Boys, we've lost another one to the dark side. Now you see why it's a bad thing to put LLD and the like on ignore?

Why is this such an issue with you? We all have our little quirks in the way we officiate. Somethings may work for you and others may work for me, as long as we get the call right and manage the game properly there shouldn't be a problem.

I shouldn't let myself get baited ... but here goes.

Here's why this is an issue.

Someone posts a question. 6 people known for jumping on here giving umpires crappy or just flat wrong advice (and one who is respected) lept quickly to one opinion. 3 people (ignoring myself here) who are not only well respected, but among the few who come to this board and are almost always spot on with regard to every situation imaginable, all stating the opposite (correct) opinion.

Yet because the trolls are louder than the good umpires, and most of the good umpires have put these trolls on ignore long long ago - so they don't realize that several people are giving horrid advice on this issue, someone (this would be you) who has been doing something right for 15 years now decides to do it wrong.

And that pisses me off. Sorry - it does.

As to the actual issue here - again, if you don't believe me (or Tee, or Oz, or Garth), find someone who you will believe who actually works at a high level somewhere, and ask them. Or watch any of the highest levels of baseball and see what they do. Go sit row one some day and specifically listen to the PU.

Counting out the pitches (whether Strikes 1/2 or strike 3; whether balls 1-3 or ball 4) is BUSH. You want to step down to LLD's level - go right ahead. And we have one more quality umpire using bush mechanics.

What do you have against Baseball Canada?

Goodwillref - that should be enough to convince you right there.

What bit you, Mike? Someone doesn't agree with you and they're now a LL troll? Why don't you explain to me why you feel it's a bad habit to verbalize ball four. If there's a good reason not to, I'm all ears.


Tim.

i second about that statement. Why is it "wrong" to say "ball 4"? We all say "strike 3" dont we? If you really think about it, it sounds kinda dumb not to say a number after s3 and b4.

I watch a lot of MLB baseball. I mean a lot. I have heard many MLB umpires say "Ball 4." I have also heard quite a few MLB umpires announce the number after every "Ball" call, 1 through 4. I have heard them not announce any number, too. Same exact thing with strikes. Some say their strike call followed by "3," and others do not.

Every umpire does it differently. To say that it is wrong to say "Ball 4" is just stupid, as there is nothing wrong with doing it either way one chooses.

I Don't think I deserve to be catagorized with the trolls, mcrowder.

And on this particular subject, I'm unable to have an opinion because of the group I umpire for sets out the standards. I specifically mentioned that as an addition to the thread. I state that I didn't call #'s in the past till I was told to. I don't think calling them number or not matters a smidge to the game and how we officiate it, If given the chance to choose, I vote don't give #, only adds a new way for you to mess up.

I dunno, Mike. Evans taught me to call the number on EVERY pitch: ball 1, ball 2, ball 3, ball 4; strike 1, strike 2, strike 3.

That's not what I do: I announce strike 3 routinely (swinging or called - punch out only on called strike). I also announce ball 4.

This is, by far, the stupidest arguement on the internet, whether it be about baseball, politics, chicks, whatever.

I do not count any pitches, balls or strikes. I give the count after three pitches, and at 3 & 2. For any other information, you need to ask.

D

I have told the batter that he'll need another quarter if he wants more pitches.

I say "Ball Four" (but not 1 or 2 or 3). Why? Because that's how I was taught (by D-1 officials at one of my first camps) and it's a habit.

I think the whole thread is much ado about nothing.

The thread is much more than much ado about nothing - it's close to hilarious.

I say "Ball 4" about 60% of the time. Other responses are "Ball," "Nope," "4."

I say "strike 3" or "THREE!" on calles strike 3, just prior to performing my world-class punchout mechanic.

This is completely a matter of personal preference. Doing it one way or the other does NOT paint one as a rookie or a veteran, a "trusted source" or a troll, hiliarious claims in this thread notwithstanding.

When I gave up using my indicator, I no longer ANNOUNCED the game for da boys because I could no longer stare at the dam thing to see what came after 1, 2, or 3.

By the same token, I could probably count on one hand, (thats 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, so you don't have to look), the number of times a player (that shaves) had to be told, "its ball 4, take your base."

Save it for the instructional leagues !!!!