I think many of us announce the batter is out when not eligible to attempt 1st, so I guess we better get a coaching or not ruling somewhere. :confused:

COMPLETELY different situation. Obviously, when something requires judgement and a ruling, we are expected to give it.

What in the world are you "ruling" on in the OP if you verbally call an obviously out batter "out"? You would not do that with no one on base... or if the ball was clearly caught.

If you're not coaching, then what is the intent of your extra call? There's nothing to rule on here - your SOLE purpose in making an extra announcement is to clue in the defense - if you say it's something else, aren't you lying to yourself?

Honestly, I wish this was our mechanic. Alas, it's not. If you revise the mechanic to say, "Batter's out" after a third strike in EVERY situation where that batter is, in fact, out - then you're not doing anything different (coaching, helping the catcher, whatever) if you say it in the OP. To me ... this is much cleaner and clearer than what we're told to do. But unfortunately ... it's not what we're told to do.

Actually, I believe it has been taught that this is acceptable when the player not eligible to advance on the ball begins to go toward 1B, not automatically on every ocassion. All you are doing is informing the retired player they are out and not entitled to attempt to advance.

It is certainly what I have been taught; but it is also not in any umpire manual (that I can find, anyway). But, I consider verbalizing "batter's out" when she begins to run to 1B when not eligible a routine thing, so I guess I'm surprised anyone has an issue with it.

I'm signaling an out on a regular strikeout. When other stuff happens, I make sure everybody knows what I've got. My voice can be heard equally by the offense and the defense. There is no disadvantage to anybody.

Consider this: I have a close tag play for the 3rd out. Meanwhile, there's another baserunner rounding 3rd trying to score. A good defensive player who just made the tag isn't going to wait for my call. They're going to come up firing to the plate. I'm gonna call my out. Then I'm gonna keep calling my out and communicating the situation.

If I get my butt chewed at a national for verbalizing the batter's out as in the OP, then so be it. I'll still sleep okay at night. ;)

This is the mechanic for on particular organization that has four letters and plays its games in the spring.

It's good to hear that - I haven't seen it taught down here at all ... but I vastly prefer that. As long as we do it EVERY time, and not just when it appears there's a trick play going on.

And your out signal differs from a strike signal ... how?

Ask Doug Eddings. He can probably clarify that for you! :D