Never seen this before

[zm1283]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

You shouldn't be guessing (or need to guess) from A, and the umnpire in B certainly could have made a call had he been asked.

I didn't guess, because he didn't ask. Are you saying that you can correctly rule on a checked swing from A with a left-handed batter up? Good luck. If my partner came to me on that he would have to pull my foot out of his rectum in the parking lot.

In the second scenario, he wasn't asked. That was my point. The moron down the row thought the PU was asking for a checked swing appeal with his left hand, when in reality he was pointing at the swing for a swinging strike call. I know that he can rule if asked, but he wasn't.

[Ump Rube]

Technically speaking you could be out in CF and make an appeal call. The overall driving idea being: did the batter strike at the pitch?

And yes, you can make a check swing call on a LHB from A. Especially if you saw the end-cap of the bat, then I would say the batter has struck at the pitch. (This would be a case where maybe the PU was blocked by F2 coming up and unable to see the swing/end of the swing).

[Edit: I am speaking in regards to 2-man mechanics. If it makes any difference.]

[dash_riprock]

You can easily see a swing on a lefty from the A (better than you can from the B or C). I believe PBUC is now experimenting with PU going to the wing umpire (3-man) on check swing appeals.

[zm1283]

Originally Posted by dash_riprock

You can easily see a swing on a lefty from the A (better than you can from the B or C).

Then why in 3-man with a left handed batter up and R1 does the PU not check with the U1 and instead checks with U3 who is in the middle? If the U1 can see a lefty's check swing better, why bother checking with the guy in the middle?

[zm1283]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

those who say you can't probably haven't watched, played, or worked much baseball

And those who make blanket statements are often wrong.

Originally Posted by SethPDX

I always tell my partner, "give me what you have" as PU. If I'm BU I'll tell my PU I'm giving what I have. And no way are we using any secret code like, "If I say 'he didn't go, did he?' I want you to back up my call." Fortunately I see fewer and fewer guys who "get crazy about it."

I don't disagree with this at all. If I go to my partner, I want him to give me what he has. But, most veteran guys I have worked with will not come to me in A with a left handed batter up in the first place. I just don't see how you can see that all that well since the batter has his back to you and unless he REALLY offered at the pitch (Which should be obvious and be called a strike by the PU to begin with), the bat won't be visible very well. Maybe it will come with experience.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by zm1283

And those who make blanket statements are often wrong.



I don't disagree with this at all. If I go to my partner, I want him to give me what he has. But, most veteran guys I have worked with will not come to me in A with a left handed batter up in the first place. I just don't see how you can see that all that well since the batter has his back to you and unless he REALLY offered at the pitch (Which should be obvious and be called a strike by the PU to begin with), the bat won't be visible very well. Maybe it will come with experience.

Those veteran guys must go in OBR/NCAA games and really should in FED games as well. If you didn't see an offer, you simply give a safe signal and life goes on. If he refuses, then he gets into a pissing match with the catcher/coach and what does that serve?

I watched an ejection from the C position when my partner wouldn't come to me in a HS game about 15 years ago and one thing led to another and ... . Thing is, the batter offered and I wouldn't have hesitated to punch his ticket. But I never was asked, although I got to play rodeo clown.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by zm1283

Then why in 3-man with a left handed batter up and R1 does the PU not check with the U1 and instead checks with U3 who is in the middle? If the U1 can see a lefty's check swing better, why bother checking with the guy in the middle?

That is why some leagues have gone to checking with they guy on the wing.

Tim C posted something about a "study" once -- maybe he'll post it again.

In any event, I've called it from every batter - position combination (except D with a RH batter), and I never guessed at the call.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by zm1283

Then why in 3-man with a left handed batter up and R1 does the PU not check with the U1 and instead checks with U3 who is in the middle? If the U1 can see a lefty's check swing better, why bother checking with the guy in the middle?

That's the current PBUC mechanic. Dash's point was that they're testing a new mechanic. The rationale for the new mechanic is that "wing" umpires get a better view of how far the bat goes.

[archangel]

Originally Posted by zm1283

I didn't guess, because he didn't ask. Are you saying that you can correctly rule on a checked swing from A with a left-handed batter up? Good luck. If my partner came to me on that he would have to pull my foot out of his rectum in the parking lot.

BU in A can absolutely make a good appeal call on a lefthanders check swing. Im curious where in any book it says otherwise.....

[johnnyg08]

those who say you can't probably haven't watched, played, or worked much baseball

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by zm1283

I didn't guess, because he didn't ask. Are you saying that you can correctly rule on a checked swing from A with a left-handed batter up? Good luck. If my partner came to me on that he would have to pull my foot out of his rectum in the parking lot.

If you are working a game under OBR, the PU must grant the check swing appeal if requested by the defense. Not true in Fed, but it is something to keep in mind.

I'm not sure if you do this or not, but it is a fairly common misconception that the bat must travel past the front of the plate to rule that a batter did not check his swing (that he "went"). All you have the judge is if the batter offered at the pitch.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by zm1283

I didn't guess, because he didn't ask. Are you saying that you can correctly rule on a checked swing from A with a left-handed batter up? Good luck. If my partner came to me on that he would have to pull my foot out of his rectum in the parking lot.

Had to rule many checked swings from A with a left-handed batter, and never once have I had a problem correctly ascertaining whether or not the batter made an attempt. Plus, I have never resorted to putting my foot up my partner's a$$ over it.

[waltjp]

Originally Posted by zm1283

Are you saying that you can correctly rule on a checked swing from A with a left-handed batter up? Good luck. If my partner came to me on that he would have to pull my foot out of his rectum in the parking lot.

Which is why I include the following in my pregame when I'm working the bases -

If you want help on a check swing come to me regardless of where I'm positioned or who is batting and I'll give you what I got. I don't get crazy about it like some guys.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by zm1283

I didn't guess, because he didn't ask. Are you saying that you can correctly rule on a checked swing from A with a left-handed batter up? Good luck. If my partner came to me on that he would have to pull my foot out of his rectum in the parking lot.

In the second scenario, he wasn't asked. That was my point. The moron down the row thought the PU was asking for a checked swing appeal with his left hand, when in reality he was pointing at the swing for a swinging strike call. I know that he can rule if asked, but he wasn't.

I would come to you every time I was asked. I can make that call from A just as easily as everywhere else. As others have said, the only criteria is: Do I think he offered? If I do, it's a strike. If not, it's a ball. No big deal. I've called strikes on LH batters from A in college games without any real fuss.