Casual mechanic

[kylejt]

I've seen Joe in person a couple of times this year, and he doesn't move an inch any more. I recall a couple of line calls where he barely got turned around, much less hustle down to see a ball near the line. Sad.

Some will tell you he's earned that right. I do not agree with that point of view.

As for the casual call, there was a great one last night on a check swing for strike three to end an inning. I was coinflip call, but the guy at third, instead of going through some crazy gymnastics, gave an easy fist at chest level. Awsome call, and I laughed out loud at it.

[SanDiegoSteve]

There is a huge difference between a casual punch out mechanic and the lazy-looking "I couldn't care less" example's that West and McClelland employ on a regular basis. Nothing wrong with a good old standing banger on a close play. Most professional umpires use it to differentiate between close and not really close plays. A very close or exciting play deserves a little more than a "ho-hum, I'm bored" style of call. I'm not talking about an old-time "dagger down through the heart" ridiculous theatrical production, but a standing fist punch on a nut cutter is still appropriate, IMO.