Hand(s) on the catchers back
 

What do you fellow umpires think about putting your hand(s) on the catchers back when setting up behind the plate? Also, I would be interested in some feedback from former catchers who are now umpires. Thank you in advance

I think it's unnecessary, probably an annoyance to the catcher, whether he says so or not, and just basically kind of gay. I say this knowing several MLB umpires, and no doubt countless others in the lower ranks, have this habit.

On occation for late set-up catcher
 

sometimes when a catcher is setting up late, I'll ask him if I can place my hand on his back to follow him so I don't have to "guess" where he's going. By late in setting up I mean he is moving when the pitcher commits to the plate.
I never touch the catcher when the ball is on its way to the zone. Just my mechanic.

Many catchers I have coached complain about it. I would simply ask the umpire to not do it.

Former catcher, now umpire...I did not like it back then and I don't like it when I see it now.

Hehehe,
 

Another good thing about working the "Gerry Davis Plate System" is that I am not close enough to even touch the catcher if I wanted to . .

Regards,

So, on the late moving catcher, you place your hand on his back so that you can follow him?

I don't do it now that I use the GD, and didn't do it back when I work the Heel-Toe Slot.

Personally, I think it is inappropriate. How would you, especially if you are a youth player, like some stranger putting his hands on you while your trying to work ?

And don't even give me that crap that it helps an umpire track the catcher. As a batter I knew where the catcher was, I sure as heck don't need to use Braille as an umpire to track him.

Used to catch, I hated it. If you need to follow the catcher, use your eyes. If you use your hand maybe you are blind, just like that the coach suggested earlier in the game.

I used to catch, and hated it. I was ejected two years ago because, out of no where, I stood up and turned around and said something to the effect of, "Will you get your damn hand the hell off of my back?" It was worth it. Anyways, I dont do it and never will. I know that catchers dont like it and it doesnt really help the umpire.

Now & Then...
 

Sounds like I'm in the majority. I hated it when I caught, and wouldn't do it now. I remember having one umpire when I was in HS that wouldn't just put a hand on my back, but literally placed his forearm across my shoulders/upper back. I got so aggravated with it in one game that I purposely got tossed.

I attended the PBUC Evaluation course thise year and while we were there they told us that it would work to our benefit it we placed our hand on their back just until they moved so that you can make the neccesary adjustment so you dont hinder the catcher one way or the other. Just thought you guys might like to know what is being taught.

This whole thread brings back memories of the Mike Matheny (sp? -- catcher for St. Louis) and Jerry Crawford "fiasco" during the 2003 season.

It's not something I would do.


In the words of the immortal Forrest Gump....


"That's all I have to say about that."


Tim.

Former catcher (retired 2 years) current umpire here. I absolutely hated it and noticed it was mainly the old guys who would do it. I never had the nerves to smart off like some of the other posters though. After an inning or so, I always forgot about it and it never affected how I caught....it just kind of got on my nerves. I would never do it as an umpire, I believe it's completely unnecessary.

Luke

I still don't understand what "necessary adjustment" would need to be made if the catcher moved. I use the GD, the catcher moves, I stay put. What stance/system has you moving to stay behind the catcher?

:o As a catcher I hated the Blu's touching my back. It always made me feel like there was an old dude sitting in my back pocket and was going to be in my way if I had to haul a** back to the fence on a wild pitch. My coach use to teach us that a couple of burrito's for lunch will take care of a hovering umpire. ;)

ive never done this. i worked the box and a few variations and never did it there, and now thats not even possible in the GD. i personally dont see the need for it.

as a catcher, i never once liked it, but then again i very rarely had an umpire do that. i had a few hand-on-the-back umpires in high school, but none in my college stint. i have no idea about little league or anything from when i was younger. even though the guys that did do it, put the hand there lightly, you still feel it and it just feels out of place.

im not a fan of it from either side

Tim,

Thanks, I've been trying to come up with a sign off to go with my name.

I don't know, Steve. I might have went with the phrase:

"Stupid is as stupid does.";)


Tim.

When and if the catcher has to move back or up, you need to kind of move with him so that you, for one are not looking in the back of his head if he moves forward, and two, if he moves backwards, you can clear him if he has to move left or right. I only do it if the catcher moves alot before the pitch.

