Verbalizing the Count?

[David Emerling]

Originally Posted by SAump

Have you ever been told you may be giving the count much too often?

I give the count much less frequently at ballparks with a scoreboard that indicates balls & strikes and is operated by a competent individual. Some ballparks have a 12-yr-old girl operating the scoreboard which usually causes more confusion than assistance since mistakes are constant. In the latter case, I just umpire the game as if the scoreboard did not exist. In my opinion, if the scoreboard is not going to be operated properly, then I'd prefer they just turned the darn thing OFF.

When the scoreboard is managed properly, and when the count is indicated incorrectly (which occasionally happens), I not only remind the participants what the count really is (in case they are relying on the scoreboard), in addition, I usually signal in the direction of the scoreboard operator to get him to correct the mistake - which they are usually only too happy to do.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN