Cleaning the pitchers Plate
 

I saw a comment in the "Time Out" thread and wanted some feedback on it.

The comment was a slight dig about Blues that clean the PP. I have always cleaned the Pitchers Plate cause I thought it looked good and it well cleaned the plate.

Is cleaning the PP considered beer league ?

I am in the minority in my area but I thought that was because other Blues were lazy. Now I'm thinking I'm a dork for doing it. :confused:

Feedback please and as always it's appreciated......

we clean it after the 3rd out if it needs it, but not just to look like we're busy ... in fact thats the mechanic that is taught in the 3 assoc. I work for (1 ASA, 1 USSSA & 1 NFHS) on a regular basis

In Seattle, we teach the BU (PU if solo) to clean it every half inning if it needs it. In fact, it was one of the prescribed mechanics at last year's 16A National.

Around here, NFHS and ASA, you better clean it every half inning or get dinged on your eval.
Not so worried about it in SP but in FP you better get it.

This has been standard in almost all of the FP tournaments that I have worked in ASA over the years and it was a definate in the ISF stuff.
The rabbit cleans it in 3 or 4 umpire crews unless someone had gone out, whoever is inside cleans it.

I agree with Scott (and he may be one of the few umpires with more ASA Nationals than my 21 as an umpire, 3 as umpire coordinator). It is an absolute every half inning in ASA Championship Play, no matter how clean it looks. And, you better face the right way (same as cleaning the plate, face the backstop, butt to center field). And, I play as I practice, so I do it at every level of ASA and NFHS.

In NCAA, you will actually get dinged for sweeping it unnecessarily; there, it seems more a "don't do it like ASA" than actually thinking to save us doing unnecessary work.

Yep, line me up with Scott and Steve. Unless there is some pressing matter which may require the umpire's attention at the end of the half inning (and i'm not talking about getting a drink and towel unless you really need it), clean the pitcher's plate WITH THE BRUSH, not your foot, hand, hat or a player's glove.

As you know, I'm not a big fan of MLB, but some of the places I frequent always have a ball game on the tube, so watching a pro game can be unavoidable. What I have noticed this year are MLB umpires clearing dirt off the plate with their feet! WTF, do they all attend the Eric Gregg Memorial Spa and Wings Emporium? That is one of the laziest things I have ever seen an umpire do AT ANY LEVEL.

Speaking of which, Steve's last statement there is not unusual or surprising. When the NCAA first go into the softball umpire business and the NFCA basically ran the show, one of the first things schools were told (at least in my area) was that while the contracted umpires may be ASA, they were to wear no part of the ASA uniform. I would have to assume this would apply to any other organization's (U-trip, NSA, AFA, etc.) umpires. According to a couple of coaches in my area it was because they were NCAA teams and didn't want to give the impression that THEIR umpires were the same as those chasing little girls around the softball field (their words, not mine). While I can appreciate their desire to be recognized solely as the NCAA, I don't get the attitude occasionally displayed along these lines.

Do they think the players and umpires just appeared one day and decided to have an NCAA ball game? Most of the umpires and players evolved out of these organizations and, if it weren't for the manner in which these organizations pamper and cooperate with them, most of the coaches would actually have to work a lot longer and harder at recruiting.

I guess I just don't get the basis for the arrogance.

Awww Mike! My size 14 "brush" is much more efficient than the little one. ;) I will foot-swipe a heavily-covered pitcher's plate -- or even home plate -- before getting down to business with the brush.

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!:eek:

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

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.

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.

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?

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


:eek:

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

Yeah, blame him for my mistakes. I like that idea! :D ;)

You got a problem with that buster? ;)

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

I just take my time and use the brush.

Now, if the dirt and plate are wet :rolleyes: , 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).

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.

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.

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.:mad:

And an umpire should have a problem with that why?

I'm not referring to the PP, I'm referring to Home Plate. And one of my (many) jobs is to keep it clean. ;)

[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.:mad:

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.:mad:

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

Yeah, so am I. If the plate becomes indistinguishable from the rest of the field, how can anyone argue how wide your strike zone may be? :D Sort of like the lines of the BB. If I cannot see them, well.......

No problem with that rant, Scott. I have to admit that my former district uic used to say just about the same thing regarding cleaning the pitcher's plate - "I don't do that 'cuz then I might see something."

Now, that's not how I work - but it is how I worked for a few years, until I got serious and the games I worked.

If it's a scrimmage or JV type of game I'm working, I'll stop the game & explain why something was not a legal pitch. Any other kind of game, I'll call the illegal pitch the first time it's seen - regardless of the inning or game conditions.

The goal is to get the plate clean.
The means is immaterial.

Bullspit.
There is a proper way to do it, and using one's shoes for a brush ain't it. In fact, it's one of the things I really detest when I see other umpires do it.

Just do it right.

