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'...

And make sure you go tell the new pitcher how many outs there are and where the runners are, cause new pitchers can't see them. :p

And don't forget to give the count to the PU after every pitch as you stand directly behind the pitcher in the BC Position.

On a side note, do you think Joe West is contractually obligated to wear his plate gear so the Wilson and West Vest logos are clearly visible to the TV cameras? :D

And don't forget to ask the shortstop and second baseman (and the center fielder, too) if your position is OK with them when you're working inside the diamond.

Worked a game this season with an umpire I had never met before. After the plate conference, he headed towards third base. Was so intrigued by his path to short right field, I didn't even bother to look at some of the warmup pitches (I usually look at the middle four pitches -- two from each side). He stopped at third, carefully brushed off the base, went to second and did the same, and then went and did the same to first base. After the top of the first, he went to the pitcher's plate and did the same thing. I was so inspired, I used my plate shoe to clean the plate the entire game. :D

At a state tournament final this year I saw umpires carrying indicators and brushes on the bases (And using both waaaay too much), as well as asking the middle infielders if their positioning was okay prior to pitches. Pretty much any Smitty behavior you can imagine, I saw it.

There's a better than 1 in 50 chance this is my state you're talking about cause I've seen it there myself. Mind boggling the selection process....

I saw Lance Barksdale do just that all Sunday afternoon. ;)

Well, not F8.

The guy with an indicator is the guy who got the count wrong. Therefore, another guy with an indicator would get the count right?

Non sequitor.

Right Latin, wrong spelling. Given your name, Publius, I expect more from you. :(

Typos happen in every language.

Treu! ;)

We don't always agree... but I might have reacted the same way.

Plate shoe, heck..."hey catch, can you get that dirt for me?"