Any mechanic you'd like to add ???
 

Here's one that I try to do --
when I am working the plate and my base umpire
(2 man crew) is in the C or D slot; and there is a bases clearing
event--- I'll call time and move out to clean off the plate
(even if it really doesn't need it). This give my partner a little
extra time to get over to the A slot for the next batter.
Any things you do to make your games go a little smoother
that is not in the Mechanics book ??

I call every pitch that isn't hit a "strike". Everyone complains until they realize they get to go home in about 40 min! :D

I'll bite. What is the "D" slot in two umpire mechanics?

Is it what is more commonly known at C2; off the right shoulder of F6, rather than "C" or C1, the left shoulder? Or is it the outlawed 10 x 10, not approved by ASA or NCAA?

I still advocate with:
R1@3B - the better BU position is nearer to 2B, not a straight C.

I think pickoffs at 1B with BU in C should be PU's responsibility.

I think the "IF is on signal between pu/bu", which is just about universal as far as I know, should go ahead and be coded.

You mean there is a signal that is not coded by ASA yet is "universal"?

My, my.

Imagine that.

Umpires thinking on their own.

works out great as long as its pregamed and not sloppy bull**** like banging the hands together.....

I've reminded more than one umpire, new and veteran, that it's always nice to clean the plate while the catcher is recovering from getting roughed up by a foul ball right back in the mask or elsewhere.

The only other person out there for us might be our partner, but it sure is nice to work with a catcher, and have a catcher work with you - even if no one says anything.

Speaking ASA

I would have no problem with that. It may be an issue with the younger levels where the coaches think the pick-off at 3rd as a major issue instead of just throwing the ball back to the pitcher.

The only problem is that the umpire is just as far away, has other duties which may delay his/her ability to react and get around the batter and catcher with that mask off. A pick-off will never be the PU's call because of his/her primary duties and inability to move into position earlier. The BU, though at a distance can start moving the moment s/he is aware the batter is not swinging. The PU does not have that ability.

It has been for quite a while. Check this year's Umpire Manual (page 208, Umpire to Umpire Communications, Para 4.)

I understand Mike and that is true.

In practice, I feel short changed as BU on this call and feel PU is usually better. As PU I definately feel better about this call. I am sure I could take it in most cases. I ALWAYS 100% talk about this play in pregame with my partner. I tell the PU that I'll make the call, but I'm willing to let the coach as me to go for help and see if he/she saw something a little different.

You just cant see the moment of the hand touching the bag in a good pick off attempt.

I 've also had situations where everything is very active on the bases with pick off attempts, lead offs etc, and its intense and a coach asks for time. I will take the time to talk with the PU about this play real quick.


HA! There it is. Hey good job getting that in there. I never noticed that. No wonder its universal! :D What brought it up in my thinking is I had another umpire in pregame want to use some other signal (I dont remember what it was - holding the hat or something) and I said lets just do it this way like everyone else.

#4 in my book...

In NCAA, while it is still the BU's call initially, this is one of those plays that results in an automatic appeal to your partner if asked.

You are right, FFT. I will correct my post.

Thanks,

Actually, as has already been pointed out, it is codified!

You really didn't think there would be a response, did you?

And for a while.

Came from usage dating back to the 60's...maybe longer.

I thought the position ids were universal, i.e. C or D being a location regardless of whether used in every system. To me D is on 3rd base line, like A on 1st base line.
I'm afraid I don't know what 10x10 is. :confused:

All good, worthwhile signs make their way into the book. Bill Klem was said to have looked like someone picking posies back when he was among the first (but definitely not the first) to use his right arm/hand to signify a strike.

But obviously SOME signs DO NOT GET CODIFIED because they are useless, or unprofessional, or some other perfectly good reason that would keep them from being used oustide a sandlot -- and certainly not in championship play. In fact, I'm sitting here smiling thinking of how Larry Montgomery, who is a very nice man, would get madder than a (your cliche here) if someone sprang that ol' double fist pump on him at, say, Men's Class A Final.

If nothing else, there would be an empty hotel bed somewhere...

No one, least of all me, ever suggested or used a double fist pump, in any ASA sanctioned game or tournament.

When would you ever be on the third base line in two man mechanics? That is what threw me; there isn't a D in two man. You must have been thinking three man, while saying two man.

The 10 x 10 is where some misguided individuals have placed themselves in (again) two man mechanics with a runner on third; 10' from the foul line, and 10' behind the base line. That position has been universally panned; kind of like the "Modern Mechanics" theory.

I once worked a certain national where the UIC talked about the "slot" to base umpires. I ascertained they meant C...but that was a first for me.

Speaking of signals...

While persuing the NCAA on-line umpire manual over the winter, I was surprised to see that they allow outs to be signalled with either the left of right hand. I'm not aware of any other organization with that quirk.

Had a chance to see this several times over the weekend while watching a ton of games on cable. To me, it looked...backwards! :confused:

I thought it was A B C or Rabbit! :confused:
:D

I thought other sanctioning bodies allowed it but the overhand out signal had to be right handed. Maybe I was dreaming. Dave

Our training ump at clinic last year (dont know if this changed 5 mins later) said lefty umps could use their left for strike/out signals.

Is there a difference in being called out by the left hand versus the right?
Assuming the two know what the other is doing.

