Wow, I just got an eyeful.

http://www.americanfederationofumpires.com/signals.html

That's hillarious! Remind me to never join the AFU.:D

Hey, Mike? Don't join the AFU. They still haven't published their secret handshake, and I hear they're talking about merging with the YSISF. :eek:

There are lots of groups trying for a slice of the pie. They need to try and differentiate themselves from the standard. I really don't like the idea of all the different shirts. People are just trying to make a buck off of us by selling shirts.

I am kind of a mechanics freak. However, I was at a high level high school game last night that the plate umpire wore no shin guards, no plate(steel toe) shoes and a beanie cap. He sometimes worked on the outside shoulder of the catcher and to be honest with you did a great job.

The teams really just want the umpires to get the calls right.

Dakota, you still wearing the beanie cap? ;)

Had something similar at a tournament a couple years ago. Had an umpire sent that worked HS. On the plate, he was about 4' behind the catcher and never moved out of the RH slot. There was no way he could see the plate and I would have to guess he was calling the pitch out in front. However, after observing him, he did a pretty good job.

He worked HS ball in SteveM's general area, but told me no one had ever told him to get up on the catcher and change slots with the LH batters. Scary.

Well, the strike zone doesn't change just because a batter's left-handed. :rolleyes:

No, but two things do:

Your view of the batter's strike zone and your vulnerability to foul balls.

Yup -
Mike,
We don't tell anyone to move up closer to the catcher to get a good look at the pitch.:rolleyes:
I think he's in the next district over - so that tournament was in his home district.

Interestingly enough, I see in the current Referee issue that the scissors is OK in college ball. AND, in using the scissors, there is a different head height "standard".

Which is why I used the term "general area". ;)

No, it wasn't me. I had to give mine up. The HSM crushed the propeller. :mad:

http://www.geekculture.com/geekcultu...eaniesmall.gif

Ironically, I noticed that not even the AFU has approved either the vertical or horizontal double fist pump. :cool:

Plate Umpire is covering 3B --
PU puts his left fist on the left side of his ribcage and then moves the left arm to the left in parallel with the ground.

...........That's the chicken dance.

Dunnah, dunnah, dunnah, dunt.
Dunnah, dunnah, dunnah, dunt.
Dunnah, dunnah, dunnah, dunt, dunt, dunt, dunt, dunt.

whatever happened to, "I got third!" :D