why is the hammer strike taking over?

[johnnyg08]

I think the hammer hardly ever looks lazy...where the point can appear lazy if you're not sharp every time.

[Durham]

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...

Not an authority on this subject, but I think it has somethingto do with a MLB supervisor or two liking it over the point. From there it has trickled down to almost every corner of our little world. However, I am sticking with my head turned point, at least for now, I like it and so do my supervisors, on me at least.

[njdevs00cup]

I attended a HS mechanics clinic in NJ and officials are being told taught to use the hammer. The reason explained at the clinic is that most umpires turn their heads to the side, taking their eyes off of the ball, when they point.

[JR12]

Originally Posted by njdevs00cup

I attended a HS mechanics clinic in NJ and officials are being told taught to use the hammer. The reason explained at the clinic is that most umpires turn their heads to the side, taking their eyes off of the ball, when they point.

That's the reason I heard it's recomended for 2 man mechanics.

[jkumpire]

UNIFORMITY

Across everything else in our society, people in authority want uniformity. They want everyone to be a clone, to do everything the same way, so that we will always make the same call the same way.

Since the SB people have been sold a bill of goods, that there is a perfect mechanic and this is how you do it, it won't be too long until the baseball people try to do the same thing.

When I went to pro school many years ago, they taught us the hammer too, but then they taught us all kinds of things that nobody in their right mind would want to see in a game. They were teaching to the lowest common denominator because there were experienced umpires and raw rookies in the class, and they wanted to impress certain ideas in mechanics as right.

Then when the hired people went to UDP camp, they were told to dump a lot of the extra stuff they were taught at Harry's, and the idea was "get it right", and get in the right position to get it right. they did not care what your strike call was, just get it right.


Now it seems that we all have to do everything the same way, as the CCA manual instructs. Do it our way or else. I am very low on the college totem pole, so if they want things done a certain way I will do them with a smile and a yessir, since I want to umpire lots of college baseball. But that does not mean I agree with the mechanics used. For example, I worked with a great guy the other day, and he told me that I had a strange way of starting play after a dead ball: I said "play" and pointed with my left hand, not my right. We were also taught at school to point with the RH for a LH batter when he swings on a check, and the LH when a righty does it. I guess now since the back of the CCA manual has it the other way, I am now wrong instead of different. I hope an evaluator does not grade me down if he sees me with my out of date/out of fashion mechanics. It bothers me.

It is not a good situation, as far as I am concerned.

[Ump153]

Originally Posted by jkumpire

Then when the hired people went to UDP camp, they were told to dump a lot of the extra stuff they were taught at Harry's, and the idea was "get it right", and get in the right position to get it right. they did not care what your strike call was, just get it right.

1. Those days are over. PBUC does care.
2. Somethings are the same. PBUC is still dumping a lot of what Harry's teaches.

[bob jenkins]

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?

That contorversy has nothing to do with using the hammer or the point and everything to do with not making a clear "no catch" (or "balls on the ground") call *after* the strike.

[JPaco54]

Now I am really confused as to what is right. I guess from these posts it depends on your local association. Two years ago when I stated we were taught the Hammer for all strikes, called, swinging and dropped 3rd strike. The swinging strike is a more casual hammer no verbal, called third strike is a sharp hammer with verbal and dropped third strike is a sharp hammer no verbal. But out of 45 umps there are only two of us that use the Hammer. Everyone else uses the point with turning head. I just want to be able to communicate clearly to the players and coaches. But I can see with diverse styles and mechanics players and coaches have to adapt to the umpires.

[johnnyg08]

If you're not directed to do a specific mechanic by your assn' try them all and see what works for you.

[dash_riprock]

I was taught not to change my called or swinging 3rd strike mechanic on an uncaught 3rd strike. Just add a "no catch" mechanic, if relevant.

[kylejt]

Tim's knees were bothering him, from so many years of working from a knee. The box allows him to make his calls even slower than ever, and every announcer in baseball hates when he calls games, as they have no idea what the pitch is.

[zm1283]

I was taught to use the same call for swinging and called strikes, so if you use the point for called strikes, use it for swinging strikes as well. Same for the hammer.

I use the hammer for everything. On a dropped third strike, I'll give the left-handed point to show that I have a swing, then give the "safe" signal to show that I don't have a catch.

Speaking of the safe signal, I have a good story. On Friday, I had a bases loaded situation. Two outs and two strikes on the batter. He strikes out on a curveball in the dirt. F2 blocks it and I give the safe signal as the batter takes off for first. F2 picks it up and steps on home plate for the force. Some loudmouth from the batting team right behind me starts jawing about "Well why would you call him safe then out...Ye can't do that!" After the inning, I casually walk near him and quickly explain that it's a safe signal because there was no catch on the third strike. He shut up pretty quickly.

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

If you're not directed to do a specific mechanic by your assn' try them all and see what works for you.

The association I joined this year has trained us to use the hammer. It took me several times with the pitching machine to get used to it, but I haven't gone back to the point since. In fact, tonight was my first game with the league I've been with for a few years -- and my first time using the hammer. I thought about going to the point for their games, but I found the hammer works for me.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by JPaco54

Now I am really confused as to what is right. I guess from these posts it depends on your local association. Two years ago when I stated we were taught the Hammer for all strikes, called, swinging and dropped 3rd strike. The swinging strike is a more casual hammer no verbal, called third strike is a sharp hammer with verbal and dropped third strike is a sharp hammer no verbal.

Sounds like softball mechanics.