New mechanics
 

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. :D

Thank You So Very Much!!!
I have printed out these nuggets of wisdom, laminated them and put them in my ball bag (worn on the bases and the plate). My apologies in advance for anyone who sees me reading them prior to implementing as I want worse than anything to "Get it RIGHT".
Thanks for your patience and understanding. A big double fist pump to you and yours.

Doing HS FP 6A Regional final this afternoon. I will incorporate those into my plate game so we can begin making the transition to FP as well.

Sounds like his mechanics were very communicative??

Oh crap, I didn't use these mechanics while at my National! I hope I didn't get dinged on my eval for it... :eek:

No disrespect for the slow pitch umpires on this board who do things right, but why is it that the slow pitch game seems to be overrun with this kind of umpiring?

It is rare to see this kind of made up mechanics and running commentary by a plate umpire in the fast pitch games (by my experience, anyway). There are a few around here who insist on calling "inside", "outside", etc., instead of "ball", but that is about as far as it goes.

Because SP is so much more recreational, it tends to invite the more "recreational umpire." FP and MP don't tend to be that way for many reasons, including financial (who wants to spend a couple hundred in gear if they aren't really serious about it?).

In other words, there's a bit more of an "anybody can do it" mentality with SP.

And no, no offense was taken. I know exactly what you mean.

Was the hand on the chest while yelling "DEEP" part of the repitoire? I've always found that especially useful, but maybe it is an advanced mechanic.

Believe it or not, he didn't have a "deep" signal or call. Guess he still needs to go to an advanced school.

I forgot to mention that this guy also taught me that there is no need to switch sides to work the slot. You can stay on the left side of the catcher for both right and left handed batters.

Proposed 2009 foul ball mechanic
 

Ah, no I know a better theme song than "Perfect Strangers"... "Laverne & Shirley"!

We’re gonna do it!
Give us any chance, we’ll take it.
Give us any rule, we’ll break it.
We’re gonna make our dreams come true.
Doin’ it our way.

Crap, now I've got that song caught in my head! :eek:

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.

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....

:rolleyes:

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!

In the beautiful area of Phoenix, AZ, we get to play ball year around. There are so many slowpitch leagues and games around here that I believe the umpiring organizations will take just about anybody that wants to work.

With so many leagues and games available, we also have a glut of "umpires" that call SP solely for the money. If you can work 4-5 nights a week, 3 or 4 games a night and tournaments on the weekends...that's a decent second (or in some cases) primary income.

Darrell is much more involved in SP around here than I am, so I'm sure he could shed some light on this as well.

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

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!

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?" :D

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. :eek: :confused:

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.

While that is true, NFHS 7-2-2 Effect says "Any pitch that touches the plate shall be called a ball if the batter does not swing at it."

ASA 7-5.A also makes a ball that touches home plate in fastpitch a ball, if not swung at.

According to the "old regime", that rule exists for consistency, not because they believed it couldn't be a strike.

Whoa, that's a big one I've never noticed. Strange I've never taken any grief for it. Thanks.

--Actually, edit: I guess it's not strange since normal fastpitch pitches don't hit the plate if they go through the strike zone so I've probably never missed it even though I would have.
________
Live sex webshows

If it's beer league, I say go for it!

What ever you do to get you through that night mare is good to go!

Double fist pump with a throat slice and a flying double safe call..

Thats good to go!

For the beer league....Does it really matter?

Of course not. Survival of whatever it takes.

So when my wife gets home from her work today (school teacher) she tells me one of her co-workers is getting a "new set of boobs.":eek::eek:

I ask the obvious question.

"Why does she want two slow pitch umpires on her chest?"

Even better, she got the joke. :D

now that's funny!

No, I wouldn't say it usually passes through the strike zone unless you are working the Monday-Wednesday Munchkinland League.

Hey! I resemble that remark!

Did she ask if you were making a joke or volunteering? :rolleyes:

She must be a keeper then!

It helps being married to a leisure rec major. :D

8 to 10 feet is plenty. :D

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.

OK, I admit it!...Doing timed SP games, I will call a legal pitch that hits the back edge/point of the plate and bounces as if it hit the dirt, state "plate" while pointing at the plate then "ball"....Prior to this unapproved "mechanic", I cant tell you the number of complaints from pitchers thinking the pitch was a strike, causing me to briefly explain why not, in essence delaying the game.
Since then, I've not heard a thing from any pitcher, games go smoother,...survival.....I'm betting that 99% of SP players dont know what a double fist pump means anyway...

