FP: Called Strike Three

[Andy]

My called strike three is a loud noise that sound something like "Freeeeeeeee" while my right hand shoots up, then I step back and pull the bow....and, yes, there have been times when I rang up the batter on strike two.....

I sympathize with BlitzkriegBob...When I first started I used to verbally call strikes and say nothing on balls. One respected guy in our association told me to call all the balls the same way, just say "ball", then on ball four to say, "ball....four"

Several years later, I am working a fall scrimmage with the same guy and he asks me why I say "ball...four". I tell him that is how I was taught many years ago. He tells me not to say "four" for this reason: What if you have R1 on first and you screw up the count and say ball four on ball three. The BR heads to first and R1 heads to second...the defense knows its only ball three and tags R1 for the out....or....you correct yourself and bring BR back to the plate, but the offensive coach tells you that R1 legally stole second and you have to leave her there.....either way, you have a mess of your own creation and somebody is not going to be happy with your fix.

It did not dawn on me until later that it was the same umpire that told me to call ball four that is now telling me not to......