Maybe I'm in the minority, Bob. I use the heel/toe stance and stay upright until the pitcher begins his motion. Then if the catcher moves out I move out with him. If he moves to set up inside blocking the slot, I move up and back a bit.


Tim.

Why?

As Evans teaches, I take my place in the slot and stay there. What does it matter if the catcher moves to the outside? Why would I want to change the way I see the zone pitch to pitch or batter to batter?

Equally good. That one would apply to the coach who yelled at me last week "Blue the ball hit the plate first". I may just start a compilation of Gumpisms and switch from time to time.


I can remember putting my hand on the catchers back a few times several years ago. I would never do it now. I don't see the need as I have also adopted the GD stance.

Like I said, Garth, I'm sure I'm in the minority here on this. It's the way my plate work has evolved over the years and I'm confident in my ability to call my zone consistently.


Tim.

I love it when the catcher moves outside and there's nothing between me and pitcher but my equipment. I just can't imagine moving from a view like that.

The chances are pretty good that you're setting up behind much better catchers than I am, Garth.:D


Tim.

Don't you wear protective gear?

Sure I do. In fact I use pretty good stuff. It just that I guess I become a little jumpy when I know some of the catchers I set up behind can't get much of a glove on a pitch when the battery gets mixed up. I'm not opposed to trying to stay completely exposed when the catcher moves out. It's just something I'm not accustomed to doing.



Tim.

Good, you're open to trying it. So, try it. It's good to break out of your comfort zone once in a while.

I'll try it, Garth. Do you have any tips on how to avoid flinching when you have no confidence in the catchers ability? It's something I'm sure I'll need to work on to do this.


Tim.

Not everything teachers teach, should be taught.

If you're not working the GD, your not supposed to be set before the catcher, is what I remember being taught.

Like Garth, I don't care if F2 moves away.

As far as flinching, a long time ago, I had a friend throw rubber balls at me (my equipment on, of course). From that, he switched to regular baseballs and threw them easy. I just got used to seeing the ball coming at me.

Now, all I can tell you is that after 20+ years of getting whacked, nothing seems to phase me anymore. A ball heading at me at 90+ mph doesn't even raise a hair on my head. I just concentrate on the pitch and call it.

Then enjoy the "concern" of the crowd after I take a shot! :D

A wise old umpire gave me a tip... if you find yourself blinking or flintching, leave your mouth open just a little bit. I thought he was smokin' something... but it actually works for me... give it a try.

Thanks for the tips. I don't think I'm going to have to re-invent the wheel here, but I do think it'll take some getting used to.


Tim.

I have all my class notes from the 1997 UDP (PBUC) class: and either "Sarge" or "Fitzy" did teach us that "if the catcher moves outside, you (umpire) move with him."

For what its worth.

Sorry, too Brokeback for me.

As a former catcher, I got used to pitches and foul tips and never flinched. As an umpire it was the same thing.

But now that I use GD, I seem to be flinching again. I don't know what it is, maybe since high school ended I've been dealing with less experienced catchers and its made me wary, and has nothing to do with GD.

I'll try the mouth open thing.

And there is nothing better than a concerned crowd. But nothing worse when nobody realizes it got you pretty good.

We had a small faction of our locals that decided they were going to go with the 'hand-on-the-back' for a while last year. Majority of them worked the box, a few were heel-toe'ers.
Their balance was thrown off by this new 'lean' intoo the catcher, and at least half of them decided to stop doing it over concerns that at times-especially when clearing the catcher- they were 'pushing off'.
In addition to that, we heard word from some of the catchers that the umpires were setting up, putting their hands there, and staying put, even when the catcher moved or shifted- the catcher's were asking the rest of us "what's the point? it's not about distance, cause they don't move!"
Anyway, I think only one guy still does it, and he only sets up with it, then removes his hand- it sort of hovers there, but doesn't touch the catcher.
I wouldn't do it- I prefer a wide slot, and I'm sure at times would need an extended arm to even reach him!


Bainer.

Actually, I was ejected after I complained about the umpire putting his hand on me. At times, he would actually hold on to my chest protector strap. I turned around and said something along the lines of "Will you get your f---ing hand off of my damn back?" Words were exchanged and I was tossed. I took off my chest protector and laid it on home plate. I walked away after sayin "Here, if you want to hang on to it so bad, I left it here for you." It was worth it. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I dont do it when I umpire.