Manual of Choice?

[jkumpire]

Bossman,

Get a group together in your association and write your own. If you are going to make a manual for your association, truly make it yours.

Why? Because no one system either fits everyone's needs or tastes. So why not put the best of all the major mechanics systems together in a way that works best for your group.

Frankly, as I grow older, I get tired of hearing that "this _________ is the only way to to do things." The idea in umpiring is to get the call right, period. We have so many people and organizations these days who have decided that everything has to be standardized to do things this way.

Nuts. There are multiple ways to umpire a game well, from MiLB to Carl Childress' Mechanics 2000 stuff. It is interesting to note that in plate mechanics, there is a growing consensus for one type of plate stance, but for the top guys, how many slavishly follow that one mechanic? Find what is best for you and use it.