Between Innings

[JJ]

Here's another reason to stay in the outfield between innings. If the inning ends on a whacker at first and you head IN to talk to your partner, you're a much easier target for that irate coach AND everyone on his side of the field. If you stay in the outfield and that coach comes out to you, HE looks like an aggressor and it's much easier to deal with him.

JJ

[aschramm]

Originally Posted by JJ

Here's another reason to stay in the outfield between innings. If the inning ends on a whacker at first and you head IN to talk to your partner, you're a much easier target for that irate coach AND everyone on his side of the field. If you stay in the outfield and that coach comes out to you, HE looks like an aggressor and it's much easier to deal with him.

JJ

And that one was always obvious to me...I had a partner a few weeks ago (I was PU, he was BU) come to me right after a banger at first to end the inning. I'm glad it was fall HS frosh ball and circumstances were pretty laid back, but that's definitely the time to always go out into right field.

[Tim C]

"If you are doing high calibur ball etc. for the most part no need to count warm-up pitches etc. These young men know what they are doing and no need for you to say "balls in" or "bring it down" etc that one one do in "kiddy ball" or "teenage ball""

I find it strange how different things are in different parts of the USA.

In Oregon our training comes directly from umpires and umpire evaluators that work in the PAC-10.

In major college baseball (PAC-10/WCAC) plate umpires are required to "count warm-up pitches". When there are two pitches remaining we are trained to step to towards home plate, hold up two fingers and loudly announce "TWO MORE!"

To not do this during a Pac-10 or WCAC game will mean a major ding on your evaluation.

I just find mileage varying is a strange concept when dealing with umpire items such as this.

In closing:

When I umpire the plate I have a lot of stuff to do between innings and I certainly don't want (nor need) someone to come down and have a discussion with me. At my advanced years I need the time between innings to work on my focus and make sure the game is being managed correctly.

[Rich Ives]

In major college baseball (PAC-10/WCAC) plate umpires are required to "count warm-up pitches". When there are two pitches remaining we are trained to step to towards home plate, hold up two fingers and loudly announce "TWO MORE!"


The Eastern League umpires do that also.

[aschramm]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

In major college baseball (PAC-10/WCAC) plate umpires are required to "count warm-up pitches". When there are two pitches remaining we are trained to step to towards home plate, hold up two fingers and loudly announce "TWO MORE!"


The Eastern League umpires do that also.

I do that too, tell the pitcher he has two more left. Can't really remember if I was taught that, or I just picked up on that from others. Thanks to all the feedback so far.

In a way to ask another question, What is the protocol for PU between innings. I've been told he should alternate sides of the field each half-inning, depending on who is batting and who is fielding, but I never remember which is which. I typically always stand on the first base side (I guess that makes me more accessible to that BU walking down to talk to me )

[johnnyg08]

Originally Posted by aschramm

In a way to ask another question, What is the protocol for PU between innings. I've been told he should alternate sides of the field each half-inning, depending on who is batting and who is fielding, but I never remember which is which. I typically always stand on the first base side (I guess that makes me more accessible to that BU walking down to talk to me )

Typically that's the rule...however if you just rung up a lefty and your rotation brings you down the 3B dugout, you may not want to cross face w/ the batter again...it might be better to clear yourself behind him so if he's going to say anything to you, everybody in the stadium will see the hitter either coming toward you or if the hitter is simply being frustrated and wants to rip you a new one under his breath to himself...you won't accidentally hear what you don't want to hear. Switching sides is a good idea between 1/2 innings when there's nothing else to be preventative about. I'm sure other guys have good ideas too.

[johnnyg08]

you can tell the catcher too...esp if the starter is suiting up after being stranded on base or made the last out as a hitter...because typically the catcher will alert F6 and F2 that he's coming down...

or as the other poster said above...say it loud enough so they both (F1, F2) hear you.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by aschramm

What is the protocol for PU between innings. I've been told he should alternate sides of the field each half-inning, depending on who is batting and who is fielding, but I never remember which is which. )

I don't remember where I picked it up (probably here), but all other things being equal, I follow the last batter towards his dugout so that I'm nearer the emptier dugout when that team takes the field, on the theory that there will be fewer persons to start a discusssion. But I often end up on the third base side where I stash my water bottle. I do believe in alternating sides to avoid even an unconscious appearance of partiality.

[Blue37]

Originally Posted by aschramm

What is the protocol for PU between innings. I've been told he should alternate sides of the field each half-inning, depending on who is batting and who is fielding, but I never remember which is which. I typically always stand on the first base side (I guess that makes me more accessible to that BU walking down to talk to me )

I go to the side that is taking the field. If they are lolly-gagging around, a word of encouragement will most times speed them up.

[SethPDX]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

In major college baseball (PAC-10/WCAC) plate umpires are required to "count warm-up pitches". When there are two pitches remaining we are trained to step to towards home plate, hold up two fingers and loudly announce "TWO MORE!"


The Eastern League umpires do that also.

The PCL guys will actually walk several steps into the infield to tell the pitcher, then go back to the line to tell the on-deck batter it's the last pitch.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by JJ

Here's another reason to stay in the outfield between innings. If the inning ends on a whacker at first and you head IN to talk to your partner, you're a much easier target for that irate coach AND everyone on his side of the field. If you stay in the outfield and that coach comes out to you, HE looks like an aggressor and it's much easier to deal with him.

JJ

Not only that, but it just plain looks bad to come talk to the PU after a banger anywhere in the inning, not just the third out. I feel it gives everyone the impression that you weren't really sure of the call and are looking for confirmation from your partner.

As far as regular visits between innings, I only will come in a maximum of once, late in the game, and only then if I know my partner is open to the idea. With most umpires I never come in to talk, but I know which guys welcome the company and which don't (usually really close buddies only). But don't make a habit out of coming in. I can't stand it when a guy comes down almost every half inning.

When working 3 or 4 man, the field umpires often converse between innings, even in the majors. But you rarely, if ever, see them gabbing with the plate man. Like MC Hammer said, "It ain't proper."