Tips to improve timing

[johnnyg08]

You are misreading what he wrote. He was responding to a question about what to do with a 3-0 strike (only) to attempt to keep the batter from taking off. I'm one of the people who has taught him this. What we are saying is say Yes, then stand up and call the strike. That may keep the batter there. This has nothing to do with timing.

That's interesting. In your experience, does it actually help?

[sdix00]

I agree. We announce our decision long after we make our decision.

Once we decide its a strike, we begin to rise up and lift our right arm, but the verbal doesn't come until later. I think it is a good way to keep the catcher and batter in the loop. I Think it speeds up the game, too. I use it occasionally when the game is going slow. I am letting the battery and batter know before the rest of the park. This also serves to get all three of us on the same page, so when my decision is announced, no one is surprised and it doesn't become an issue. As a practical example, it keeps the catcher from holding the ball over the plate.

When I started out, I called my strikes while in my stance, then rise and hammer. (Softball style). It was a great way to speed the game. But after being told to "FIX IT!" and do it the baseball way, I used this 'yes/yep' technique to break the habit of calling in the stance.

It wasn't really a false timing thing, because my decision was already made and I was just giving the principals a heads up to what the call was going to be.

One constant piece of positive feedback I get is "Excellent timing".

[grayhawk]

Interesting technique (yep/yes) and certainly something I would consider. I certainly would never speed up my actual verbal just to keep the batter in the box. If he is trying to buy the ball, using normal timing and having him have to walk back tells everyone there that I won't be influenced.

[johnnyg08]

I would like to see it demonstrated to see and hear how to do this properly.

[MidAmUmp]

All you're doing is saying something like "Yes" or "Yep" before you stand up to make your call. It's just loud enough for the catcher & batter to hear it. You keep the same timing. See the ball into the glove, see how the catcher presents the pitch, make your decision, say "yes", stand up and make your call.

I don't always do it on a 3-0 pitch, but I will if it's borderline. If the batter takes off on a pitch down the middle, he's an idiot and there's not much I can do for him.

[Haid D' Salaami]

My timing on pitches is this...

Ball hits mitt.. I say to myself yep that's a strike then i stand and make my signal ,or no thats a ball. ..this helps with me replaying it in my head..

And as for the batter leaving trying to buy. Walk.. I do not change my timing.. and I don't care how far he gets..lol

[Nate]

First you when you pause, read, and react you're reading the fielder to dictate what your responsibilities on the field are as the plate and base umpire, not when making calls, sounds good but doesn't apply here. When making a call on the bases or calling pitches it is important to use proper eye movement, make the call mentally, then make the signal physically. You're not first making the call by saying "He's Out!" verbally, you're making the call mentally, waiting for the play to complete then giving your signal. If you try to train yourself to make the call mentally first, you should have correct timing.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Here's a timing question relative to a specific situation: 3 - 0 count, pitch comes in and the batter immediately takes off for 1st before you've made the call automatically assuming it's a ball and you call "STRIKE". Do you speed up the call to keep him from taking off for 1st or do you keep your timing the same?

I keep it the same, if he takes off and has to come back that's his issue. I've been told by guys to speed that call up to keep the batter in the box. I don't like to change my timing during a game, like it's been said above, it sets the expectation of the everyone present. I feel if I call a quick one that give the impression I might be trying to grab one.

Wow!

That is among the worst pieces of umpiring advice I have ever heard. Good for you for dismissing it.

[Kevin Finnerty]

And the delay in making your call was introduced in order to also avoid a situation like this:

[johnnyg08]

Yeah, Sarge Nelson probably gave me one of the best pieces of advice I've ever received when somebody from our class asked about doing this or that for the other team and Sarge's reply was a simple one which was "F-em" you have a job to do, do it as you were trained...they'll figure out the rest.

[UmpJeff]

And the delay in making your call was introduced in order to also avoid a situation like this:

I'd like to believe that the umpire kneeling is simply directing the call to his partner standing up signaling "SAFE". However, I find that somewhat challenging to do. I'm going to guess that both managers came out to see just what the H*ll was going on. :question1:

[Texarkana]

I basically use the same method whether I am in the field or behind the plate. I like to get myself in a good rhythm and when a pitch comes in, I silently say to myself, "That's a - - - -" then make the call. If it is a strike, I say silently (as I am replaying the pitch) thats a, then verbalize strike. It is a slowdown that works for me. In the field, I do the same thing, he is - - - -. I verbalize after silently saying "he is" in my head, out or safe. Both help me out to see the play and make the call without being to hasty.

[LMSANS]

I basically use the same method whether I am in the field or behind the plate. I like to get myself in a good rhythm and when a pitch comes in, I silently say to myself, "That's a - - - -" then make the call. If it is a strike, I say silently (as I am replaying the pitch) thats a, then verbalize strike. It is a slowdown that works for me. In the field, I do the same thing, he is - - - -. I verbalize after silently saying "he is" in my head, out or safe. Both help me out to see the play and make the call without being to hasty.

