UNC - ASU Plate Umpire
 

How come he switched from the scissors (I was noticing how similar his style was to mine, right down to the mannerisms and footwork) to the heel-toe style? Is he tired do you think? What gives? I thought he looked really sharp in the scissors.

Maybe he pulled a groin?:p

A sudden attack of common sense?

I find that I get hurt more frequently in heel toe or GD, but less frequently (yet more severely) in the scissors. I prefer not to be hurt often, and the scissors is safer for me in general.

This umpire is a personal friend of mine and he does from game to game switch up between the scissors and the box. He is still sharp as a tack as an umpire.

Thank you for explaining. I only saw one pitch that was even questionable, which was a fastball that I thought was just a little low, but he does look sharp.

Working some Indy pro and D1, I have on occassion seen an ump do this. It is usually when he gets blocked out on the inside pitch and has to go over the catcher. Other than that, you would have to ask the ump why. I use GD at all times.

This is what it looks like he is doing. I also use the GD at all times. Why use a stance you have to switch from right ? ;)

Chiropractors love the scissors - it puts their kids through college.

GD stance, and I just wear Wilson Gold shins. The Golds take a tremendous shot and they cover everywhere you need them. They even have those extra caps above the knee to hide your hands. With the GD, the only exposed area that really bothers me (in terms of injury potential) is the forearm and wrist area.

It's worth it to be almost effortlessly locked in on every pitch, and to be able to get locked in early without too much strain.

The scissors is unthinkable.

I take shots mostly on the forearms, wrists and elbows (rarely does it hit the gear:confused:), which is why I like the scissors better, because if done properly, it minimizes exposure of these vulnerable areas. In the box or GD stance or any other squating position, these areas are exposed big time.

Uh, the scissors or taint lock you in just fine, and is, at least to me, much more relaxing and effortless than any other stance.

I started using the scissors my 4th year (1990) and continued until 2004, when I briefly tried the GD (big disappointment to me) and the heel/toe or box (not sure what the hell the difference is there). Neither stance worked for me. I got nailed constantly. The scissors suit my style and I look and feel sharper, and much more confident behind the plate. The scissors allow you an unprecidented view of the plate and strike zone, despite what its detractors say, and the outside corner is very clearly visible.

As far as chiropractors, my back was shot long before I started umpiring, due to a horrific car crash in 1981, so any damage suffered in the scissors goes unnoticed, as I have completely degenerated discs from L-2 to S-1 and a permanent stiff neck.

I disagree with saying the scissors offers an unprecidented view of the zone. I think that for taller guys that stance is more suitable. I (being 5' 10") use the GD because it puts me in the best possible place to view the zone. To say one is better than the other unequivically is close minded. I am not you and you are not me so what works for you may not be for me. My zone blew when I tried the scissors. Now however I am locked in. As for getting hit. I havent got hit very much at all and yes I do work the slot.

Okay, then. I guess I have to break it down for each and every person on the forum. I should have said me instead of you (a generic you, not you personally). It gives me and unprecidented view of the entire strike zone. Your mileage may vary.

Now, here is exactly what I said, speaking just for myself:

The scissors suit my style and I look and feel sharper, and much more confident behind the plate.

Uh, the scissors or taint lock you in just fine, and is, at least to me, much more relaxing and effortless than any other stance.

I take shots mostly on the forearms, wrists and elbows (rarely does it hit the gear), which is why I like the scissors better...

As you can plainly see, I was referring to myself and my preferences, and not speaking for other people. If the GD works for you, God bless you and have fun with it! It just isn't the stance for me. I was a big Tommy Hallion, Steve Rippley and Ed Rapuano fan back in the day, and patterned my scissors stance after them. And yes, I know they no longer use the scissors, but I still prefer it.

I liked the scisors, fine. I switched a couple years ago. It was hard on my left quad muscle. I may have been too low also.

I use the scirrors and sometimes go down on a knee for college games. I think I get the best look at pitches on a knee.

