And many of these people at one time thought that prior to the start of an inning the base umpire should clean the PP while the plate umpire cleaned HP and they should break in unison and hustle back to their position.
These same people at one time suggested that when there were multiple base umpires, both were to go to a set position simultaneously.
Umpires once used to hold that arm out for OBS and run around the field like a one-winged chicken.
And the mirroring of the plate umpire when calling time! For chrissakes, will someone PLEASE kill this UNAUTHORIZED (at least, in ASA) mechanic. Haven't used it in more than a decade unless there was a defender or runner still active in my area of the field. However, there are still some old school folks including a failure to do this in an umpire's ratings from a national. How can you gig an umpire for not performing a mechanic that is not in the manual? A game using a 3 or 4 umpire system.....oh, wait, we cannot use a 4-umpire system because it isn't in the manual
...okay, a 3-umpire system and all at one time every umpire throws their arms into the air as if Jesse James just appeared with a gun.
We, also, used to return to a set position after a play was over only to look like an idiot staring at an empty base as all the players are already moving back into position.
Then there is the Elbeco shirt which, if you wanted a good rating, better have a military press. And let us not forget the patent leather belts and shoes of which the umpires were so proud. Umpires at one time, also, wore ties and jackets. Yeah, love to have to have been in that uniform in August in OKC!
So, after all these years of trying to minimalize the umpire's visability on the field, these "gods" have determined it is best to begin using what can only be described as preemptive signals to communicate what one did not see? Yeah, it would be easier to sell me on a timing play indicator than this.
Wed Aug 26, 2009, 01:46pm
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