Using left hand for some mechanics
 

A guy who I work with recently told me he got dinged at the state tournament last year for this...

When asking the first base umpire in the A slot on a check swing, or when awarding a hit batter first base, should the home plate umpire use his [I]left[I] hand when pointing towards the base? He said his evaluator told him to use the left hand so that it wasn't misconstrued as a strike call. It was the first time I had ever heard this...has anyone know if this is a correct mechanic?

to my knowledge it is the correct mechanic along with verbally asking your partner

Pretty standard stuff, yes.

I have been instructed to use the left hand to request information from my partner and to award bases on balls for the very reason you stated. It seems moot, but it is supposed tp prevent anyone from misconstruing your signal as a strike or an out. I have always done it that way without any comment positive or adverse to using it.

Do you also say, "Take your base?"

When you say "BALL FOUR" everyone knows what you're saying. There's no need to point on this and actually makes you look like a Smitty.

Rich, that along with yelling " foul ball" on screamers into the backstop!! (or is that a "foul tip" into the backstop")?

I don't even signal a foul unless a call has to be made. It slows me up in getting a ball into the catcher's hand.

i agree with rich, and catchers love it when the ball is already in their hand when they reach back for it.

also, this topic was covered before and some people, for some reason, still think you should make ALL calls with your right hand no matter what happens ever in the world. ill stick to the standard of pointing to my partner with my left.

When getting help from BU, use your left hand. But why is he using any hand when awarding first on the HBP? Do batters in your area forget where first is?

Actually, this is one place I do point. And so do the guys on TV. It tells the others that a batter was hit and that's not always obvious.

I point, too, after calling time, but at the batter, as I was taught, not at first base.

I think I learned it as, handle an HBP just like any other dead ball award - by pointing to the base being awarded. A base on balls is a live ball award, hence, no pointing.

While we're on the subject. Do you point at a check swing or bunt attempt with your right or left hand, or do you not point at all? I was taught to point at the area in front of the plate while verbalizing "yes, he did." I use my right hand but I would be curious to see what you all think.


Tim.

i go with the left one on that

The mechanic I learned is to point using the hand on the side of the plate as the batter -- point using the left hand for a righthanded batter and using the right hand for a lefthanded batter.

Check swing appeal
 

I would bet there are many umpires who appeal check swings with their right hand. I disagree with the given rational behind left handed checkswing appeals, but I will not be picking NITS again on this thread. Despite my reservations, I can adopt the "correct" mechanic simply to please the bosses. The left handed check swing mechanic is now gaining universal appeal. I learned about it by reading this website. I would still prefer PU point at the batter with his fully extended left arm and then ask BU, "Did HE go?" That seems to be the only realistic provision for this mechanic.

SA, this is how i do it. I step away from the plate, point to mypartner with myleft hand and ask him "Did he go?" If the answer is yes, then I signal the strike with my right hand.

I only point at the batter with my left hand if they are hit by a pitch, after calling time. I never point to first on a base on balls.

On HBP, whether its pointing to the batter or to first, something must be done, because it could just be a ball if he didn't attempt to get out of the way. Wonder what the machanic is for that? Probably just "Time!" "Ball!". Then get ready for the coach :)

Since the batter is usually on his way to first after he intentionally gets hit, it's usually something like, "Time! Stay right here. Stay right here." wile pointing in the general direction of the plate / batter's box.

On pointing to your partner on a checked swing --- I used to use the "point" for my strike call. Once, I pointed a "strike" on a check swing, only to hear / see my partner yell, "No, he didn't." So, I now use the hammer on the strike call and always point with my left hand (as I did before.)

I had that situation just this weekend. Right handed batter, very slow 12/6 curve ball coming right at batter, who turns his shoulder INTO the pitch. He starts trotting down to 1b, while i'm yelling, "TIME, TIME.... thats a ball!!! Batter stay here!!".. while pointing to the plate.

HC, in the third base box, comes down and starts his discussion with me like this.. " bob, i admit that he didn't make a real great effort to get out of the way......" I responded, "don, he didn't get out of the way at all, he moved into the pitch"...

Adopt a left hand
 

I have adopted the new left hand check swing appeal after reading the last thread on this topic. I still find that I hammer strikes "down" and punch outs "in all directions." All are done with a CLOSED fist and most of these punches RISE with respect to initial placement of my right hand on my right knee/thigh. Sometimes I throw a left jab or a right cross or a right uppercut and sometimes I punch straight out or up above my head. I usually always hold my closed fist OUT there momentarily.

I still have rabbit ears for bench jockeys who pretend to be confused about what my strike or out mechanics look like after the first inning. I hate when they whine or insist on correcting my mechanics, as well as my judgment and eyesight. I find it ironic that coaches have found a very weak excuse and that it SEAMS to work. I could lower my level by arguing with the little guy or I can adopt a strategy to avoid it altogether. I could argue against the left hand point further or I can GROW. I have chosen to adopt the NEW left hand mechanic.

Well if you are going to point at the plate on a HBP where you are going to call a ball, then you should probably being pointing to first when you are going to award first. All with your left hand.

The difference is that on a HBP that the batter didn't attempt to avoid, pointing to the plate area tells everyone what you had on the play. If you use the proper mechanic on a walk and just verbalize "ball four", the batter-runner and everyone else don't need the added directions on how to get there.


Tim.

I was taught to always point with my left hand. I never point on a base on balls I just say "Ball four".

pointing on BB
 

don't know if this was already mentioned but another reason NOT to point to first on ball 4 is that it may be misconstrued as a request for help on a check swing. i worked with a partner last week who pointed at me on every ball 4. a couple of which were check swings. luckily i was used to his habit by the time the check swing/ball 4 occurred.

I have been instructed to point with left "yes he did" then give strike mechanic

SA Ump, is there such a thing as an "OPEN" fist?

Same here. I also point to 1st base with the left hand for HBP awards after calling "Time," but never point on base on balls, nor verbalize more than "Ball 4."

Pointing
 

Yes, it is a combination of an extended right hand pointing finger and/or thumb, ala the older strike/out call mechanics. Some umps don't want to entirely close the fist.

I have never pointed to 1st base after a ball four, with either hand. I have told the batter "that was four", if it appeared he did not know already, but have never pointed.

On a check swing I use either hand, whichever is most convenient for the situation, but there is no mistaking a strike since I hammer a strike, I don't point. On a check swing appeal I always step to the side and ask "did he go". So there is no mistaking a check swing appeal. I was taught to hammer and never tried to do anything else.

Makes sense.
Then yer not breaking your index finger on the catcher's helmet.
mick