Mike,

To me, and I suspect most of the participants on this thread, it was clear that you were not stating that you do this nor recommending that others do it; you were simply questioning why the "powers that be" do not recommend doing so. Because that's what you actually said in your posts.

To me, that's a reasonable question.

My impression, from reading MikeS's posts on this board (as well as other contexts) is that Mike is not what one would call a "careful reader".

He regularly mis-characterizes what other posters have written. I don't believe he does so intentionally, but rather due to "sloppy reading" and an analytic approach that favors eisegesis over exegesis. Regardless, if I were you, I wouldn't let myself be bothered by it.

In person, he's actually a pretty good guy and, from what I've seen, calls a good game.

In terms of "reading recommendations", it's my opinion that he would benefit from a careful read of "Verbal Judo", and fear that he may have 'over-focused" on the "argument" parts of Ms. McMeniman's work, while "glossing over" the sections on inquiry and analysis. That, of course, is just my impression.

JM

Mike,

I did happen to catch a little bit of it, but I didn't watch much of it.

From watching the broadcast, since the PU was not "live mic'd" during playing action, how on earth could you possibly know whether or not he verbalized for the benefit of the batter & catcher?

Other than the sucky weather, the Bears apparently having "hit their peak" in the 1st game of the season, and my final two (fall ball) games of the season getting cancelled due to rain, pretty well. I mean, I could complain, but who'd GAS?

How are you enjoying the youth football experience? Back in my coaching days, I did some coaching up in the L'ville program. Some of the fondest memories of my coaching career. If you've got a couple of minutes to waste, here's a little highlight video of my younger son I put together awhile back from when he was a 7th grader.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuuVul8tGH4

JM

John,
I have never insulted you, privately or on this site. In fact, I have only had good things to say about you to people I umpire with. I am saddened by your recent post.

I have long maintained that one should do whatever their teams, partners, assignors, associations mandate. I think it absurd to verbalize every out call, as mbcrowder suggested. I provided a number of examples where we don't. Further, I do not advocate things that I don't do. If it is sloppy reading to take issue with his opinion as a fix to the situation, so be it. I am content with my education.

The games I saw allowed for the umpire to be heard well. AAA umpires are loud. In a couple instances the exchange between batter and umpire was even audible. The fact that D3Ks were made with an adamant "Swing" or "Yes, he did" prefaced by a right hand point at the plate that was held while stepping back and away, illustrated the mechanic perfectly.