New mechanics

[MichaelVA2000]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

I just want to share with you some new mechanics I learned watching the daughter play some slow pitch the other day.

Right arm, palm perpendicular to the ground, making an up and down motion like rubbing something. This means pitch outside, and you must say, "outside." (On a left handed batter, it means pitch inside, and you must say "inside.")

Same motion with the left arm means pitch inside, and you must verbalize "inside." (Just the opposite with left handed batter.)

These next two signals mean essentially the same thing, and can be interchanged. Give a safe sign, and then raise it (sort of like a bird trying to take flight, very slowly) and call "high", for a pitch that is out of the strike zone on the high side. Or, you can run your fingers across your throat, (sort of like a knife weilding murderer cutting your throat) and it means the same thing.

For a pitch that is low, hack your hand into your knee and say "too low."

If the pitch hits the plate, I know you all expect to see the double fist pump. No, not this one. Left hand open, palm up, bring your right closed fist into this, and verbalize "plate."

Also, before game and in between innings, do not use the prescribed mechanics, but rather talk with players and spectators as much as possible. He was so busy talking that a scheduled 6:30 start didn't actually begin until 6:43, and only then when the coaches said something to him. (The coach for "our" team said "we gonna play ball tonight?")

So, now all of you can say you know the latest in slow pitch mechanics. You can thank me later.

If he does fast pitch and wears his ball bag while umpiring the bases, I may have worked with him during the PONY Nationals in Ohio last year.

[SRW]

Scott,
What was the furthest he moved away from the plate during a call at second base? I want to make sure that my field movements match the degree of my pitch calling....

[BretMan]

If you like these advanced mechanics, you'll love what is apparently the new softball umpire uniform requirements- or, at least, the uniform worn by a recent partner I had in a men's fastpitch tourney.

This guy was on the bases and wearing a ball bag! But there was more to it than that. He wore his shirt UNTUCKED, then fastened the ball bag around his waist with a thin, elastic belt, so his shirt was cinched at the waist with about 12" below that blousing out like a tunic.

Now, he did also demonstrate some mechanics that must have been super-secret advanced stuff. Like positioning himself right on the foul line behind third base with a runner on second.

But my favorite was when we had a check swing appeal. I step out from behind the plate, point to my partner and ask, "Did he go?". All I get is a deer-in-the-headlights blank stare until, finally, he seems to realize we're waiting on his input. Then he just says, "I don't know", and shrugs his shoulders!

[PtotheB]

Originally Posted by BretMan

But my favorite was when we had a check swing appeal. I step out from behind the plate, point to my partner and ask, "Did he go?". All I get is a deer-in-the-headlights blank stare until, finally, he seems to realize we're waiting on his input. Then he just says, "I don't know", and shrugs his shoulders!

I'm sure that went over like a turd in a punchbowl.

[BretMan]

Just to expedite things and keep the game moving I quickly said, "That's a ball", gave the count and got back behind the plate. Surprisingly, nobody really said anything, other than the catcher. All he said was something along the lines of, "What was that?", and I said, "He didn't overrule me, so it's still a ball". He seemed to have bought it- not another peep.

Which, when you think about it, does kind of work out the right way. If a base umpire is not sure he saw a swing, he should not call the strike. Believe me, this partner wasn't sure of much!

[Stat-Man]

This summer when I scored my first SP game for my friends, the umpire called one pitch "hit the plate!" and I instincitvely called out "so is it a ball or a strike?"

I only asked since I once was at a HS JV FP game (NFHS rules) where the other team was not very talented and their pitcher pitched slow pitch style. And any time she hit the plate with a pitch, the PU (working solo) called it a strike.

[youngump]

Originally Posted by Stat-Man

This summer when I scored my first SP game for my friends, the umpire called one pitch "hit the plate!" and I instincitvely called out "so is it a ball or a strike?"

I only asked since I once was at a HS JV FP game (NFHS rules) where the other team was not very talented and their pitcher pitched slow pitch style. And any time she hit the plate with a pitch, the PU (working solo) called it a strike.

Most slow pitch style pitching that hits the plate passes through the strike zone, no? Unless she's pitching low or going around the strike zone.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by SRW

Scott,
What was the furthest he moved away from the plate during a call at second base? I want to make sure that my field movements match the degree of my pitch calling....

8 to 10 feet is plenty.

If you have several games, you can probably just stay stationary behind the plate.

[bkbjones]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

8 to 10 feet is plenty.

If you have several games, you can probably just stay stationary behind the plate.

Oh, so SRW and I now know to emulate Jeff Vance.

[SRW]

Originally Posted by bkbjones

Oh, so SRW and I now know to emulate Jeff Vance.

