Obvious call redux
 

Now that the other obvious call thread has been hijacked and re hijacked I have a question about calling balls and strikes. i am sure I read somewhere to not make the verbal call of obvious ball. I do not say it for balls in the dirt but it should it be said for the high balls too?

I'm assuming you're referring to ASA. Since that's all I call, that's all my answer will pertain to.

Check out page 214. You do actually call "ball," but my understanding is that it's not with the same energy that you give to a strike.

Give a verbal on every pitch, even those in the dirt or bouncing off the backstop.

I give a verbal on every pitch. When I call a ball, I say it about loud enough for the catcher and batter to hear me.

I used to only give a verbal on strikes and say nothing on balls, until I was told that all pitches not hit deserved a call. I try to keep my verbal inflection the same whether the pitch just misses being a strike or flies over everybody's head.

I also used to say "Ball....four" on the fourth ball. Last year, I was presented with this scenario:

R1 on first, 2-2 count on the batter, PU says "ball four" on the next pitch. R1 heads to second, BR heads to first, defense makes no play on either runner. PU is made aware of his mistake and the correct count, brings the BR back to the plate to complete the at-bat. What do you do with R1? No matter which way you go, you are going to hear about it from one coach or the other.
Better to just say "ball" and not add any numbers.

Every pitch is something. It's a strike. It's a ball. It's a no-pitch. It's something... and the plate umpire should verbalize every pitch as appropriate.

I agree every pitch should be verbalized, but I admit to not verbalizing "ball" all the time while I am getting out of the way of the catcher who is trying to chase down that wild pitch! :o I'm good so long as no one quotes mr jim.

But, I am disappointed Mike ignored my needling him on the "world" series thing... maybe I'm on HIS ignore list! (Or, maybe he just considered the comment lame... can't say as I would blame him...) :)

Even the swinging strikes? My UIC here said not to verbalize the swinging strikes, especially in slow-pitch. Rationale: why embarrass them with the fact they swung and missed a slow pitch? :rolleyes:

Ah, you're right. Those I don't verbalize either... but they do get a signal.

Depending on the situation, I'll even verbalize the missed strikes. Actually, I think I do this on the leagues that have stealing, but right now I can't recall having done it to anyone other than some of my fellow umpires which still play ball...

What is the point of verbalizing swings and misses?

good question - i dont recall ever calling with someone who verbalizes a swing & miss .... i sure dont

Why embarass a SP player on a swing and miss? Ever work a one-pitch tournament when the big mouth, smart-*** player does that? :D

Well, okay, but the temptation is there!

An umpire should verbalize the strike on a swing that may be questionable (check swing). As a matter of consistency, I do "verbalize" the strike on a swing and miss, but not at an audible level. Sorta like giving an IF indicator when working a one-umpire game.

Picking on fellow blues playing the game :D