe mechanic here adding to the "no catch" verbalization, but i havent tried that myself.

that may or may not work for everyone and where they work. it might not even be acceptable to some, and hell it might not even be acceptable to my evaluators (when the time comes). i have not found trouble with it, and have not found any partners to oppose my stance on it. i am definitely open to becoming better at any aspect of umpiring, but i dont feel that i need to look away from the hammer. some things on third strikes might change, but at the moment im alright.

[Edited by briancurtin on Mar 9th, 2006 at 11:49 PM]

one more thing: eddings admits that he should have verbalized in that one situation, being either "no catch" or "hes out". he didnt say anything, which lead to at least some of the confusion i think. you may have read this, but he talks about his lack of verbalization here: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playof...C-DT9705204233

Thanks for the link to the article.

I remember being very interested in this controversy because of my preference to use the hammer.

In the photo on the link you provided, you will notice that Eddings has his arm parallel to the ground. That is NOT his usual strike call and it is completely unclear what that signal means. The next thing he does is give a hammer.

To the untrained eye, it seemed like the FIRST signal was a strike call and the SECOND signal was an *out* call. If the second signal was not an out call, it calls into question what the FIRST signal was supposed to mean.

As I remember the play, there was no question that Pierzynski swung at the pitch. It was far from a checked swing.

The fact remains, "hammer guys" simply must put more thought into this situation because of the natural confusion with the strike signal being the same as an out signal.

Pointer guys have no problem:

They point for a strike. There can be absolutely no confusion that this is anything other than strike call, and nothing more.

If the umpire is convinced the ball was uncaught, then there is nothing more to do. He has signaled a strike ... has *not* signaled an out ... and the players are now responsible for the situation. They have all the information they need.

If the umpire is convinced the ball was caught, then he follows his strike mechanic (i.e. point) with a hammer, a unversally understood and recognzied signal for an OUT. No confusion.

It just seems easier to me.

I've always been a hammer guy because THAT seems to be the way most manuals and clinics teach it. But I can now see that there is a certain flaw with the fact that a strike and out signal are identical.

99 percent of the time it doesn't matter. The play that Eddings got caught up highlights the flaw.

Notice, at the end of the article, that they say that there is NO REQUIREMENT for the umpire to say "no catch." But a hammer guy is just about FORCED to say something since he has no signal to differentiate from a simple strike and a out.

I understand your mechanic, however, and I think it would work.

I'm still debating myself on this matter.

I just called a Varsity practice game the other day and used the point for the first time in many years. I felt very comfortable with it.

But I'm still conflicted.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN

Dave,
I feel the same way you do. I have always pointed strikes and hammered outs. Even before the Eddings incident, it just didn't seem smart to me to have the same visual signal for two different calls.

When you point a strike, there is no way to get screwed on that call. If there is any uncertainty about an out, a subsequent hammer clears away any confusion.

On a check swing hammer strike, one has to make sure that the signals given are interpreted correctly by the emphasis given or sequence of signal. The hammer can and does work, but the potential for error and confusion is also there. I'd rather adhere to the K.I.S.S. principle and save myself any explanations about how my hammer was really just a strike and not really an out.

Personally, I think nice point for a strike looks better. IMHO.

Re: Re: Thanks....
 

It's fairly standard here to call your partners for the week on Sunday night to discuss logistics. If who does what has not been established then do it then so you will know. So in your example, if I arrive 30 minutes to game time and my partner has the plate I am dressing for bases. If he does not show by 15 minutes to game time I will start to change and get serious about it at 12 minutes to game time. If he shows after I am dressed for plate, I am working plate. [/B][/QUOTE]

Exactly.

Unfortunately, there are umpires who deliberately show up late so they won't have to work the plate. I prefer the plate, so it doesn't bother me - it just tells me something about my partner.
I always tell new umpires to work the plate - you see the whole game, you're involved in it actively, and you get to make decisions on nearly every pitch.

JJ

PS I point and hammer, and have forever.