Giving a batter time

[BretMan]

Originally Posted by HugoTafurst

FWIW:
I use my right hand for right handed batters and my left hand for left handed batters. (Same for putting the ball in play where appropriate)
I have been told at various times that is correct..... and that is incorrect.
What's an umpire to do????

The ASA umpire manual says to use the hand "opposite" the batter- right hand for a right handed batter, left hand for a left handed batter. See the illustrations of umpire signals (out, safe, dead ball, etc.) and the accompanying text for the "Hold Up Play" signal. This was also covered at the National Umpire School I attended last year.

I had never given much thought to this until I was at a high school baseball clinic about five years ago. During some plate drills, one of the umpires used his left hand to signal "don't pitch/hold up play" when there was a left handed batter. The instructor about had a cow. Dressed the guy down pretty good for using the "wrong" hand. Sure enough, baseball mechanics are to always use the right hand.

Since this incident raised my awareness of which hand I was using, the ASA instruction about switching hands based on the batter has always stuck in my mind.