Verbalizing the Count?

[GoodwillRef]

Originally Posted by CajunNewBlue

I disagree (sorry).
IMHO do it CORRECTLY, even if its different from what everyone else is messing up.
And to my knowledge its always number and something eg: 2 balls 1 strike. and its "foul" not foul ball (i hate that, pet peeve)
In every mechanic book i own its always 2 balls 2 strikes.

peace.

"foul" not foul ball (i hate that, pet peeve)

This really bothers you that much?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by GoodwillRef

"foul" not foul ball (i hate that, pet peeve)

This really bothers you that much?

I honestly do not know why officials get all upset over things that hardly anyone notices.

Peace

[Tim C]

I'm with Jeff. The only people who notice this are other umpires in the crowd or evaluators who need to find "something" to make sure all umpires don't receive great ratings.

[David B]

Originally Posted by PeteBooth

As with most of these type OP's do what your association wants you to.

MAIN POINT - EVERYONE knows the count.

Pete Booth

Or i would add, should know the count. Maybe just me, but saying the count if not that important. As long as I know and the battery know I'm fine.

We give the count, and two seconds later what do we here, "what's the count blue?"

Thansk
David

[jkumpire]

Originally Posted by Durham

What is wrong with that? Isn't that what we all use?

In my corner of the world we use one fist and shout "it's loaded", or "I'm loaded" if it's a beer league!

[tballump]

Originally Posted by Tim C

I'm with Jeff. The only people who notice this are other umpires in the crowd or evaluators who need to find "something" to make sure all umpires don't receive great ratings.

We need more evaluators that think like you T, and we know you are an evaluator.

[DG]

Originally Posted by Freddy

We post-gamed it, agreeing on the clarity of using fewer words, skipping the "and" between the TWO's, and omitting the words BALL and STRIKE.
Partner on Thursday commented to me, "You're supposed to say "TWO BALLS...TWO STRIKES", not just the two numbers." He said, "That's what the book says."

Must have been a dull game to post-game this.

Throw that book away.

[UMP25]

I've worked with a partner who, when the count was 2-2, he'd put up the two fingers on each hand and yell, "Pairs!"

I'm sitting there asking myself, "WTF? We playing poker here?"

I couldn't get him to stop this, so one time when he did this, from the bases I yelled, "I'm all in!"

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by David B

Or i would add, should know the count. Maybe just me, but saying the count if not that important. As long as I know and the battery know I'm fine.

We give the count, and two seconds later what do we here, "what's the count blue?"

Thansk
David

Yes, they should know.

But the batter, runners, and defense need to know too, not kust the battery. It affects potential actions.

[BretMan]

Whatever you do, don't do what a guy I worked with last year did!

First inning, he is behind the plate. When he held up the count on his fingers, he made no verbal announcement. Okay, I can live with that. But for some reason, I kept having the wrong count- or, at least, a different count than he was showing. I'm scratching my head, trying to figure out how I'm missing pitches.

I decide to huddle up with him between innings, just to see if we're on the same page. As it turns out, we definitely were not!

As he explained it to me, he always shows the number of balls on the right hand, the number of strikes on the left hand. His explaination for why he did that: So the count would look the right way to the pitcher!

Don't be that guy...

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by David B

We give the count, and two seconds later what do we hear, "what's the count blue?"

I answer, "Still 2-2." Usually gets a giggle from F2.

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by BretMan

As he explained it to me, he always shows the number of balls on the right hand, the number of strikes on the left hand. His explaination for why he did that: So the count would look the right way to the pitcher!

Don't be that guy...

I was that guy for the first two games I did behind the plate. My grandfather was in town for my second, and asked me after the game why I did it that way. My answer was the same as your partner. My grandfather straightened my mechanic fairly quickly.

[SAump]

But there a preferred Fed mechanic for verbalizing the count?

I give everyone the preferred FED finger mechanics.
I am not there to discuss the count.
I might let the catcher know aloud between pitches.
I might let the batter know aloud before he returns to bat.
I might say it every now and then to clarify things for the pitcher.
I always say it correctly, if it is important enough to mention aloud, "Two balls, two strikes."
I don't want to appear rude and impolite to those who may not be paying attention to the game.
I was raised that way.

[jkumpire]

SA,

What is a FED Finger?

[umpduck11]

Originally Posted by Tim C

I'm with Jeff. The only people who notice this are other umpires in the crowd or evaluators who need to find "something" to make sure all umpires don't receive great ratings.

But what about "dead ball", instead of "time" ?