Did I witness the (in)famous fist pump?

[Stat-Man]

Last night's Co-Ed Softball Game:

We had a fairly decent umpire (if one ignores the usual "deep" and "hit the plate" stuff anyways. )

A few times, though, I noticed him signalling where he put his fists together as if he was holding an imaginary bat and banging them together twice. All I could think of was "Is this the first-pumping I read about on the officiating forum?"

I'm not quite sure what it means, but my top two choices would be:

(1) Pitch is a ball because it jammed the player, or
(2) Ok guys, I'd like to get a chance to bat, too.

[snorman75]

Is that not hitting the plate? I know from doing USSSA if it hit the plate it was not a strike. I am pretty sure that is what he was doing. Did he do it instead of calling a strike or ball? If so, it signals the ball hitting the plate. If he did it some other time, your guess is as good as mine.

Another one is the ump tapping his shoulder. Used to tell the pitcher he was deep and over the front shoulder.

[DeputyUICHousto]

umpires "commentate" pitches. "Ball, deep" or "Ball, outside" with the "appropriate hand signal".

I asked a partner of mine one night during our slow pitch league how he would call a pitch that was no higher than 10' and landed 3" behind the tip of the plate. His response was "Strike". I then asked him why he wouldn't say "Strike, right down the middle". I made my point and he is working losing this bad habit.

There is no hand signal for the ball hitting the plate. Nor is there one for a pitch that is "deep" or "inside" or "outside". They are all just "Ball".

Also, the hitting of the hands together as if you are holding a bat has been known to signify "good call" from your partner.

[NCASAUmp]

I stopped doing the "Mashed Potato" behind the plate a long time ago.

Yep, sounds like you witnessed it. No, it's not an approved ASA hand signal.

[Stu Clary]

Did the same guy ever call out "Gotta be"?

[Stat-Man]

Originally Posted by snorman75

Is that not hitting the plate? I know from doing USSSA if it hit the plate it was not a strike. I am pretty sure that is what he was doing. Did he do it instead of calling a strike or ball? If so, it signals the ball hitting the plate. If he did it some other time, your guess is as good as mine.

Another one is the ump tapping his shoulder. Used to tell the pitcher he was deep and over the front shoulder.

In this league, the umpire usually just says "hit the plate," but maybe he threw in that signal for variety.

In the first game I attended this year, we had an umpire call a ball that hit the plate as such and I had to keep from calling out "yeah, but is it a ball or a strike?" (since honestly, I didn't know that hitting the plate is a ball in SP up until that point)

I've seen the deep signal used so often this summer, I'm thinking of bringing swim trunks to the playoffs if our team qualifies

I don't use it but I have seen this before. I think he was saying 3 balls 2 strikes (full count)

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by softball_junky

I don't use it but I have
seen this before. I think he was saying 3 balls 2 strikes (full count)

I hate that "mechanic". I have yet to see any of my partners use the double fist pump but pitch location commentary has been plenty. I think I confuse some of the players by just calling ball, strike or illegal with the DDB signal. I haven't gotten all of the "advanced mechanics" such as the deep signal and low and not quite over the plate down yet.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by Welpe

I hate that "mechanic". I have yet to see any of my partners use the double fist pump but pitch location commentary has been plenty. I think I confuse some of the players by just calling ball, strike or illegal with the DDB signal. I haven't gotten all of the "advanced mechanics" such as the deep signal and low and not quite over the plate down yet.

Sounds like someone needs to hit a few more clinics.

Oh wait... I'm not talking about you. It's them!

[Chess Ref]

Originally Posted by Welpe

I hate that "mechanic". I have yet to see any of my partners use the double fist pump but pitch location commentary has been plenty. I think I confuse some of the players by just calling ball, strike or illegal with the DDB signal. I haven't gotten all of the "advanced mechanics" such as the deep signal and low and not quite over the plate down yet.

When i first started I know I confused them by just calling balls,strikes and DDB illegal pitch.

But my favorite is when the pitcher, usually with 2 strikes, pitches one into the ozone layer, I call illegal and then asks "TOO high blue ? "

I've thought about replying something smart-a$$ey but they might not get it....

[LMan]

Originally Posted by Stat-Man

Last night's Co-Ed Softball Game:

We had a fairly decent umpire (if one ignores the usual "deep" and "hit the plate" stuff anyways. )

A few times, though, I noticed him signalling where he put his fists together as if he was holding an imaginary bat and banging them together twice. All I could think of was "Is this the first-pumping I read about on the officiating forum?"

I'm not quite sure what it means, but my top two choices would be:

(1) Pitch is a ball because it jammed the player, or
(2) Ok guys, I'd like to get a chance to bat, too.

I had a guy who did that to signal a 3-2 count. Of course, as he was banging his fists together over his head, he was yelling, "Full boat! Full boat!"

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by LMan

...he was yelling, "Full boat! Full boat!"

Aces over eights.