For all those thinking you DON'T need to have an indicator on the bases
 

<a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=22380775">Sam Holbrook, Rob Drake and Cowboy Joe show why you need one - even in the bigs</a>

All because <a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=22378599&c_id=mlb">Andy Fletcher broke his wrist working the plate yesterday</a>

Nice to see Cowboy Joe uses the small metal clicker...

I don't see how this demonstrates the need for a base umpire to use an indicator. I see no problem with the umpires verifying the count with the scorer after something like this happens. We'd do the same on a much smaller stage.

Edited to add: The injury was in the 8th, the lost count was in the 9th. What exactly does this have to do with the injury or the umpires on the bases? BTW, if a player/coach asks me for the count on the bases, I *always* direct them to the plate umpire. The count is *his*.

At least they have someone to call (official scorekeeper) who is 100% reputable. We have mommy's, daddy's and kids keeping score in the Summer - hardly reputable.

It is done in basketball all the time and we get over that reality. ;)

Peace

So Joe West has an indicator and he loses the count. Even if all 4 umpires had one, you would still have the possibility of loses the count.

He lost the count because the scoreboard was wrong and that put doubt in his mind. It's happened to me before and will happen to me again. I would still never want the base umpire to carry around an indicator.

Long time ago I was working a junior college game and the third base coach (unbeknownst to me) asked the base umpire the count. The base umpire gave him the *wrong* count (3-0, it was 2-1). The next pitch was Ball 3, the base coach and the base umpire thought it was Ball 4. It *was not* (I did verify with the scorer). The base coach ended up getting ejected after he asked the base umpire (after being told to let it go), "Can't you count to 4?"

If that had been me out there, I would've gotten the count from the plate guy and when the coach asked me why I didn't have the count, I would've told him that "I have a count, but we give the official count to plate umpire and that way we're always on the same page".

Come on Rut, no way we can learn anything from other sports. This is baseball. ;)

Usually, if the scoreboard is not in sync with my indicator, I just put up the count on my fingers and scoreboard corrects. If, I have question in mind I just ask the catcher what he thinks the count is. He can usually give me blow by blow count while batter is listening and then we have agreement.

If Joe West can call a friend I guess I can ask the catcher.

Take a look at Fletcher getting hit. If he does not move and pull his arm in to "protect" himself, he takes it on the chest protector. Trust your gear.

It's easier said than done. I was a catcher up through college and have been blocking balls in the dirt for most of my life. Put me behind the plate and bury a curve 6 inches inside and it's coming straight at me and a few things will happen. If the catcher has a good read on it and is already moving over, then I can hold my ground. If it looks like he's just going to wave at it, I'll still try to hold my ground but you might get a flinch here and there. It just happens. Anyone who says they always stay in on every pitch every time forever no matter what probably does not do that.

On Sunday I took an untouched pitch to the shoulder. I would have liked to have moved out of the way for that one but somehow the catcher got crossed up and didn't even come close to getting a glove on it. It rushed up and in pretty quick and got me.

I need an indicator on the bases as much as I need a brush on the bases. After all, I never know when I may have to sweep off the pitcher's plate. :rolleyes:

I hope you wear 3 ball bags on the bases to carry the brush and your Official Rosin Bag, plus all the returned foul balls that come in. What kind of base umpire are you anyway?:p

I thought ball bags on the bases were for holding all of the snacks?

I keep those in my purse.

Group, I always thought you weren't 'quite right'...