Wow! I guess that I must be doing it all wrong because I go to my partner when asked on a checked swing. I must also be wrong for going to my partner when the batter has 2 strikes and checks his swing and the catcher can't handle the pitch.

But you know what? I don't catch any crap from the coaches or the players and I get very few arguments. And seeing as how this is what is taught in the schools and clinics here in the USA, I'll just stick with this procedure. If I ever officiate North of the boarder, I'll be sure to go to a clinic, eh?

Ozzy - make sure to be ready to ignore 150 years of tried and true mechanics...

Well guys, I never suggested throwing out 150 years of umpiring mechanics. All I'm saying is that I can see the swing/no swing just fine from my position behind the plate. Maybe it's my stance, or distance from the catcher. Whatever the case, I won't hesitate to appeal to my partner if asked to do so by the catcher.

By this statement you're also saying that you've never felt the need to call a strike when an appeal was requested by your PU. Or, for that matter, that you've never had a strike called when you appealed to your partner when you were behind the plate.

Canada, your ability to see every check swing regardless of type of pitch or its location is probably more due to your failure to track the pitch all the way to the catchers glove and use good timing to make your call.

In some situations your attention should be completely focused on the pitch and catchers glove watching him catch the pitch, particularly balls that are low, or in fact even bounce.

Sometimes the reason we do not see the swing is because the catcher does something they should not be doing. Ability has little to do with it.

Peace

please correct me i I am wrong, but have there not been studies done and it been shown scientifically that BU in the B position has a better view to call on a check swing than the PU? I swear I have read that either on this forum or on a link from this forum to the research. Thus not asking for help shows....arrogance and ignorance in the face of science?

:D

Thanks for the tips guys. I never really was sure what the reason was for the checked swing appeal. Now it is more clear.

1) Nobody called you a troll, so why the hostility?

2) You shouldn't be calling names. You don't like it when people call you names. I know, because I've read where you made it clear that you don't like being called names.

3) Adios my friend is a euphamism meaning "adios mother ******." Again, nobody was telling any "inside jokes, or referring to you in any way. Paranoia will destroy ya!:eek:

4) I agree that the PU should get all the check swing calls himself if possible. Sometimes you can't tell, like when the catcher bounces up and screens you out while you are busy tracking the pitch. But the PU should always strive to get the check swing calls himself. But there is nothing to gain by refusing a coach or catcher to ask for help. I hate when a catcher or coach wants me to go for help, especially when I know damn well the batter checked his swing. But as much as it irritates me, it doesn't pay to be beligerent and refuse to ask for help. I just go ahead and ask like I'm supposed to and try not to let my irritation show (not always possible).

I have no problem refusing a ridiculous request. You know the barely take the bat off their shoulder flinch that gets a request. At least under NF Rules it is not an obligation for a PU to ask for a check swing and I adhere to that when necessary. I do not give a rat's “patoot” what the coaches think. I have no problem asking for help if the bat is clearly out there, but not when the request is bogus. NCAA is a different story and is required by the rules.

Peace

I save my annoyances for other situations. I always check with my partner when asked in any game and inside I jump with glee when a partner hands me another strike.

I remember working a game with a crusty old vet back in the early 90s. I was in C and a RH batter clearly offered. FED game. PU refused to come to me and I stood there in C and watched it escalate to an ejection. And another. And a third. Well, I stopped just watching after the first one, but you get the idea.

After the game, I told him that the batter offered. He told me that I can't see that from there. I scratched him that evening.

I can't see any vaild reason not to go to your partner, because it isn't that you didn't rule on the pitch in the first place....you (PU) called it a ball already. Ball calls are detrimental to our desired game outcome.

Appealing can only benefit the PU: He can a) get another strike, and b) if there is any anger about the change, it goes to the BU, not him. No downside here.