When to signal, or not to...

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by Rich Fronheiser

Getting down on a knee is a horrible habit, in my opinion.

I see guys do it on plays at first. On a bad throw that requires a lean and a look to get the swipe tag correctly, how do you do that from one knee?

And if you are waiting to read the throw before coming set, it's pretty hard to get on one knee set in time to make the call.

The guys on TV can do it because a vast majority of the throws are true. For those of us who may have to handle multiple swipe tags per GAME, it's better to use a standing set.

Despite that some MLB umps do take a knee on the bases, I have never heard one of them recommend it. One needs to be ready to adjust to the play, and as Rich has said, that requires "a lean and a look", sometimes, a step and a lean and a look...something that is not well performed from the knee.