There's this pal-o-mine, who's been waiting all his life for the Giants to win. He was their batboy for years, and is still friends with guys like both Willies, Vida, Madlock, Jack Clark, Darrell Evans, et.al. He's as insane a Giants fan as there can be.

When Bonds overran that flare down the line in Game 6, and with that Little League maneuver of his, tried to pick it up with his glove and dropped it, and allowed Anderson to get to second, resulting in the go-ahead run being in scoring position, necessitating his playing shallow for Glaus, who dropped a fly ball behind him and opened the door for the Angels' comeback and win ... man! After that game, my bud reacted the same way I did after the Donnie Moore debacle 16 years earlier: I-know-it's-not-over-but-there's-no-way-we'll-win-after-this. He was despondent before Game 7 was even played.

It is fittingly wonderful, however, that Bonds--a guy who literally dominated an entire season and post-season offensively--would make a Little League defensive blunder that would directly cost his team the World Series. All the juice in the world won't help you make a fundamental effort on defense. And defense preserves leads. They needed a complete player out there, not some Herculean slugger who doesn't put out.

There are baseball gods, and they were at work in that one.

Hey, that's how I felt in '85. Most people forget that Denkinger's call was in game 6... not game 7.

Over time, though, I've gotten to the point where I really don't mind. I figure that's the last time the Royals will get a chance to win the Series anyway!

Bret Saberhagen plays in the senior league games around here. He mainly plays shortstop.

Somebody, b***h slapping you into the next county.:p:p

Ouch!! :-) that open fist hurts way more than that closed fist...I guess all I'm saying is that if your partner is going to give you a secret sign, he might as well signal so everybody else can see it too...esp if you're going to appeal to him anyway.

The point of being subtle is to not let everyone know what you've got incase the plate ump has something different.

Remember the plate ump owns the battery (Pitcher, Catcher, Batter). Anything affecting them can cause major problems. The only reason for the signal is in-case the plate guy was screened out he can check quickly without holding up the game, calling if you had a catch, thus putting one team at an advantage or dis-advantage.

I have used this before, as the plate ump, my partner gave me the closed fist, I signaled the strike (I'm a pointer), unsure since it was low and I heard the pop but then saw dust and the catcher initially gloved it between his legs, glanced down to my partner, saw the fist, came back and gave the hammer (2nd signal for the out). Coach requested time, I granted, he asked me to check if it was a dropped 3rd, I told him quickly and convincingly that I already had. He accepted and went back to the dugout. End of story.

okay, I can see your point about PU and BU having two different thing...but only if PU has strike or swing and BU has ball or no swing...but what about your partner only signaling if he has a "swing" or "strike" a ball is a ball right? if your partner has ball who cares right?

If you are the base ump, you are only giving information on the catch / no catch. Whether the swing is checked or not is something entirely different. Don't confuse the two. On a check swing you only give information when asked, don't rule unless asked because now you are putting one team at an advantage. On those close ones that are possibly checked, a quick point down with a question of "Did he Go" should occur immediately. Then if you've got a dropped K3 you can rule on that.

The point of the open / closed fist is to subtly assist the plate ump if they get screened, which should be rare if not at all. If done properly as the base ump, no one knows you've done it except your partner who just glanced down with his eyes. Example, you're in hands on knees set, pitch is made, you're following the pitch also watching for ck'd swing, batted ball, ect. You see ball cleanly into glove, however, you see it bounce out and the catcher is on it quickly, you slowly stand up and hold your right hand next to you hip with an open palm toward home. It looks natural, and no one sees you do it except your partner.

Most Cardinals fans also forget the follow up single by Balboni, the can of corn foul pop up dropped by Clark, and the whipping the Cards took in game 7, 12-0, complete with Whitey Herzog ejection.

:)