umpire-catcher courtesies

[ASA/NYSSOBLUE]

Originally Posted by topper

Please define "old-school" for me.


Who is telling you these things?


What happened in 1990? I truly don't know.

As to A), it is perfectly consistent with the way one might react to players disagreeing by obviously letting anyone watching know that they think an umpire missed a call.

You may handle these situations as you see fit, but it's often the next official that has to deal with your enabling this behavior.

I think Crowder was refering to the idea our mechanics and behavior are more 'professional' now than 20 years ago.

HOWEVER...there is a apocryphal MLB story from the early 80s along these lines involving Gary Carter when he was with the Expos, and (I believe) Eric Gregg (or possibly Weyer), where Gregg is working the plate, and the Expo manager, who was Gene Mauch at the time, keeps asking where pitches were, and Carter not saying anything - as he should. However Gregg keeps getting funny looks from the opposition batters. In between innings, Gregg's partner at 1B, runs in and tells Gregg that Carter is giving high/low hand signals. Carter is leading off the next inning, and Gregg tells the other C to have his pitcher to bounce the first pitch to Carter. The pitcher does so, and Gregg calls it a strike - causing Carter to almost drop his bat in surprise, asking, "Where was THAT??", whereupon Gregg holds his hand at waist level. End of the hand signals.....