Check Swing Mechanic

[snorman75]

OK, I have jokes.....

I normally have to use my partners name instead to "swing". You know to wake them up first.....

How can you use your left hand to point? I am texting with it.....

How much of our dues went to the meeting to decide which hand you point to your partner with on a check swing? (no punch line)

I always point with my right, since my left arm normally had ice on it because the catcher can not catch anything inside.

In truth, I will go for help right away, so I am coming out of the slot asking for help. So I do not use my opposite hand because I might hit the catcher doing that. But now I have something else to work on. Because you know it is going to pop in my head the next time I ask for help.

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by snorman75

OK, I have jokes.....

I normally have to use my partners name instead to "swing". You know to wake them up first.....

How can you use your left hand to point? I am texting with it.....

How much of our dues went to the meeting to decide which hand you point to your partner with on a check swing? (no punch line)

I always point with my right, since my left arm normally had ice on it because the catcher can not catch anything inside.

In truth, I will go for help right away, so I am coming out of the slot asking for help. So I do not use my opposite hand because I might hit the catcher doing that. But now I have something else to work on. Because you know it is going to pop in my head the next time I ask for help.

Nice.

Now, read the manual and my post again. You DO NOT use the opposite hand when asking for help. You use the hand not holding the mask, your right hand, regardless where the batter is.

Mike's response clarified he is talking about when you point at the batter and declare "Swing!". In that case ONLY, the manual tells you to use the hand on the open side, as 1) your mask is still on, not in either hand, and 2) you might as well point with the hand everyone will see, not the one that is behind the batter (from the perspective of part of the defense).

[IRISHMAFIA]

Okay, my opinion of the IQ level of this board's residents has really plummeted. Even after clarification, there are folks going in the other direction.

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

Mike's response clarified he is talking about when you point at the batter and declare "Swing!". In that case ONLY, the manual tells you to use the hand on the open side, as 1) your mask is still on, not in either hand, and 2) you might as well point with the hand everyone will see, not the one that is behind the batter (from the perspective of part of the defense).

Actually, Steve, the manual states just the opposite. It says LH for a RH batter. And unless the catcher stands and moves away from her position, is there really an "open side" when you are in the slot?

I just think (personal opinion) pointing with the RH and continuing through with a signal just looks goofy no matter which side of the plate the batter is standing.

[SRW]

Personally, when the batter checks and I determine a swing, I point with the left, give a verbal of "yes!", stand, and make the hammer with my right. I don't change my point if it's a LHB or a RHB. (Perhaps I should?)

Mike, I'm curious why you're interested in this... did you have a SP batter who checked his swing?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by SRW

Personally, when the batter checks and I determine a swing, I point with the left, give a verbal of "yes!", stand, and make the hammer with my right. I don't change my point if it's a LHB or a RHB. (Perhaps I should?)

Mike, I'm curious why you're interested in this... did you have a SP batter who checked his swing?

An umpire was recently corrected concerning this specific mechanic. I never really paid attention to this part of the mechanic and the very experienced umpire never heard of such a mechanic.

[Tru_in_Blu]

I think the question here doesn't merit any discussion about asking a partner for his/her opinion. If, as the HP umpire, you have decided that the batter did indeed swing or offer at a pitch that would have been a ball otherwise, you then declare that the batter swung at or offered at [bunt] the pitch.

If the pitch was in the strike zone, just call the strike. If anyone argues because they saw the batter check the swing, just say the pitch was a called strike regardless.

Now, if you've decided the batter has offered at a pitch that would have been a ball, the mechanic listed in the books is:

"The plate umpire should let everyone know that the batter swung at the ball by pointing at the batter with the left hand for right handed batters or the right hand for left handed batters, then give a strong verbal confirmation accompanied by a strike signal. Remove all doubt that the batter swung at the pitch."

RS10 also talks about the check swing, but doesn't get into the mechanics. One part I like about RS10 is in regards to the bunt attempt:

"On a bunt attempt where the batter puts the bat across the plate and the pitched ball is out of the strike zone, a ball should be called unless the batter moves the bat toward the ball."

A lot of coaches complain when the offensive player just leaves the bat out there without moving it. But if the batter doesn't move the bat toward the ball, it's not an offer.

I do a lot of single umpire games, both fast and 'sno-pitch, so I usually end up making a call on a check swing myself. Rarely will the catcher ask in a 2 umpire game, and then we'll go through the appeal step.

Ted

[Steve M]

Ted,

"A lot of coaches complain when the offensive player just leaves the bat out there without moving it. But if the batter doesn't move the bat toward the ball, it's not an offer."

It depends on the sanctioning body as to whether that's an accurate statement. Since NCAA rules that a strike - and Fed will rule it a strike in 2009 - I would not be too surprised to see ASA go that way too.