ASA allows the overhand out to be signalled with the left hand for left-handed umpires because the overhand out is a throwing motion. IOW, they recognize that a left-handed umpire "throws like a girl" with his/her right hand. (Apologies to our female colleagues and athletes - but you know what I mean.)

Perhaps the reason the "non-sell" out and strike "hammer" are not to be given with the left hand is to avoid confusion as to what the signal actually is. I agree that most of the time context should mean the possibility for confusion would be small...

Stirring the pot
 

ASA Umpire Manual, Pg. 206 "Communication and Signals"
"Signaling is a very important aspect of umpiring. Decisions are relayed to the players, coaches and spectators using approved signals. The adopted signals are dignified, informative, meaningfull, and therefore, shall be used by all umpires. Poorly executed and unauthorized signals serve only to confuse. The manner in which a signal is given determines, at least to a degree, its ascceptance by the players, coaches and spectators."

ASA Umpire Manual, Pg. 225 Slow Pitch Plate Mechanics "Calling Balls and Strikes", 2nd paragraph:
"A pitched ball that hits the ground in front of home plate, hits home plate, or hits the batter, becomes dead and a non-verbal dead ball signal followed by a verbal ball or a strike signal shall be given.

ASA Umpire Manual, Pg. 239 "Selling the Call...Sell OUT/Sell SAFE", 3rd paragraph from the end:
"A left handed umpire is permitted to utilize their left hand and arm to make the overhand out signal as this is a natural movememnt of the umpire."

(Bold and underlined emphasis added by me.)

I said "position ids were universal, i.e. C or D being a location regardless of whether used in every system", not that I thought D was used in two-umps. If I say "C is not used in slowpitch, or D is not used in two-ump", they are still position identifiers. Apparently, 10x10 is what some would call C3, but never use.

So......... is the left handed strike just for slo pitch? Or do you have a left-handed plate ump banging players out with their mask in their left hand?

So, the ASA manual does have one sentence that okay's a left-handed out call in limited situations.

Guess I missed that. Might not have missed it if not for the fact that this line appears 32 pages past the section on "Communication and Signals" where a description of all the approved signals appears- including the "sell out" where it says to use the right hand.

An odd quirk, that.

Still can't find any written description of using the left hand to signal strikes...

We (in the Seattle Metro area) have at least one lefty who almost always signals strikes and outs with the sinister hand. But he works at Krispy Kreme, so he can use any hand he wants. :)

Well for the record, I write left handed. All my signals are "properly" done with the right hand. I guess since I technically meet the criteria (although I play baseball/softball right handed and am very ambidextrous) - I could run around picking any ole arm with which to call a strike/out etc.

I'm happy you can do that. I am SO right-handed I can't even pick my *body part* with my left hand. If I had to do it left handed I'd have to be a baseball umpire. :eek:

Isn't that what the string if for? :rolleyes:

That's interesting (to me, if to no one else).

I also write left-handed. I play baseball / softball left-handed.

I play tennis right-handed (even the "throwing motion" of the serve). I bowl right-handed.

I am not ambidextrous for those sports or for wiriting - I am completely hopeless trying to bat right-handed or field right-handed, and completely hopeless trying to bowl or play tennis left-handed.

The only coorolation I was ever able to come up with is I learned my "left-handed skills" before about age 12 and my "right-handed skills" after.

I umpire right-handed.

:D :D http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/er...smiley-010.gif

WHen I was in my first year of LL I was of course playing left handed, because I was lefthanded.. I sucked so badly. My dad had me try to throw and catch right handed and I suddenly could play. It was like a miracle immediate difference.

I can throw decently and catch decently now lefty.. I do it only as novelty when goofing around - When I play, I play righty. I bat better righty but can switch.

I shoot pool and firearms lefty, but I'm left eye dominate. I can shoot pistol either way.

I cannot write right handed.

I dont believe I could do strike/out lefty but I've never tried.

Here I got one that JimPiano can jump on that we use and thats not in the book.. and the book is lame on this one. (note: I think its a very different situation to have umpire to umpire signals agreed to pregame as opposed to using invented signals to call your game to the crowd).

The book wants you yelling across the field asking for the count if you lose it.

Lame.

We tap the top of our hat, our partner knows we want the count which is sent back by signal. There is no need to verbalize that.

I do pretty good count wise as PU, sometimes as BU I will miss the call of the pitch because something happened (say a steal).

Do you guys yell "Hey I'm stupid and lost the count" or do you use the hat/other signal to get the count?

Well hell, you guys probably never lose the count :D

LOL if it weren't for the indicator I would be absolutely freakin lost. I really admire all of you who can keep up with the count without an indicator. I've been involved in this avocation since I was 14 (that would be 1970 for those of you keeping score at home) and always carry two indicators with me - if one is lost, broken, stolen or disabled, I have a backup, and if my partner forgets his/her indicator, I have one ready for them. I could more easily go without a chest protector, cup, shin guards or mask than without an indicator.

We (Seattle/Tacoma area, where it was 77 degrees yesterday, April 6, for our first and likely only day of spring) use the hands on the front of the shirt/wiggling the fingers signal to ask for the count, although I am extremely bilingual and have seen/used the top of the hat to ask for the same.

I'll be damned if I will yell across the field asking for the count and let people believe I am an even bigger fool than what they already think/know.:cool: