![]() |
|
|
|||
Worked the Plate without an Indicator today.
Last year I worked with an umpire, a good one, who did not use an Indicator at the plate, or anywhere else. I have read a few posts and articles on the subject, and have been wanting to try it.
Well, today the perfect opportunity to try it came up. I was scheduled to work a 9 inning adult league game. The home team was 3 players short, so we had a forfeit. The two managers approached us and asked if we would work a 6 inning scrimmage, if the visitors loaned the home team a few players, since we had already been paid for the forfeit. My partner and I agreed. Since this was just a practice scrimmage, it was very low key, and everyone was having fun. I decided this was about the best time to work without an Indicator. Wow ! What a difference it makes to be out there naked (no Indicator), and without a scoreboard. At first, I felt very apprehensive. Nervous about losing the count or outs. I realized just how dependent I had become on that Indicator. I work very hard not to 'live' in my Indicator, but it was always there if I needed it. First, it really felt weird to not have anything in my left hand. But at the same time, I felt much more balanced. I use the GD stance, so both hands rested on my upper knee the same (very nice). Taking my helmet off was noticeably easier also. Not that it's hard with an Indicator, second nature, but noticeably more comfortable to have your palm touching the cage without worrying about your Indicator slipping out. I did lose the count twice, early on. One batter had to take 5 balls before he got 1st base. Another got punched out with 2 strikes. Because it was a scrimmage, and everybody was pretty much joking around the whole game, it got laughs instead of jeers. I think the lost counts happened for several reasons; First, I could not press my left thumb hard against the strike wheel of my indicator when the batters had 2 strikes, or my index finger on the ball wheel, when they had 3 balls. That is a mechanic I adopted early on to help me remember there were 2 strikes, or 3 balls on a batter. So instead, I started digging my left thumb into my leg for 2 strikes, and my right thumb for 3 balls. Worked very nicely. Second, both of these count loses came after extended action on pitches. One was after multiple pick attempts by the pitcher, and the other was after a passed ball that resulted in several attempted plays on runners. As I look back on previous games using my Indicator, that is when I remember going to my Indicator the most, was after such plays. Lastly, early on, I felt myself spending too many mental resources focusing on the fact that I didn't have an Indicator in my hand. Once I got over that, I did a much better job of keeping track of everything. In conclusion, I'd have to say it was a very positive experience. I felt my focus on the information I needed to remember throughout the game was better. But my jury is still out as to whether I am going to discontinue using an Indicator. I have three days to decide, before my next game.
__________________
Have Great Games ! Nick |
|
|||
Hooray!
Nice job, Nick.
Get rid of that crutch. I find that I remember specifically the locations of the pitches a batter receives .... and I no longer get confused by forgetting those pitches and then relying upon whether or not I clicked that passed ball onto my idiotclickercounterthingamobob. Between pitches I will ring the count up on my fingers to keep it fresh in my mind and it is only when caught off guard that I have to go back and revisit the pitch locations to decide the count. I might have a couple left in my bag but the others I have given away. ![]()
__________________
"There are no superstar calls. We don't root for certain teams. We don't cheat. But sometimes we just miss calls." - Joe Crawford |
|
|||
![]() Quote:
Dunno if I'll ever be able to do that. But I have a question. Why Left thumb for Strikes and Right thumb for balls? mick |
|
|||
I think you should have stuck to using your left thumb when you went digging for balls, Nick. Although I wouldn't suggest leaving that left hand in your pocket very long!
Sorry, I couldn't resist............ LOL Tim. |
|
|||
What is the big freakin deal? If you want to use an indicator use the indicator. If you do not want to use the indicator, do not use the indicator. This to me is about as silly an issue as if you wear a mask or not. I do not see how this is going to help anyone or hurt anyone to call balls and strikes which ultimately is what we are out there to do.
Peace
__________________
Let us get into "Good Trouble." ----------------------------------------------------------- Charles Michael “Mick” Chambers (1947-2010) |
|
|||
JR - what's wrong with hearing an actual story about a fellow umpire's experiences when trying to experiment with this? What in the world could have possibly made you so bitter about this thread? Good grief.
__________________
"Many baseball fans look upon an umpire as a sort of necessary evil to the luxury of baseball, like the odor that follows an automobile." - Hall of Fame Pitcher Christy Mathewson |
|
|||
I did not say there was anything wrong with it. I just wonder why we are so obsessed of someone uses an indicator or not. Someone that would come to this board that is either new or not a baseball umpire would think that an indicator is the reason we can do our jobs or not. If you want to talk about it that is your right and it is Nick's right to tell the story. I just do not see why it really matters one way or the other if someone makes a personal decision. Now are we going to debate what type of cup we use?
![]() Peace
__________________
Let us get into "Good Trouble." ----------------------------------------------------------- Charles Michael “Mick” Chambers (1947-2010) |
|
|||
Quote:
![]() mick |
|
|||
Quote:
![]() Peace
__________________
Let us get into "Good Trouble." ----------------------------------------------------------- Charles Michael “Mick” Chambers (1947-2010) |
|
|||
Ooucchh!! I think I broke my indicator.
![]() ![]() |
|
|||
Quote:
Can't you be objective enough to see at least see a perceived hostility in your post? I do think you're wrong in that if an umpire has the focus to go through a game without an indicator he will benefit on his focus on tracking pitches. Is is a significant improvement? Probably not. Is it worth discussing from time to time? Absolutely. Tim. |
|
|||
You might recall several long, involved threads started by a dufus ( who is no longer with us) who thought it would be interesting to talk about every item in his equipment bag, including his cup!!
Bob P.
__________________
Bob P. ----------------------- We are stewards of baseball. Our customers aren't schools or coaches or conferences. Our customer is the game itself. |
|
|||
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Peace
__________________
Let us get into "Good Trouble." ----------------------------------------------------------- Charles Michael “Mick” Chambers (1947-2010) |
|
|||
Quote:
![]() I decided on this new mechanic on the fly out of desperation (the mother of all invention). It worked, I just hope I don't cut off the circulation in both my legs on a 3-2 count ! ![]()
__________________
Have Great Games ! Nick |
|
|||
Quote:
![]() |
![]() |
Bookmarks |
|
|
![]() |
||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Ditched my indicator for good. | gordon30307 | Baseball | 43 | Wed Nov 02, 2005 07:03pm |
Coach can't have count indicator? | twest | Baseball | 49 | Wed Jun 15, 2005 05:02pm |
Plus Pos BB168 Blind Umpire Braille Indicator | illiniwek8 | Baseball | 10 | Mon Mar 28, 2005 12:08pm |
Anyone Worked an AAU National Tourn? | JAdams | Basketball | 13 | Tue Jul 22, 2003 08:54am |
Worked with a Rookie | Steve M | Softball | 2 | Mon Jul 15, 2002 10:24am |