Cleaning the pitchers Plate

[scottk_61]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

clean the pitcher's plate WITH THE BRUSH, not your foot, hand, hat or a player's glove.

.

Huh?
I bought some special shoes that have a button on the side, click that button and the brush just pops right out of the bottom!

I tried this line with Merle one time,
Merle isn't known for his great sense of humor.

[bkbjones]

Back when I was actually entrusted with helping train folks, :O they were instructed cleaning the PP was a must do. SRW, for whom I am somewhat to blame, can verify this.

Clean it...if for no other reason than to get a nice "Thank you, blue." Heck, we have one pitcher around here who will have it covered back up by the third warmup pitch...but she ALWAYS has a nice"Thank you, blue" every time.

[mcrowder]

I probably should have been more specific in my "slight dig" in the other thread. I was referring to yahoos who hang around the pitcher during a new pitcher's warmups for their moment in the sun, walk up to brush (or yes ... kick-brush) the pitcher's plate, let the new pitcher know the count and outs, and then point out the runners. Might as well come talk to me between every half inning too, or get on your cell phone, or chat up the GLM's between half innings. These are the same guys who flip the hat backward under their mask when working the plate, and bang their fists together on every full count.

[Dukat]

This gets me thinking about something I do and want opinions on it. When I clean the plate I always use the proper technique as described by Mike but say there was just a sliding play at the plate and it has like 2 inches of dirt on top of it. Then I kick off the excess with my shoe and then proceed to brush the rest. Do you think this is something I should stop and just use the brush even on big mounds of dirt?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Dukat

This gets me thinking about something I do and want opinions on it. When I clean the plate I always use the proper technique as described by Mike but say there was just a sliding play at the plate and it has like 2 inches of dirt on top of it. Then I kick off the excess with my shoe and then proceed to brush the rest. Do you think this is something I should stop and just use the brush even on big mounds of dirt?

I just take my time and use the brush.

Now, if the dirt and plate are wet , I may use my feet to get large clumps of dirt off the plate, but will then go to my short-bristled brush to get the rest of the dirt off. And, yes, I do carry a scraper for the muddy days (which, BTW, I abhor).

[BlitzkriegBob]

I hate when I find out that what I've been told is wrong. I should take this as a lesson to not deviate from prescribed mechanics.

I've been told by both my ASA brethren and every Fed partner I've had to specifically NOT wipe the PP. I think it was even my ASA District UIC who told me "If I can see the PP then I might have to call an IP."

Time for me to make a mental note to keep my brush with me on the bases tomorrow.

[scottk_61]

[quote=BlitzkriegBob]
I've been told by both my ASA brethren and every Fed partner I've had to specifically NOT wipe the PP. I think it was even my ASA District UIC who told me "If I can see the PP then I might have to call an IP."
[quote]

I added the emphasis on the above quote to point out the absolute cowardice and lack of integrity for the game that a statement like this implies.

If the pitchers get a strike call for a pitch across the plate while throwing an IP, then that means they gained an unfair advantage.
This also means that the umpire IS NOT enforcing the rules in an impartial manner. Thus cheating for one team or the other.

IF THEY CAN'T GET IT ACROSS THE PLATE IN A LEGAL MANNER, THEY SHOULDN'T GET THE CHANCE TO HAVE A STRIKE CALLED.

IF YOU ARE TOO AFRAID TO MAKE THE CORRECT CALL, GET OFF THE FIELD AND FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO!

Just in case anyone is wondering, this is one of my pet peeves.
I see umpires do this all the time
either because they are too afraid to make the call,
too ignorant of the rules to be able to enforce it correctly,
so unsure of themselves or the rules that they cannot stand to have a coversation with the coach who MIGHT ask what or why in order to coach their player correctly,
or
they are just umpire whores who are out there for the money or power that they feel on the field.

Ok, the rant is over

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

I just take my time and use the brush.

Now, if the dirt and plate are wet , I may use my feet to get large clumps of dirt off the plate, but will then go to my short-bristled brush to get the rest of the dirt off. And, yes, I do carry a scraper for the muddy days (which, BTW, I abhor).

Between innings where the rain is light, but enough to clump and color the plate, I often kick some of the surrounding dirt on top of it (provided I have enough dry dirt around). Then, swirl my foot on it, then brush it off. Otherwise, the plate becomes completely indistinguishable from the rest of the field, even if I scrape it, kick it, everything short of powerwashing it. Been there, done that, didn't work! Carolina clay just doesn't come off easily.

[bkbjones]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

Between innings where the rain is light, but enough to clump and color the plate, I often kick some of the surrounding dirt on top of it (provided I have enough dry dirt around). Then, swirl my foot on it, then brush it off. Otherwise, the plate becomes completely indistinguishable from the rest of the field, even if I scrape it, kick it, everything short of powerwashing it. Been there, done that, didn't work! Carolina clay just doesn't come off easily.

Up here in the drizzle, I will find some dry (usually about an eighth of an inch below the surface) and brush it up on the plate...and use that to dry the plate. Cleans it up and more importantly dries it up.

BTW...up here we must also have some folks who use their shirts to clean the PP -- just judging from the looks of their shirts.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

Otherwise, the plate becomes completely indistinguishable from the rest of the field,

And an umpire should have a problem with that why?

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by mcrowder

I probably should have been more specific in my "slight dig" in the other thread. I was referring to yahoos who hang around the pitcher during a new pitcher's warmups for their moment in the sun, walk up to brush (or yes ... kick-brush) the pitcher's plate, let the new pitcher know the count and outs, and then point out the runners. Might as well come talk to me between every half inning too, or get on your cell phone, or chat up the GLM's between half innings. These are the same guys who flip the hat backward under their mask when working the plate, and bang their fists together on every full count.

You mean that ain't good umpiring????

[3afan]

I had a PU partner once clean the plate with his hat ... we had a chat

[Steve M]

Originally Posted by 3afan

I had a PU partner once clean the plate with his hat ... we had a chat

I think we've got a bunch of those folks around here - at least that would explain why their hats look the way they do.

[bkbjones]

Originally Posted by mcrowder

chat up the GLM's between half innings.

You got a problem with that buster?

Gawd if we banned that...well, we'd be short an umpire, that's for sure.

[SRW]

Originally Posted by bkbjones

SRW, for whom I am somewhat to blame...

Yeah, blame him for my mistakes. I like that idea!