Ball Four

[mcrowder]

Originally Posted by GoodwillRef

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.