Here a balk, there a balk...

[bossman72]

Originally Posted by LMan

Since a foul tip is by definition a swinging strike, there is no verbalization.

Yes, i know this. I was asking just in case orioles did it- which would lead to confusion on the field.

[BellevueUMp]

I'll toss this out to try and help answer the question about the "time out" signal. In the back of the Fed rule book, the "Mechanics" illustrations show the umpire making what appears to be a 'time out' signal (like I'm typically used to seeing a basketball player use towards the official). I was taught to signal a foul tip by brushing the palm/fingertips of one hand across the back of the other, so seeing the mechanic depicted this way was a bit confusing. I wasn't sure if this was a different mechanic or just how the one I learned was drawn. Guess I'm not crazy after all (well, not as much as I'd thought ).

[SanDiegoSteve]

I'm looking at the 2005 book (the only one I have) and it shows and describes the mechanic as "the palms of the hands glance off each other as they pass above eye level, followed by a strike call." That's a bit more like it.

It really should read "followed by a non-verbal strike signal."

That so-called "little time out signal" is what referees use for a technical foul signal in basketball, yet I have seen older FED baseball mechanic pictures depicting a similar motion for foul tip.

I have never paterned my signals after the hyserically funny pictures in the FED rule book. Play Ball is especially ROTFLMAO funny. Looks like the guy is smacking himself in the mask. What's wrong with a good point to the pitcher?