why is the hammer strike taking over?

[bniu]

Does anyone know why the hammer is being used more widely in baseball? I'm an old school guy and I feel that strikes should be exclusively signaled with the point and the hammer should be reserved exclusively for outs. And besides, doesn't everyone remember the doug eddings controversy?

And btw, does anyone know why Tim McClelland has switched to the box stance and hammer on called strikes? I've seen footage of him last decade and I liked his kneeling stance and point to the side for called strikes (he'd actually turn left for lefty batters and turn right for righty batters) much better than his current stance...

[briancurtin]

The same reason black and polo blue are the primary colors of most associations. The same reason beanie caps are nearly extinct. The same reason charcoal gray pants are becoming the norm. Times change, styles change.

I personally like the hammer for called strikes, and the point (with head still facing the pitcher) on swinging strikes.

[JRutledge]

I think the hammer causes confusion and that is why I do not use it. I do not see that I ever will. Then again I do not live in a place where that thing is dictated either.

Peace

[DonInKansas]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I think the hammer causes confusion and that is why I do not use it. I do not see that I ever will. Then again I do not live in a place where that thing is dictated either.

Peace

What he said. So I guess all I can add is love and chicken grease.

[briancurtin]

What is confusing about the hammer in general?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by briancurtin

What is confusing about the hammer in general?

You are giving an "out" signal when you do not have an out. Things like a dropped third strike or a steal home can have all kinds of misinterpretations of such a signal. Signals should be used to communicate something without saying a word. And the Eddings situation was a perfect example. Eddings had to use a non-sanctioned signal to communicate a swing that no one really knew what it meant but Eddings at the time.

Peace

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by briancurtin

I personally like the hammer for called strikes, and the point (with head still facing the pitcher) on swinging strikes.

I use the exact opposite: I give a sharp, crisp point on called strikes, with a casual Tim Tschida-style semi-hammer for swinging strikes, more as an afterthought, since everyone in the house knows it was a swing.

On check-swing "yes, he went" strikes, I point with the hand of the batter's box of the hitter, and then give a sharp hammer to go with the verbal.

On uncaught 3rd strikes with a BR situation, I do not give a hammer in this case. I point to the side several times, and everyone gets the idea. Never has anyone questioned the status of the BR whenever I did it this way.

[ozzy6900]

Called strike - Crisp turn & point to right for RHB, left for LHB with verbal.

Exception: R1, F2 coming out of the crouch for a throw down - Face forward and point to the right - all batters.

Swinging Strike - Casual point to right for RHB, left for LHB

Called 3rd Strike - Face forward, right hand extended then "ripping the book".

Third Strike Not Caught - Pumping point to right for all batters while keeping eyes on the ball.


As far as training new umpires, I train with what is required by the Association at the time. Right now, they want all the recruits to us the hammer and face forward, so be it.

[Kevin Finnerty]

I was trained by a guy who told me to adopt a style that has me facing the diamond. I adopted the Pulli Punch for called strikes, and the delayed, casual hammer for swinging strikes. I never look away or turn away, even on punch outs. Once, I had a turn-and-step-and-point-at-the-first-base-dugout partner, and the catcher made a quick throw back to the pitcher that got through and rolled toward the second baseman. While my partner was recovering from his elaborate strike call, a runner from third was about to slide into home as the second baseman scooped and fired on the run. My partner barely saw the play, which was pretty close, and of course, he got it wrong because it exploded on him. I've never even considered using the point since that play.

[UMP25]

I use the Frank Drebin strike. A few twists and turns with a little moonwalk thrown in.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

I was trained by a guy who told me to adopt a style that has me facing the diamond. I adopted the Pulli Punch for called strikes, and the delayed, casual hammer for swinging strikes. I never look away or turn away, even on punch outs. Once, I had a turn-and-step-and-point-at-the-first-base-dugout partner, and the catcher made a quick throw back to the pitcher that got through and rolled toward the second baseman. While my partner was recovering from his elaborate strike call, a runner from third was about to slide into home as the second baseman scooped and fired on the run. My partner barely saw the play, which was pretty close, and of course, he got it wrong because it exploded on him. I've never even considered using the point since that play.

You can still turn your head and point without doing a complete Dutch Rennert style call, like your fancy partner, and still not miss anything on the field. It's called peripheral vision.

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

While my partner was recovering from his elaborate strike call, a runner from third was about to slide into home as the second baseman scooped and fired on the run. My partner barely saw the play, which was pretty close, and of course, he got it wrong because it exploded on him. I've never even considered using the point since that play.

How elaborate was his call? I'd guess the play would have taken at least 5 seconds or so to get to the explosion, which seems odd that he couldn't have been finished by then.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Five seconds is a very long time.

The PU started to step and look away as the catcher was releasing the ball. It skipped past the pitcher and rolled to the second baseman, who was moving in for the back-up. The guy started to get back to the plate and was startled and out of position and blew the call.

If a runner took five seconds to run 80 feet, that would make him slower than ... me, for instance. This guy was a rabbit.

[Ump153]

Originally Posted by bniu

Does anyone know why the hammer is being used more widely in baseball? I'm an old school guy and I feel that strikes should be exclusively signaled with the point and the hammer should be reserved exclusively for outs. And besides, doesn't everyone remember the doug eddings controversy?

And btw, does anyone know why Tim McClelland has switched to the box stance and hammer on called strikes? I've seen footage of him last decade and I liked his kneeling stance and point to the side for called strikes (he'd actually turn left for lefty batters and turn right for righty batters) much better than his current stance...

Why is this such an issue? If you don't like using the hammer, don't. I doubt anyone will care much.

[DG]

I was taught the hammer in 1989. Hardly just now taking over. I don't recall ever having a complaint about being confused.