Oh I think I have a little vomit in my mouth right now.



I learned something else this weekend that ties right into this thread:

If you're the tournament UIC, you get to do any or all of the following:

- Assign scheduling the crew to someone else, i.e.: hire your own "scheduler"
- Make sure the "scheduler" assigns yourself into the schedule to work just as many games as the most worked umps on the crew.
- Not pay the "scheduler" any of your UIC fee.
- Wear a long sleeved dark blue sweatshirt underneath your powder blue short sleeved ASA uniform shirt.
- Throw a hissy fit when a decision is made to start a game on time and use an umpire waiting for one field to finish because the decision wasn't made by you. . . Because you were working a game and couldn't be contacted.
- Complain that it's 45 miles to the fields each way.
- Complain that it's not worth the UIC fee of $3/game to do the job
- Complain that it's too much money to buy anything other than water, donuts, apples, and candy for refreshments for the crew.
- Deny the acusation that you're in it for the money.

I'm sure there's more that bkbjones will fill in...

[CajunNewBlue]

Originally Posted by SRW

Oh I think I have a little vomit in my mouth right now.



I learned something else this weekend that ties right into this thread:

If you're the tournament UIC, you get to do any or all of the following:

- Assign scheduling the crew to someone else, i.e.: hire your own "scheduler"
- Make sure the "scheduler" assigns yourself into the schedule to work just as many games as the most worked umps on the crew.
- Not pay the "scheduler" any of your UIC fee.
- Wear a long sleeved dark blue sweatshirt underneath your powder blue short sleeved ASA uniform shirt.
- Throw a hissy fit when a decision is made to start a game on time and use an umpire waiting for one field to finish because the decision wasn't made by you. . . Because you were working a game and couldn't be contacted.
- Complain that it's 45 miles to the fields each way.
- Complain that it's not worth the UIC fee of $3/game to do the job
- Complain that it's too much money to buy anything other than water, donuts, apples, and candy for refreshments for the crew.
- Deny the acusation that you're in it for the money.

I'm sure there's more that bkbjones will fill in...

Ohhh man... thats one tournament I want to work 1 game in and then leave

[bkbjones]

Originally Posted by SRW

Oh I think I have a little vomit in my mouth right now.

I'm sure there's more that bkbjones will fill in...

- As UIC, not only schedule yourself for a full schedule on the field, even though you've been told 100 times that is not ok, but change the schedule done by the scheduler so that said UIC has the dish on a championship game.
- Forget three times to attach the schedule to the e-mail, then tell two umpires you overlooked "I sent the schedule three times."
- Switch SRW from said championship game to a practice game.

This crew chief bought one bunch of bananas for the weekend.

Oh, yeah, we reimburse the UIC for the supplies they buy for the crew for the weekend.

Apparently he has fired his scheduler, cuz he has neither e-mailed nor called. I imagine I will hear the call sometime Thursday...

[CajunNewBlue]

Originally Posted by bkbjones

- As UIC, not only schedule yourself for a full schedule on the field, even though you've been told 100 times that is not ok, but change the schedule done by the scheduler so that said UIC has the dish on a championship game.
- Forget three times to attach the schedule to the e-mail, then tell two umpires you overlooked "I sent the schedule three times."
- Switch SRW from said championship game to a practice game.

This crew chief bought one bunch of bananas for the weekend.

Oh, yeah, we reimburse the UIC for the supplies they buy for the crew for the weekend.

Apparently he has fired his scheduler, cuz he has neither e-mailed nor called. I imagine I will hear the call sometime Thursday...

Im guessing thats this is not the first time y'all have worked for this guy because of the "he's been told 100 times" comment... I only have one question.... WHY? do you keep working for him?
One thing I can say for sure is that around here, the UIC's I have the pleasure of working for are great. they only umpire when they have to... they know the freaking rules and are pretty darn good at getting the coaches off yer butt "when and if needed".. they either hook us up with meal tickets or arrange food like jambalaya or ettoufee or buy sandwich stuff to make your own and fruit and drinks.
Ok, maybe I am spoiled.
BTW: is it proper to offer the UIC money to reimburse them... coz I always assumed they bought the stuff with money out of a fund.

[DaveASA/FED]

Originally Posted by SRW

Scott,
What was the furthest he moved away from the plate during a call at second base? I want to make sure that my field movements match the degree of my pitch calling....

Ya don't let us down was he a 5 foot chain guy???

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

8 to 10 feet is plenty.

If you have several games, you can probably just stay stationary behind the plate.

Originally Posted by DaveASA/FED

Ya don't let us down was he a 5 foot chain guy???

Dave:

Above you will see my response to the original question. He had a slightly longer chain.