Check Swing Appeal...Unrequested?

[Warren Willson]

Originally posted by Rich Fronheiser
BTW, I don't see a gray area. At face value, I either see a swing or see a no swing. Strike or ball. But if that bat moves off the shoulder and I determine that the batter hasn't offered, I say "Ball. No, he didn't go."

The fact that you "don't see" IS the gray area! Well, more like a "black" area really.

So you admit that you have made a determination that the batter didn't offer. My point was: what about those occasions when you made no determination at all? Maybe you were unsighted by the catcher. Maybe you had your eyes shut. Maybe you were so focused on the path of the pitch that you lost the batter entirely from your field of focus (you did say that is why you believe the PU isn't in the best position to call check swings, didn't you?).

On THOSE occasions the correct mechanic is to call "Ball" only. In that case how could you reasonably add "no, he didn't go", so making a determination, when you actually saw nothing? NOW, therefore, you still have not 1 but 2 mechanics in play anyway! Thus the means for any intended elimination of so-called "secret signals" is already defeated by reality!

From there, Rich, it is merely a short step into the light to use the mechanic "Ball; no, he didn't go" only when you have decided the batter clearly didn't offer, and "Ball" alone when unsighted or you aren't sure either way. Leave the Dark Side and come join us in the Light, mate.

Happy checking.

Cheers