Why are you explaining anything to the pitcher? :confused:

That's the catcher's job.:D

"Hey Blue, wasnt that a strike?, it hit behind the plate"... So I'm supposed to not say anything, waiting for the catcher to answer a Q that wasnt directed at him?.. rriiight...
Lets get real here, its mens rec SP, and there's enough complaints about anything that doesnt go a players way, that I'm going to control the game (psst! its called game management) so that it goes smoothly. I follow ASA mechanics on all but that sitch..and if my choice is what I do there vs the proper ASA mechanic for that specific sitch, plus let the game go longer, and temperatures get higher..well, I know what's the "right" thing to do.

I also dont take abuse, and toss who I have to.
Sorry that you are confused...

The only ball I call is SP without stealing. If it hits the plate, I just call "ball." If they have questions, then I'll tell them. Most of the time, the pitchers can see that the ball ricocheted at a weird angle and don't question it. Years ago, I'll admit to using the dreaded double-fist pump or point to the plate. After I stopped doing that, I found that I still got the same amount of squawking as before, so using that signal didn't help me at all. Pitchers who squawk will squawk no matter what, even if we put a big Jumbotron behind home plate with an automatic instant replay of every pitch.

Usually, the most I'll hear is "did it hit the black?"

My answer: "yep, and the white part, too." :cool:

Yea Dave, I agree with you....I wasnt talking about those that ricochete (dont think I've ever spelled that word before- looked at your correct spelling lol) or bounce in the plate middle, only those close to the back...anyway, the only pitcher squawks I get now are for close pitches that dont go thru the zone....I still have some fall SP games...think I'll try the correct way, see what happens....

I read three pages and no references to "Gotta Be"?

For shame.

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 :rolleyes:

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. ;)

- 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. :cool:
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.

Mmmm... Jambalaya... Ettoufee...

Throw in some andouille, and I'm on my way!

Cuz we is idiots.

The reimbursement is from the association. It would be nice to have the funding up front, but...as SRW will verify, getting funding up front from our association is about as ridiculous as sentences containing words like "smart coach" or "slow pitch player who didn't complain" or "the stands were full of GLMs -- every woman there was HWP, no cottage cheese legs or nothing."

BTW, send some of that real food up here...

Verified. First hand.

What? About the cottage cheese legs??? :eek:

Yeah, that too...;)

SRW also verifies that tight black pants also work jussssssst fine. As the pols say on their commercials, I approve THAT message. (boy do I)

nope... we keeping it all for ourselves ;) ...gotta come down here and sweat 15lbs pounds of water weight per rotation to earn that good food. I always have said it and still do.... I shoulda been a hockey official...cool rink...good fights... no rainouts.

Oh yeah... Tarr

Why are we discussing food and cottage cheese legs in the same post? Or, is the statement about sending food up here just one of those things "you kids say" so the adults don't know what you're talking about?

What's it to ya? Threads take on a life of their own. Deal with it.

Holy Crap Dude! Take one too many Bitter Brother pills? I was making a humourous comparison between "Cottage Cheese" and "Food".
Go find one of those Seattle hippies and have them teach you to meditate so you can deal with it.

Children, children... Come on, play nice. ;)

Actually, I found PtotheB's comment rather comical. Not every new smart @ss is a troll. ;)

Because up here in Seattle there is no REAL food like they have in the South. so, yes, please send some of that real Cajun stuff, good BBQ, real Tex-Mex, green chile burros, Cannon's Sweet Hots...

Oh, and I am pretty sure SRW was just kidding. If he wasn't I will call his house about 6AM Saturday. In fact, maybe I should just post his number here so we can ALL call him Saturday...

Most of the hippies have migrated to Southeast Portland.

Lot of hugable trees there.

Maybe so, but some of us ex-hippies have grown up/older.:cool:

Did I ever tell you what having hair down to about 6 inches above my waist did to my Navy 4-striper father?:D

I'm guessing Navy 4-striper's experience was similar to my Doctor (Surgeon) father's dealing with my long hair, Fu Manchu mustache and glazed eyes.:cool:

I have to admit, while my parents were not wild about the hair that actually touched my beltline back in the day, they handled it all in stride.

In the early 70s, my dad's hair was longer than mine. Of course, I was a midshipman at USNA. EVERYBODY'S hair was longer than mine. :cool:

Me, too. My dad's hair was longer than mine, only its because I was just a toddler. I missed out on those hazy, crazy 70s.