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It's actually rather easy to extend your fingers with an indicator, you just use your thumb to hold it against your palm. Frankly, I don't understand the animosity and, often, the sneering that takes place about BU's using an indicator. Of course it's the PU's job to keep the count - does that mean you go out of your way to not help him if for whatever reason he loses it? It's just a tool, like any other - it can be used properly or misused. Do what you do in your area. In ours, base umps - ESPECIALLY at the sub-varsity level, are strongly encouraged to have an indicator and to use it properly. Meaning, discreetly and accurately. We're not lesser umpires for doing so.

A little pitchy dawg.....I am gonna have to say no...........

Nobody is saying any different Trout. Matt said it best, the numbers mean nothing. Every area is different, levels are different, the way leagues back umpires are different, assoc treat ejections differently and the umpire's experience and personalities are different. All these factors in different amounts will make ejection numbers very volatile.

Making a mockery is found nowhere in the rules of baseball. It's an invented term. true, the word "mockery" isn't ruled, but after a certain point it detracts from the integrity of the game, and to THAT, I take exception. I love and respect this great game, and consider it my DUTY to protect her integrity. Baseball is a beautiful woman and she must be treated with reverence and respect. I demand it on my fields and consider it an honor to have answered the call to serve my country, and her national passtime. God, I love this game! Lighten up, Francis. I may not know what I'm talking about (I only started umpiring 17 years ago, and have only about 1600 games in that time, many at levels which a lot of umpires dream of working, 467 days in Iraq in nine different provinces, 17 rockets land within 200 meters of me, and driven over 1 IED,) but baseball is not that important.

F2's hand contacted Van Slyke on the throw. Contact isn't required, but it makes it easier to call. Scully got it wrong, but he's one of the best in the business. Hack Harrelson couldn't sniff Vin Scully's microphone.

I generally tell the middle infielders (during a lull in the activity and somewhat facetiously) that the bat will have to hit me in the face before i call a check swing a strike when i am working inside with a two man crew. :)