Mirroring PU
 

When you are the BU do you mirror the PU dead ball signal ? Like on a routine foul ball...

I have been under the impression that you were suppose to but in watching other umps it seems like I am in the minority (about 25% do mirror)....

I do not, unless there is confusion by runners on the field. Then I will echo the dead ball call.

I find that I do.

I do, but no verbal call (unless runners are confused).

No double-fists, though.

I don't ever mirror my partner's signals.

I do to.
On a high foul ball, at the backstop I'm mostly ahead on PU.
This gives PU the time to avoid being hit by the down coming ball and PU doesn't have to turn around watching the foul ball at the backstop (he can see me by looking straight foreward).
I've started this at the moment I was working with a (almost) deaf PU. He asked me to give him as much help (in signals) as I could give. Now my partners like it all!!! And are starting to do it also...:rolleyes:

The NCAA Umpire Manual says NOT to mirror it. Not sure what the other sanctioning bodies say. Dave

I do not "mirror" a foul ball call. And even though I think it might be against most mechanics, I usually find myself echoing it to the base runner when I'm in B or C.

I dont mirror just for the sake of mirroring.. I will reiterate a signal if action is going on after DB (runner etc)

Pretty much what others have stated. Only do it when it is necessary. That usually means that there is a runner in motion on a foul or dead ball.

What about mirroring the count back to the PU - just about everyone here does that. Personally, I don't anymore. If they want help from me on the count they'll ask - so will the players or the coaches.

The only time I might "mirror" is if I see the batted ball hit the batter and I am 100% CERTAIN that is what I have seen. All I call is dead ball...up to PU to call foul or out. But...I don't mirror (unless we have ongoing action long after the ball is dead).

I have threatened to shoot partners who mirror me (well, not literally, but...) with foul ball calls, etc. I have threatened to neuter (with a dull, rusty knife) those partners who insist on making a foul ball call on a ball hit straight back into the screen with no one on base.

Thats some cheeseball stuff right there.

These umps dont happen to wear their ball bags or fanny packs when BU do they?

Never have, never will, never seen a BU give a count unless requested.

Fanny packs? You guys in CA wear fanny packs when working the plate?

Talk about cheeseball :D

fanny Packs
 

Now I haven't seen any SB umps bustin out the fanny packs out here in Cal ..I also do VB and we have too many of them doing the fanny pack thing. It is very painful. You have the fanny pack and the white shoe look going in VB and in the words of my wife "You dorks look like Felix Unger."

Never. Never ever.

HA!

No way. CA sets the standards (in softball!!!!) you can only dream of.

If the plate ump signaled so did I -- that is until the day I worked with John. While John did not actually threaten me with harm, he did ask me nicly to stop, so I did. And now I don't mirror signals, it has actually helped my game quite a bit.

Bugg

Count? Not unless asked.

Dead ball (foul)? Not unless necessary (soft spoken PU, no foul signal at all, etc., and runner who keeps going, stuff like that).

BU / PU mirroring the outs to each other between batters? That is pretty common.

LOL - no fanny packs. I have seen a couple of baseball umpires wear them and some wear ball bags on the bases. SHEEEEEESH!

Thanks Bob. As I have said before. I'll work with ya anywhere.

Do NOT mirror the count unless asked.

Do NOT mirror fouls balls unless there is freakiness... (and then do it verbally)


Do NOT wear fanny packs..... (please)

DO Flash out between batters.....

I'd rather my BU partner wear a ball bag than a fanny pack. I've only had a partner wear a fanny pack once. After the game I asked him where he got his fanny pack. He gladly told me. I told him I was going to that store and telling them not to sell them to anyone who might be an umpire.

Please tell me you are kidding about wearing a ball bag . . . for what purpose? Are they keeping little trinkets in the bag? I see no difference between a fanny pack and a ball bag other than one is a little less noticeable but both for me are a HELLLLL NO! I have actually told partners to take them off before taking the field.

Where is he suppose to put his sandwich and chips? :p

Way back when I first got started umpiring.
I used to work with an old guy who wore two ball bags while working BU.
He kept a couple of hot dogs or hamburgers in one and a coke in the other.

Never changed, even when people tried to get him to stop the practice.
I actually saw him work a couple of HS games like this.

I am serious as a heart attack. For what purpose? I have no feakin clue (which is NOT unusual). Of course the latest one was my partner on Monday, the base umpire. He is 85 years old (I kid you not) and does a helluva job. There is one guy 30 years younger who umpires like you would think an 85 yer old would umpire. But this guy is amazing - even with a ball bag. I figure at 85 if you wanna wear a ball bag, you can wear a ball bag.

BUT...we have others who wear one. We have one guy who is probably 40 or so who won't leave home without it. Literally. He shows up at the park in uniform, and has the ball bag on. He is not the only one in these parts to wear a ball bag on the bases.

At least he doesn't wear it on his a$$.

Excellent point. I take back my comments. In the future I will attempt to refrain from making such comments without really thinking them through first! :D

At at tournament several years ago (invitational summer tournament, not championship play), one of our umpires had a problem of some kind (don't remember the details) and had to leave. I was just coming off one game where I had the plate. The umpire who left was on the bases of his game. The UIC asked me to hustle over and take the bases for the game already underway. I removed my plate equipment near the field and jumped out one the bases, still wearing my plate shoes AND my ball bag (I had forgotten about the bag in my rush).

UIC comes running over going ballistic and has me come OFF the field (game underway, mind you) and hand him the ball bag through the fence, lecturing me on proper uniform.

OK, I get the uniform issue; I'm serious about it. But THAT was out of line.

You should have asked him, "where am I supposed to put my sandwich and chips." ;)

Just a point of clarification: Wearing a ball bag on the bases is permitted, often required, for a co-rec game.

Reason being that it is easier and quicker for the BU to handle the exchange of balls between batters.

Absolutely out of line, even if the UIC didn't know why it happened.

Once, I arrived for a game cutting the time close and thinking I had plate. My partner thought I would be late, so dressed for plate and went to the field; which you can't see from the lot. I realized he was there, rushed to the field and it was game time. I started the game on the bases with all but mask, removed other equip over 1 1/2 inning, but was stuck with plate shoes all game. The coaches both thanked him for getting things moving and me for caring enough to not delay the game.

If it happens again, I'll keep that in mind! :p

You should also have a sandwich in the bag and offer to share!!:D :D :D

2 man in co-rec?!? Where do I sign up?

SIgn up in Sacramento Ca
 

Just did a 3 game set of 2 man co-rec.......Lots of chattin up the F4 time. Partner wanted to do plate all 3 -so he called'em and I chatted them up....

I'm assuming that the UIC that asked you to "hustle over" was the same UIC that lectured you on the uniform issue. I think I would have lectured him as well - about being stupid.