Signal timing

[BuggBob]

How many of you have seen the mechanic on call where the umpire immediately verbalizes the call, (OUT, SAFE, STRIKE, but nothing for a ball) and then ten to fifteen seconds later makes a sharp quick signal. I am not kidding ten to fifteen seconds later. As an umpire I find this mechanic confusing, by watching the reaction of the players I can see they are VERY confused. I don't know how it would work when there are multiple calls, like double a plays or attempted double plays. When I asked the umpire about it he said that is the way 18Gold umpire do it. Now I know our UIC tell us to slow down your calls but I think ten to fifteen seconds is too long.

Bob

[John Robertson]

Ten to fifteen seconds later? Wow. That's a long, long time. I'm more inclined to give the arm signal two to four seconds after verbalizing a call. I agree that an exceptionally long delay confuses everybody on the field.

[mick]

Originally posted by BuggBob
How many of you have seen the mechanic on call where the umpire immediately verbalizes the call, (OUT, SAFE, STRIKE, but nothing for a ball) and then ten to fifteen seconds later makes a sharp quick signal. I am not kidding ten to fifteen seconds later. As an umpire I find this mechanic confusing, by watching the reaction of the players I can see they are VERY confused. I don't know how it would work when there are multiple calls, like double a plays or attempted double plays. When I asked the umpire about it he said that is the way 18Gold umpire do it. Now I know our UIC tell us to slow down your calls but I think ten to fifteen seconds is too long.

Bob

Bob,
I think 10-15 seconds is about 8-13 seconds too long, but how were the players confused? They didn't hear that ump, or they didn't believe him?
mick

[mcrowder]

15 seconds, huh? Try that with Roy Oswalt and you'll be signalling as the next pitch is coming in. That's an AWFUL long time. Wonder what this guy's compatriots in 18-Gold think of that. Bet he's the only one.