CWS - Plate Ump @ Vandy v. Florida

[Adam]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

Not to say you do this Mike, but you brought up a term that I feel amateur umpires use too much. Pitches aren't high or low. They are either up or down.

Up, down, in, out. If you need to answer a question. Don't get caught saying a pitch was high, you won't like what may come back at you.

I'm curious. What are the negatives for these terms? It seems like semantics to me.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I'm curious. What are the negatives for these terms? It seems like semantics to me.

"Ball"

"Where was that?"

"High"

"You're high if you think that."

As with any discipline, professional umpire training is fairly well uniform and the trade specific vocabulary is codified. Just like plumbers, doctors an pilots use are trained to use certain words in certain ways that may seem strange to outsiders, umpires are similarly trained.

It is not fatal to not follow that training, but it also isn't folly to stick with it.

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

"Ball"

"Where was that?"

"High"

"You're high if you think that."

"Ball"

"Where was that?"

"Up"

"You can stick it UP where the sun don't shine if you think that."

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by yawetag

"Ball"

"Where was that?"

"Up"

"You can stick it UP where the sun don't shine if you think that."

[MD Longhorn]

I will VERY rarely give a location on corner pitches. If coach asks on a normal pitch, "Where was that," I'll tell catch under my breath, "Tell him". On the corner pitches, where they may truly not know if it was down, out, or both, I'll give that to them.

[DG]

The smartest catchers know what to say to coach when asked. They might say something different when they get to dugout, but not in front of the umpire. The dumb ones shake their head and act like it was down the middle, and I just tell them "wrong answer" and move on. Sometimes they learn..

[Rich]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

How about:

"Up."

"Up yours."

Quite frankly, this is a distinction without a difference. Almost as bad as arguing that "rodeo clown" is insulting.

[MikeStrybel]

+1

[Adam]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

Quite frankly, this is a distinction without a difference.

It seems like every sport has these, then.

[chuckfan1]

I resisted doing this when the mechanic first started being used. I too felt it was not necessary. But after talking to some who worked higher levels than I do, (D1 around here, Big West, the Pac, etc) they almost all do it. And they subscribe to the theory of not doing it if they have the pitch high or low. Only inside or outside on a close pitch.

"Ball.. thats out"... etc...and a turn of the head....

I have found that doing that on occasion, does work in keeping coaches from asking about certain pitches. It may not work for everyone, but Ive noticed it works to the positive far more than the negative.
And this to me is one of those things like the indicator. So what if someone does or doesnt use one, it doesnt make them better if they dont, or using a crutch if they do. Both are a tool to use...

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

How about:

"Up."

"Up yours."

Quite frankly, this is a distinction without a difference. Almost as bad as arguing that "rodeo clown" is insulting.

I wouldn't argue.

As I said, it's what is taught by the instructors during cage work atJim Evans Academy and becomes habit to some. Just as I wouldn't criticize those who don't use it, I don't believe those who do are any more deserving of criticism.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

How about:

"Up."

"Up yours."

"Calm down, Billy Jack."

[MikeStrybel]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

"Ball"

"Where was that?"

"High"

"You're high if you think that."

As with any discipline, professional umpire training is fairly well uniform and the trade specific vocabulary is codified. Just like plumbers, doctors an pilots use are trained to use certain words in certain ways that may seem strange to outsiders, umpires are similarly trained.

It is not fatal to not follow that training, but it also isn't folly to stick with it.

Jim Evans calls it a 'high strike" and refers to the ball as being high or low when teaching. He's pretty professional, right?

While I don't like telling a coach where the ball was, some of our small ball members may. It is no disservice to 12U or your partners if you do or if it is expected of you. Enjoy your games and worry about what your assignor/league director wants.

[MikeStrybel]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

I'm curious. What are the negatives for these terms? It seems like semantics to me.

It is. Some umpires 'big dog' others for not using their terminology or mechanics. Call 'high' or 'up' if you need. I don't say either and that is why I found this demonstration at the CWS so intriguing. If umpires are starting to accept this as SOP then I may take a look at it. I have already worked at abandoning the GD stance directly over the catcher in response to what I am now seeing. Evolution...it's tough over 40.