I would work on one knee, except the batter and catcher would have to help me up after every pitch.:o

Nice...we could post the video :D

Of course you do. You're about 8 feet tall. :D

I tried the scissors in a Fed game about 5 years ago. I had a pop fly go straight up and back. The catcher turned quickly to his left. I tried opening the gate and fell flat on my a$$. Next pitch went back to the box.

Can you explain the two positions kinda new to terms

Scissors

http://www.arizonaumpiringacademy.co...UA/ACUA_01.jpg

Box

http://www.umpire.org/mechanics/signals/ballbox.jpg

Gerry Davis (GD)

http://www.officiating.com/photos/no...e%20corner.jpg

thank you Steve I am new and just trying to get better. thanks

Experiment with all three. Find the one that works for you.

I ump LL now with there equipment just ordered a bunch of gear from ump-attire and going to take some classes this winter hope to ump alot next spring

The Box and GD Advantage over Scissors
 

Insurance companies, MLB, and both pro schools have alerted umpires about the risk of severe neck injury primarily due to the scissors stance. Many severe neck injuries have been reported by MLB umpires who primarily used this scissors stance over a longer period of time {years}. The idea is to get the trunk of your body in a natural position to provide full support for the weight of your head. That extra 14 pound appendage is not designed to lean so far ahead of the trunk of your body for 3 full hours. Some umpires refuse to heed the warning messages.

Good luck!

Happy Father's Day Weekend to All

I heeded it. Although I never had the problems, I could definitely see the problems which could be incurred and quit with the scissors.

I'm GD with a wider stance than the guy in the picture. I'm also a big fan of the tuck-the-hands-in-behind-the-knee-cup method that the guy in the picture employs.

The picture of the guy in the box stance makes my back hurt. He needs to get a bit more upright.:p

I disagree. Before you experiment with the scissors stance, you should know that MiLB is actively discouraging (if not quite banning) it, due to the strain it places on the cervical spine. It is not taught in pro school.

I'll say it again, the scissors is unthinkable.

And also the most popular stance in my association of 125 members by far.

That's all well and good, it still doesn't make it something you'd want to teach a newbie anymore.

And "taint"? I know what it refers to and it "taint" an umpiring stance!

So what now? What happens when you have two guys that are always right?

What sense is there in arguing something like this? If you don't like the scissors, don't use it.

Yeah, that's what I thought too, the nasty reference. We won't go there (at least on this forum). But I've also heard "it tain't the box stance and it taint the scissors," meaning something entirely different than either.

Plate guy working a GBL game last night with me did something I have never seen before. Scissors on left handed batters, box with right handed.

When I started umping in 1979 I used the box. One year I seemed to get hit a LOT, and I started flinching - so I switched to the scissors for righties (less chance of getting hit) and stayed in the box for lefties because that was most comfortable for me. After two years of working that way a buddy who had worked pro ball said, "That looks ridiculous", so I went to the scissors full time because it "locked me in" better than the box. I liked it, and used it until two years ago when my hip became so sore I couldn't use it because of the pain, so I switched back to the box. Last September I had hip replacement, and this year I'm back to the scissors. I'll stay with it until the new hip wears out. :D

(Bionic) JJ

Well, I know at least one famous umpire that did this. Does the name Doug Harvey ring a bell?

Doug Harvey had hip replacement? :D Sorry....I couldn't resist....

JJ

SDS

Did God work on the knee in the scissors like Runge or did he stay off the knee like Vargo, Rip, Hallion, Rapuano??? Just having a brain cramp here. Seems like he worked on the knee on right hand batters and slot or box on left hand batters and also tucked his hands behind his knees.

All right, how's this?

It's an opinion, okay? It's not hard to tell. It's not a definitive issue, and everyone's different. If you have comprehension problems or dimension issues, don't project them.

I seem to remember a very deep scissors where his knee was just above ground, but it has been a while. If I remember right, it was similar to Bob Engel's stance.