Partner Not Willing To Take Care of Business

[RPatrino]

Right hand, left hand? Who knows? It's important to let your partner(s) know what you are doing, in my opinion. I worked the plate in a 4 man game, no one on. The ball was hit in the gap, U2 goes to follow, BR rounds 1b heading toward 2nd. I rotate up to 3rd and end up standing next to U3 in the coaches box. Throw and runner arrive at 2b, but there is no one there to make the call. I nudge U3 and tell him to start walking toward 2b and make a call. He shrugs his shoulders and all hell breaks loose. We call a 4 umpire confab and finally make a call.

Moral of the story, make sure everyone knows that you are ALL going to do in the pre-game. Then signal or verbally tell each other during the game.

[kylejt]

Signals, unless you're working with rookies, should be saved for things where there are choices. Like, two man, R1. Okay, the IFF too.

But four man, nobody on, and U2 goes out is a no-brainer (or should be). I mean, what would you signal anyway?

When I work four man with an experienced crew, I'll know they have the basics down. Rotation and tag up coverage is pretty standard. If you're the PU, with bases loaded, and you're signaling that you're staying home, that's overkill.

[RPatrino]

The problem is that we work so few 3 or 4 man games that you can't take ANYTHING for granted no matter the experience level. At the LL/youth level you are never sure of what you are going to get, experience wise unless you are lucky enough to work with just a few partners. HS, particularly in the play-offs, you get more senior guys, except for those 'first timers' who are breaking into the post season for the first time.

We hold post-season trainings on 3 and 4, unfortunately we don't get any on field reps on coverages or rotations, so we do a thorough pre-game. This pre-game can't cover all situations or rotations, so we rely on signals and verbal communication. Over communicating at times, but the option of not talking between or during plays can cause serious problems.

I personally do not feel that communicating, even between experienced partners , is a weakness.

[JJ]

Touche.

[Kevin Finnerty]

I just got done doing a whole fall season of three-man college ball, and my right elbow is all inflamed from all the extra signaling. We signaled on every single possible rotation.

But the one guy who was new to the rest of us and was too cool to answer all the signals, is the one guy who missed a rotation from D, and wasn't at second for a banger that never got called.

So, touché from me, also.

[Ump153]

Does this mean we can expect to see you in the SCCUA this spring?