Scissors

[LakeErieUmp]

I was watching my son's 15 year old fall travel league game and for the first time in years saw PU in the scissors. I never used it, and never studied it, but PLEASE tell me that in the scissors you are NOT supposed to have your head slightly tilted to the side, and have your nose lined up with the inside batter's box line. Understandably, while PU was probably a nice guy he seemed to have no conception where outside was.
If that IS the right place to set up then I'm going to it cause I'll never get hit!

[kylejt]

I'm currently watching an MLB umpire, Padres vs. DBacks, working the scissors WITH HIS MASK ON SIDEWAYS. I mean it's off center by a couple of inches. The edge of the padding is nearly covering his right eye. It's flat out goofy.

Hey, everybody's different. Some more different that others.

But you've NEVER seen the scissors before? Wow. How are you enjoying your first trip to America?

[SanDiegoSteve]

Kyle, in all fairness, he said that he hasn't seen the scissors in years.

In answer to LakeErieUmp, often umpires in the scissors kick their back leg toward the outside edge side of the batter's box, and have their shoulders pointing somewhat toward the plate at a funny angle. Then they turn their head ever so slightly so as to look directly at the pitcher and line their eyes up with the strike zone. I've noticed this in some scissors photos of me from the past. Check out some of the MLB guys scissors next time you get the chance. Some of them line up like this too. Ed Rapuano used to do this if I recall correctly.

BTW, Lance Barksdale is working the plate on the Padres/DBacks game right now, and has been getting grief all night from both teams for having a crackerbox-like strike zone. He squeezed David Wells like a Florida orange.

[kylejt]

You're right. Sorry man. But I see the scissors all the time. Lot of HS umpires around here use it.

[SanDiegoSteve]

I first used the scissors in 1990, and continued to use the stance until 2 years ago, when I took a horrific shot on the left elbow (with a right hand batter and a plus 90 pitch). I have since switched to several other stances, depending on what level ball, but I still like the view I got from the scissors the best. It was also the easiest on my back, which has had degenerated discs from L-2 to S-1 since 1985.

[lawump]

I worked the "box" (heel-toe), as required, while in the minor leagues. I hated it for two reasons: my knees always, always hurt after every plate job, and (2) "the" ball always seemed to find my balls (or inner thighs) at least once every two weeks or so (I have some nasty pictures of what a person's inner thigh looks like after getting drilled by a 95mph fast ball that no bat nor no glove touched.)

Anyways, dropping back down to college and high school, I went to the scissors. Many people had told me that the scissors is worse on your knees than the box...I decided to find out for myself and I found the opposite to be true. My knees never hurt after a game. The only part that ever is sore after a plate game is some leg muscles (quads) and that's only in the beginning of the season before they "get loose". I have also found that I get hit a lot less in unprotected areas than I did in the box. I have yet in 5+ years to get hit on the inner thigh, for instance. (Hits to my arms and to my mask are the same as in the box).

Finally, at the time I switched, I had not heard anything about the scissors causing possible neck problems. I have had none...but after reading Tee's posts and talking to others over the last year or so, I remain very mindful to keep an eye out for any neck issues.

As for standing sidewards, etc.: The most blatant of all time, IMHO, was Steve Rippley (when he worked the scissors) who retired a few years back...watch some of his old games on ESPN Classic. I personally try (please note the word "try") to do it like Jeff Nelson: straight on, standing in the slot, shoulders square to the mound.

Just my two cents.