Circles at home plate

[3appleshigh]

Tibear, I would be careful assuming just because they say they are level 4 that they are a level 4. They do make mistakes, but the bouncing ball one is just not one I see a true level four making. I know in Canada there are many people who love to say they are level four but are not. Also not all clinicians are level 4's.

[tibear]

Originally Posted by 3appleshigh

Tibear, I would be careful assuming just because they say they are level 4 that they are a level 4. They do make mistakes, but the bouncing ball one is just not one I see a true level four making. I know in Canada there are many people who love to say they are level four but are not. Also not all clinicians are level 4's.

All of the umpires I was talking to about the bouncing strike were level 4's. I know for a fact because they are all designated mentors to other umpires and you have to be a level 4 to be a mentor.

This clinician specifically said that he was a level 4 umpire for about 15 years and had worked a couple of national chamionships.

[UMP25]

Why does this thread make me want to sing "Blame Canada!" from the soundtrack of South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut?

[3appleshigh]

WOW just WOW, sad statement on those guys. What province Tibear??

[tibear]

Originally Posted by 3appleshigh

WOW just WOW, sad statement on those guys. What province Tibear??

Sorry, don't want to identify too much.

[RPatrino]

Just curious tibear, what kind of mechanics instruction did you recieve after all this 'wizz bang' rules stuff??

[tibear]

Mechanics weren't bad. He instructed to keep your head on the inside corner and top of the strike zone, make sure you delay before making a call, etc. Don't be afraid to give a little extra on the outside corner in the middle of the strike zone, use the backcatcher's glove to help a bit with the low strikes, always keep your eyes on the ball, etc.

He didn't really tell the guys anything about base positioning which of course is a bit of a problem. Simply told them to get perpendicular to the play and assume the "ready position", see the play, delay and make the call.

I had to ask him about umpire signaling but didn't want to lead him with all kinds of questions that would show he was missing all kinds of information. One of the things I want a clinician to help the guys with is knowing what to do when actually trying to make the call. From what I've read and heard on this site and others is to look at the base and listen for the ball in glove. Not that you don't see the glove at all but to focus on the base, that way you can see if the player is pulled off the bag, see when the runner gets to the bag, etc.

He did go over quite of few of the "myths" to ensure they knew fact from fiction. Nobody walked out thinking that the hands were part of the bat, or a tie went to the runner.