FP: Called Strike Three

[Stu Clary]

Originally Posted by Steve M

On a called 3rd strike, my timing is the same and I keep my eyes on the ball/catcher's glove, but I'll come up & pull a bow.

That's pretty much what I do. Same timing, and I give a verbal "three" when pulling the bow.

Wade...does your "bringing it" on K3 compare to Lt. Frank Drebin's mechanic?

[Skahtboi]

My called 3K looks a lot like the Drebin Mechanic.

Really, though, on a called 3K, my timing, as others have stated, is pretty much the same as on any other pitch. Then my call becomes a "He yah" instead of the high pitched "strike" I use on the other two. As I am making my "he yaaaaaah" call, my right hand goes from its normal position in my crouched stance and makes a big sweeping move to straight above my head. I then stand, and accentuate this with a sideways bow pulling.

[argodad]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

As I am making my "he yaaaaaah" call, my right hand goes from its normal position in my crouched stance and makes a big sweeping move to straight above my head. I then stand, and accentuate this with a sideways bow pulling.

That describes mine pretty well. I used to just pull a bow, but added the hand straight up to take advantage of my height. (My knees suffer from getting my 6' 4" down into the proper slot height. So I like to take my strike, out, and count signals way up high.)

By the way, my favorite Called Third mechanic is Atlanta's Betsy Kidd's. She's small and athletic and she literally leaves her feet with her punch out.

[bkbjones]

Larry,
As you k now I ain't the tallest or most athletic guy on the block. However, I try to give the count and my strike three as high as possible so there is no doubt. I try not to be flashy...SRW is the only one who pays to see me umpire (j/k)...but there is no doubt about my called K3, the count or my one-legged sell out. Somewhere I do have a picture of the blue flamingo. If you are NFHS and have a rule book, the umpire rep on your NFHS rules committee also does a one-legged sell out.

Lori Bish, who will be going to the Olympics, also goes as high as possible. She is not tall at all, but everyone sees that high-reaching called K3. However, I believe she has both feet on the ground for the K3 and the sell out.