Announcer's Critique of Gerry Davis
 

I found these observations quite humorous. Ron Darling provided the following regarding Davis' work:

"Gerry Davis is one of the few umpires who doesn't move when the catcher moves. If the catcher moves outside, Davis tends to lose the outside corner because he stays where he set up. Davis is a vertical umpire, calls strikes up and down, but not so much a horizontal umpire".

As Yogi said, you can learn a lot just by watching...or not.

Pitcher's perspective on where he's going to get calls. What's wrong with it?

Ummm, everything.

Because of comments like these, people watching will believe the correct plate umpire positioning is how dear old Ron explained it. And when these people become youth baseball managers and coaches, or just fans at the park, they'll yell at the local umpire that he/she is clueless when he/she is doing exactly what he/she is supposed to be doing.

I'm just curious how many pro umpires Darling has seen that do move when the catcher moves.

A lot, because a lot of them move.

When Yadier Molina jumps out with 2/3 of his body off the plate, few umpires are still locked in with their nose on the inside corner.

Well, maybe I just haven't been paying that much attention.

But as they say, if you want to learn proper positioning and mechanics, DON'T watch pro umpires... :D

There is nothing wrong with it, per se. The issue is that the general public hear these statements and believe that it is fact not opinion. We then feel the aftermath of this ignorance when we work games.

I also am getting pretty tired of that little blue strike zone box that they plaster up on the screen. This only tracks where the the pitch is caught, near as I can tell, and it doesn't track where or if the pitch even entered the zone.

Rant over! Carry on!

Maybe MLB umpires, but certainly not all pro umpires. If you want a tutorial on positioning and mechanics, watch a hungry AAA umpire. As good as it gets.

Agree. I should have said MLB.

And you want to talk hungry. I go to an occasional Potomac Nationals game, and have also seen a few Charleston RiverDog games when we're on vacation. Those Single-A umpires who are fresh out of the schools are sharp.

OK, it begs the question: How many of YOU move when the catcher moves?
I will tell you, I don't. I set up in the slot on the inside corner and I stay there, even if the catcher moves out or in. If he "pinches" me, I tell him to give me a good look and he usually does.

JJ

I don't move out of my slot either. I feel I've got a good gauge on when a pitch hits or misses the outside corner, and if I moved more towards the middle of the plate if the catcher sets up outside, I would be changing that look. That, and making myself more vulnerable to a foul ball straight back should the pitcher miss the corner and put it right down the middle.

I try to set up in the same spot every time, even if the catcher moves up a little or back a little. If the catcher moves way up (closer to the plate), then I adjust forward just a little. Otherwise, I just wear down the same four holes (two for each sided batter) where my feet go.

The only time I move is if I have to based upon how the catcher or batter sets up because they've taken my slot away. I try very hard not to though.

I would like to say that I "wear down the same four holes" (as Bob says) but that's not entirely true. If I'm working college ball I do stay in the slot. If I'm working upper level high school, I usually stay in the slot unless my catcher has proved that he is not capable of sufficient protection. Lower level high school I move with the catcher.

For better or worse, that's my routine.

-Josh

And to where do you move? How does a batter take your slot away?

Back, up or closer to the plate if I must.

A batter crowding the plate will make it so I can't see the slot, that's what I mean by taking it away.

I agree, I am also pretty ridgid where I stand and I tell the catcher early, just let me see the pitch, I like the word strike but, I need to see the pitch. As already stated, sometimes you have to use the catcher for protection because, well he sucks and it goes through his glove easier than it does his body. That's called self-preservation.

Seriously? A batter moving up on the plate will take your slot away. If the catcher is set up inside at all, you really lose the slot.

Some advise to move up and back, but I've found that I like to go lower and move up a little when this happens.

Batters that stand close to the plate aren't blocking the plate.......That's the catcher's unfunctional mechanics. When I have a catcher blocking the slot I just move up and back a little. It's not the batter's fault you can't see the low and outside corner, and call the pitch a ball.

On the rare occasion, I've had a lefty up close on the plate, and catcher setting up inside, I will switch to the scissors if neccesary. I can stick my head in a little closer.

Do what works best for you.

Where did I say the batter is blocking the plate? I said he's taking away the slot, which he is. The batter, catcher, or a combination of the two can take your slot away.

Where did I say it was the batter's fault about anything? And how do you know what I can and can't see?

So you change stances when only a LH batter moves up and the catcher squeezes the slot? Why not just stay in your normal stance and adjust?

Why so many questions? Is this a pop quiz? Are you always this defensive?

Those are all valid questions in light of your post. I don't see a defensive tone at all.

You're right. I DON'T WHAT HE CAN OR CAN'T SEE. Change defensive to condesending. Why I didn't bother to reply back. It's a big waste of time to split hairs.

However I've never thought to myself, I wish the batter would move so I can work the slot better.

Instead of answering them, he deflects because he doesn't know what he is talking about.

If you've never had a batter take away your slot, you haven't umpired very much.

Sounds like just a difference of opinions to me.