Perhaps, but that also has the tendency to look a bit lazy. Everyone looks around for HP, wondering, "why doesn't that lazy bum of an ump get out and clean it?" ;)

The fact that I keep it clean when possible earns a little more respect from the players. I often joke with the rec league players who slide into HP that they owe me a Shop-Vac.

This doesn't surprise me.

I see the wink, but I still think you lack a sense of humor.

This doesn't surprise me.


What's next, the Mike Rowe Order for entering the field for the pre-game meeting of the PU and the BU and the coaches?

An anxious softball nation wants to know.

Well I am sure glad you followed your own advice and refrained from demeaning attacks.

I am sure the only damage was to the monitor.

My .02 on the OP..

If getting eval'd.. clean the dang plate.. thats part of the ASA busy body torture the BU stuff.

If its really bad clean it..

Other than that, I got other stuff to do, even if its nothing.

To be honest, since some brilliant mind decided the BU's needed to be in the OF instead of visiting your partner between innings, unless I need some water or to towel off, I'd rather clean the plate just to kill the time.

Perhaps Bernie Profato needs to add that one to his collection of brushes.
My favorite was the one with a telescopic handle.

I think Honigs is coming out with a brush/plate shoe attachment for 2008 . . . should be a big seller!:p

This is my serious face. Can't you see I'm serious?

Just kidding, Mike. I actually did get it when I first read it, but didn't want others without a sense of humor to actually take you seriously. :)

Surprise, surprise...................

At what point will you realize that you are a trolling moron that no self respecting umpire would want to work with?

Just where in h$%#%# do you work ball games as you describe?
I just have to see this and the goof balls that would put up with you.

That's whyt I went back and deleted my posts...I am so sorry for feeding the troll.

I truly hope that no one thought I was directing my comments at anyone other than the troll.

The real umpires are people that I like to read and exchange ideas with.:)

Oh, I see, the goal is to look good while attempting to clean the plate.
Does this earn you more letters of the alphabet to list after your name?

Well, where I work it ranges from 90's to 118 F and I'm working 4,5,6 games in a day, I'm all about the water and keeping myself cool... because there are times you feel your head spinning. I watch many players and umpires take a dive... I know how to stay up - Aqua.

That pitchers plate is a waste of time.

I worked with an NCAA guy in 3 man and he was like "so where do you want to meet between innings, center field"

HA! Dream on, i'm not hanging out in center field.

"Well I'll be right over there by my water bottle between innings."

A few innings in he was cramping up!. this NCAA robot crap .. he brings no water!!

Experienced good umpire.. but NCAA weeded out the survival skills for the long hot tourney play.

I went and got him a water and told him to drink.

lordie.

Ill clean it if im in the middle and its dirty...


If I'm on the line and its real dirty, Ill go get it.

It all depends on what Im working...

But someone wisely mentioned water between innings.... ( I live in the desert). If I have to chose.......... agua wins....

You guys in the Southwest....do you think you have exclusive rights to a sweltering heat? :cool:

I'll take the heat you guys get any day compared to other areas. For example, where's Larry? Larry, tell them about the 95 degree/95 humidity under a big hot sun in the panhandle. And that is 7 AM. Don't bother taking a shower, it's a waste of time.:o

Yeah, I know it's tough in parts of the country, but sometimes it sounds like martyrdom in your areas. Everywhere, even in the Northeast, it can get outright and dangerously hot and nasty.

Meanwhile, back to the topic. I noted getting water and toweling off. And yes, I keep a water bottle on the field and will readily accept additional water from anyone who offers it. And the grass is where I stand between every play because that is where you get cool. I just don't like standing out there between innings :D

However, there is always someone within a second or two of the PP at the end of each half inning. If it needs cleaning, clean it in a professional manner. If your UIC tells you to clean it every half inning, do it.

But it's a dry heat
 

Since we are trying to start another topic in this thread let me tell you a tale of heat.....

Central Valley , Ca. About 4 August's ago. I am playing in a tennis tourney and the temp. is about 105. SO on the courts it's about 120 ish...It's early Sunday mornigs . I play a 2 and half hour semi-final match. No problems. I play about a 3 hour finals match. I win. yeah me. :D My wife pours me into the back of the SUV for about an hour ride home. Minor cramps on the road. Nothing out of the ordinary. We pull into the driveway and my WHOLE Body cramps up.:eek: Firetrucks-with lights/sirens, ambulances,wife in hysterics, busy body Bonnie from across the street. It was a spectacle. Give me some IV's and a ride to the hospital. EKG's, blood tests, heart tests man it was a 6 six hour emergency room visit. :mad:

Believe it or not I know how to take care of myself in the heat and sometimes even doing the right stuff is not enough. I always drink water/gatorade and even eat banana's between games.

Proper hydration of one's body begins a couple days before any event. If you expect game-time intake to help prevent heat issues, it's already too late.

Why yes it does.
I am amazed that you were cognizant enough to even think of it while you are so busy creating double fist bangs to explain what doesnt need to be explained