What's The Signal

[SC Ump]

Originally posted by rj
what signal do I give

One of the things I tell my partners that I will do is answer them honestly. If they want to know in private, then come close. If they yell a question across the field I will yell an answer back. In this case... maybe a catcher stood up in front of him and he missed it. If I was BU when he asked, I would have said, "No, the ball did not hit her" and maybe gave a safe signal out of habit. I don't think that is really needed because the verbal communication gives him his answer. If I thought she was hit, I would have said, "Yes, the pitch hit her" and probably tapped the part of the body that it hit, as long as it is not a 'naughty' part. In either case I would not preceed the statement with "I think..."

If the PU's view was not obstructed by a catcher or something else, then I agree with others that he is pawning the call off on you. After the game tell him he owes you a beer (or dinner or whatever) since you were having to make his calls for him. If you do it right, with a grin and not accusatory, he might get the idea and perhaps try harder next time.