Check Swing Appeal...Unrequested?

[His High Holiness]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Warren Willson

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

Warren;

As I have explained before, it is now a violation of extablished NCAA umpire policy for umpires to vary their calls on a check swing so as to send a message to the BU. More specifically, it is not taught that way in pro school either. Only "Smittys" in the USA and umpires down under still engage in this sort of chicanery.

Almost all umpires that I know doing NCAA ball say "Ball" for a check swing (or no swing) when the ball is not in the strike zone. The " no he did not go" part has been eliminated from the vocabaulary of NCAA and experienced minor league umpires. A few of the single A umpires still use this mechanic because it has been taught in the pro schools. However, the pro school umpires are taught to say that each time the batter even flinches a bat, no matter how minor. The may NOT say "no he did not go" on one check swing and just "ball" on another. Whatever way they choose must be the same way each and every time.

Since it is easier and less controversial to just say "ball", that is what most experienced umpires have defaulted to.

Your continued efforts to distort, deliberately misinterpret, and pick apart others writings on this subject is not helpful. (It almost Porterisian.) Get over it. Australia is behind the times. Quit trying to teach archaic mechanics to American umpires that will only get them in trouble with the big dogs.

I'm sorry about the Porter comment but I just could not help it. That was totally unfair on my part.

Peter