Correct Mechanics?

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Why would an umpire signal safe at the plate when there's no play there?

He wasn't signaling safe, it seems that he was using the safe signal to wipe off the run.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by mbyron

He wasn't signaling safe, it seems that he was using the safe signal to wipe off the run.

Exactly. Same way I'd wipe off a basket in basketball. He should signal 2-3 times and turn and vocalize "no run, no run."

[MrUmpire]

A long time ago, at a proschool far, far away, the mechanic that was taught was to cross your forearms in front and about head heighth, and say, "the run does not score."

When the run did score, we would point at the plate and say, "score the run."

But again, that was a long time ago.

[bas2456]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Exactly. Same way I'd wipe off a basket in basketball. He should signal 2-3 times and turn and vocalize "no run, no run."

But in basketball, it's easy to interpret that signal. In baseball, that signal is used to indicate "the runner made it to the base safely" so I can see where the coach got confused.