WTG Rob
 

Great job by Rob Drake in tonight's Yanks Royals game. Calling strikes both ways. Even the announcers got it right. Ring 'em up Rob!

Just think how pathetic it is for someone to register a username just to make that post.

Although I wonder what's so special about Drake calling strikes, myself.

What's a strike???

:confused:

Me, too --did none of the other plate umpires yesterday do a good job?

Congratulations to all plate umpires today for doing what you are paid do.

Perhaps Mr. Drake was the only plate umpire to call a strike "both ways." Maybe everyone called them only for one side or they didn't call strikes at all. :confused: :eek:

One time I got sick of a coach screaming, "call it both ways, Bluuuuuuue." The next strike call I obliged him. I rang his batter up to the right first, and then to the left! Then I said, "there, that's both ways!"

I like that.

Although, anyone saying "you need to call that both ways" is implying that you're cheating. I'm not a big fan of that.

I've pointed that out a time or three too, but most of the coaches are way too stupid to realize that's what they're doing (no offense to the BRILLIANT coaches we have here! :p). They heard someone say it before and they adopted the mantra as their own.

I was watching the Pirates-Reds game on saturday and noticed the home plate umpire with really bad mechanics... Strike mechanic was just a flick of the arm. He wasn't working the slot, he was over top of the catcher. Head height was low. On plays at the plate, instead of clearing the bat, he picked it up and made the call with the bat in his hand (more than once).

I figured this was an umpire that's fairly new, but it was Ed Montague! That was really surprising to see that many flaws in the plate work of an umpire with that many years under his belt.

Why do you think that his mechanics are flaws? Remember: MLB umpires are not there because they use the best mechanics. They are there because they're the best umpires.

Don't imitate MLB umpires.

He also is the only one to still wear the beanie plate cap. How dare he! He should be fired immediately. There's no room for such horrible umpires in Major League Baseball!!!

Easy, Randy: your blood pressure.... ;)

Mine hovers around 120 over 80, believe it or not. Obviously, it's not measured during school when I'm with my students! :p

But the REAL question is: how is he verbalizing the count??? :D