Safe Sign

Originally Posted by PWL

More than likely you are right in what you have heard. Don't they demonstrate the technique with palms down and arms going as wide apart as possible as their emphasis?

The arms as wide apart as possible, yes. But never has anybody mentioned anything about the hands.

Truthfully, I have never noticed what people do. I have never heard it mentioned in an evaluation. Never read "palms down" in any mechanics book.

I don't think it really matters. People are looking for your arm motion!

[505 ump]

NFHS umpire manual 2007/2008- page 36 shows palms/hands open and facing down.
On page 35, note (17) says " palms parallel to the ground"

[SanDiegoSteve]

Like Durham, I use both palms down and closed fists, depending on the situation.

On bangers, I use a crisp, parallel signal with open hands facing down.

On pickoffs that are not close enough to sell, but are close enough to warrant a basic safe signal, I use a casual safe signal with closed fists. The same goes for routine checked swing calls, to convey to everyone that it really wasn't close to anything resembling a swing.

Originally Posted by Tim C

We need to get everybody calling games

A-freakin'-men!

[tiger49]

Originally Posted by Tim C

We need to get everybody calling games so we can get a little less detailed (unless you live in Canada where this type things separates tournament level umpires).

Regards,

Tim in Canada we have One National body, One Provincial body and one set of standards with 5 levels. Levels 1-3 are provincially run, Level 4 national and Level 5 International.

In the US I feel as though if USA Baseball got together with NFHS, Little League and the NCAA and came up with a universial system for all organizations it would go a long way in the development of young umpires in the US.

I have attached a link to the Baseball Canada Umpire Operations Manual. http://66.241.210.162/files/Operatio...Version1.5.pdf

Originally Posted by 505 ump

NFHS umpire manual 2007/2008- page 36 shows palms/hands open and facing down.
On page 35, note (17) says " palms parallel to the ground"

So, that at least makes it official if you are using NFHS mechanics (Oregon does not).

Somebody must have the MLB umpire mechanics manual around eh?

[LMan]

Data point:

The current CCA manual specifies palms open and downward (p.246).

Originally Posted by LMan

Data point:

The current CCA manual specifies palms open and downward (p.246).

NCAA, check.

[Justme]

Originally Posted by 505 ump

NFHS umpire manual 2007/2008- page 36 shows palms/hands open and facing down.
On page 35, note (17) says " palms parallel to the ground"

My 'old' CCA Umpires manual shows palms down (parallel to the ground) in the Signals Chart. I've always seen it demonstrated in clinics as palms down.

In our association we ARE critiqued on our mechanics (including hand signals)

[NFump]

Originally Posted by O.T.Hill

No, but you could go find one if you'd like, get some powder blue on and stay there. And kiss my *** while you're at it. I'm bored & it's cold and it's soaking wet outside. Sorry I took up your cyberspace by throwing out a simple, harmless question just to see what other people think. Obviously, some other people felt that it was worthy of a response. You suck.

WOWIE!!!! All he did was make a little joke and you go postal on him. Chill out dude.

Originally Posted by NFump

WOWIE!!!! All he did was make a little joke and you go postal on him. Chill out dude.

Maybe more guys should be called out on making "a little joke". I have been here for all of a week or so, and it seems that is all it takes here to turn a perfectly legitimate thread into a full on flame war!

I'm just saying............

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by rei

Maybe more guys should be called out on making "a little joke". I have been here for all of a week or so, and it seems that is all it takes here to turn a perfectly legitimate thread into a full on flame war!

I'm just saying............

Well, I rather see someone make a joke rather than see some elitist jerk sneer at whole bunch of his fellow umpires just because they supposedly haven't attained his lofty level.

I'm just saying.......

Feel free to post your resume as a rebuttal.

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

Well, I rather see someone make a joke rather than see some elitist jerk sneer at whole bunch of his fellow umpires just because they supposedly haven't attained his lofty level.

I'm just saying.......

Feel free to post your resume as a rebuttal.

I rest my case....

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by rei

Maybe more guys should be called out on making "a little joke". I have been here for all of a week or so, and it seems that is all it takes here to turn a perfectly legitimate thread into a full on flame war!

I'm just saying............

I don't believe it's the intitial joke, but rather the over-the-top over reactive response that moves threads out of the bar and into the alley.

If we were sitting in our favorite watering and somehow, I can't imainge why, were having this a palm-up or palm-down debate and it wasn't about self abuse and Rich wandered in and made his comment; we'd have a laugh and someone would say "Ahhhhh, f@#$ you, Rich." He'd sit down and we'd continue our agenda.

But here, Rich wanders in and makes his comment somone wants to take him outside.

I wonder how some of these paper thin skinned umpires survive a game.

[Rich Ives]

I wonder how some of these paper thin skinned umpires survive a game.


I'd bet the coaches have a more difficult time lasting out the game.