Between Innings

[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.