dropped 3rd strike

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

Kaliix,

Almost, not quite.

1. On a "checked swing" that I, as PU, judge a strike, I usually say, "Yes, he did!" and point the strike. (I don't use a hammer either, same reason as you.)

2. If the catcher did not legally catch the pitch I verbalize "NO catch!", accompanied by the safe sign, as is currently taught in all credible umpire schools, just as it states in the Evans manual quote I posted from earlier in this thread.

JM

What I do, but the verbal in point 2 is only if there's any question. If the ball is at the backstop, then there's no need for this part of the mechanic.

[BigUmp56]

I have a question for those that alert the batter with a verbal on a D3K.

What's the difference between us becoming the 10th man on defense and alerting a team that they have an appeal situation (which we endeavor to not do by giving a safe signal when a BR misses 1st base), and us becoming the 10th man on offense by alerting them that the catcher didn't field the ball cleanly?

Is it simply because you feel that we're the only ones on the field that know the ball was or was not fielded cleanly, or is it more that regardless of what anyone else thinks we're the only ones that make that judgment on a close call?

Tim.

[dash_riprock]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

I have a question for those that alert the batter with a verbal on a D3K.

What's the difference between us becoming the 10th man on defense and alerting a team that they have an appeal situation (which we endeavor to not do by giving a safe signal when a BR misses 1st base), and us becoming the 10th man on offense by alerting them that the catcher didn't field the ball cleanly?

Big difference. A call is warranted when and if an appeal is made, not when the missed base occurs. No appeal - no call. A catch/no catch call is always warranted (if it isn't obvious) when the event occurs.

Is it simply because you feel that we're the only ones on the field that know the ball was or was not fielded cleanly, or is it more that regardless of what anyone else thinks we're the only ones that make that judgment on a close call?

It is because there are players on the field who might not know the result of an important judgment call and they are entitled to receive that information - from the umpire. I don't think it should be a secret.

[UmpJM]

Good point, Bob.

I honestly don't understand the aversion or reluctance to verbalize (for the benefit of the F2 & BR) one's judgment that the pitch was not caught.

The catcher may "know" that he caught the pitch, as Josh Paul apparently did, but the only thing that matters is whether you judged he did.

In my experience, which "tops out" at JUCO/D-III, verbally communicating tends to eliminate goat rodeos, and I don't especially like goat rodeos in the games I do. I would guess Doug Eddings feels the same way - now.

As Mike S. says, it's your game and you get to live with the consequences, so do as you think best.

JM