This sounds like false timing to me, you're saying "he is..." is the same as counting. Timing is effective use of the eyes, making sure you see all aspects of the call. On a pitch, that is watching it all the way into the glove.

[carolinablue]

And the delay in making your call was introduced in order to also avoid a situation like this:

I'd like to believe that the umpire kneeling is simply directing the call to his partner standing up signaling "SAFE". However, I find that somewhat challenging to do. I'm going to guess that both managers came out to see just what the H*ll was going on.

This is an obvious do over.

[UMP45]

Under FED you could "possibly" get a strike out of this if he wants to show you up after you call it a strike. Results... 3-2 count on the batter!

[UmpTTS43]

Under FED you could "possibly" get a strike out of this if he wants to show you up after you call it a strike. Results... 3-2 count on the batter!

Let us know how that works out.

[spiritump]

Under FED you could "possibly" get a strike out of this if he wants to show you up after you call it a strike. Results... 3-2 count on the batter!

just call your game--don't look for trouble--WHY WHY WHY call a strike

[UMP45]

Under FED he has left the batters box without meeting any of the exceptions. Would I call it? Depends on if he behaves himself or wants to be an ass. Have I called it? No.

[Texarkana]

I basically use the same method whether I am in the field or behind the plate. I like to get myself in a good rhythm and when a pitch comes in, I silently say to myself, "That's a - - - -" then make the call. If it is a strike, I say silently (as I am replaying the pitch) thats a, then verbalize strike. It is a slowdown that works for me. In the field, I do the same thing, he is - - - -. I verbalize after silently saying "he is" in my head, out or safe. Both help me out to see the play and make the call without being to hasty.

This sounds like false timing to me, you're saying "he is..." is the same as counting. Timing is effective use of the eyes, making sure you see all aspects of the call. On a pitch, that is watching it all the way into the glove.

Whatever works for each guy I guess. I pride myself in rarely missing a pitch and this is what works for me. I can not remember in years doing something stupid in the field as a result of pulling the trigger to fast.

I agree with what you say about the eyes etc, and this is what I use to replay the tape in my mind. It is just what works for me. Has worked for twenty some years now.

[Umpkc7]

For timing with the plate I went to the southern umpires clinic last year. and my timing was super fast, and one thing they told me and had me work on was when you hear the pop in the mit say to your self like a brand such as Nike or Rawlings. Then once you have done that then you can make your call. So I worked on it and now I notice I'm a lot slower and more relaxed. Not in a hurry to make a call. The best I can say for the bases is that you just look at the whole picture dose he have everything that is needed for the call to be safe or out. Don't focus on just one thing because there is a lot that has to go right for a play to happen.

[UmpTTS43]

For timing with the plate I went to the southern umpires clinic last year. and my timing was super fast, and one thing they told me and had me work on was when you hear the pop in the mit say to your self like a brand such as Nike or Rawlings. Then once you have done that then you can make your call. So I worked on it and now I notice I'm a lot slower and more relaxed. Not in a hurry to make a call. The best I can say for the bases is that you just look at the whole picture dose he have everything that is needed for the call to be safe or out. Don't focus on just one thing because there is a lot that has to go right for a play to happen.

You should be seeing the ball all the way into the glove not listening for a pop. Once you see the ball into the glove, read the glove (is the catcher pulling the pitch?) you can make your mental decision then make the physical/verbal call. Simply saying a word or arbitrarily counting is false timing and won't help you imporve your technique.

[johnnyg08]

No matter what you use...until you learn to use your eyes properly, you will not be timing your pitches correctly.

[cbiesecker]

No matter what you use...until you learn to use your eyes properly, you will not be timing your pitches correctly.

By proper use of the eyes, do you mean watching the ball from the pitcher's hand all the way into the catcher's glove and then watching how the catcher moves his glove once he's caught the ball. Or is there more to it than that?

[johnnyg08]

No matter what you use...until you learn to use your eyes properly, you will not be timing your pitches correctly.

By proper use of the eyes, do you mean watching the ball from the pitcher's hand all the way into the catcher's glove and then watching how the catcher moves his glove once he's caught the ball. Or is there more to it than that?

Well, reading about it is one thing, putting it to work every single time is the science.

[rodatc]

No matter what you use...until you learn to use your eyes properly, you will not be timing your pitches correctly.

By proper use of the eyes, do you mean watching the ball from the pitcher's hand all the way into the catcher's glove and then watching how the catcher moves his glove once he's caught the ball. Or is there more to it than that?

Yes. That is proper use of the eyes. Which creates proper timing. I would change what you said from watching the ball to tracking the ball. Track it all the way and seeing how it is received. Then make your decision. This process will create your proper timing.

If you are too quick it is because you did not track it all the way. At some point your eyes gave up and simply looked forward. That is why someone calls it to fast. Simply made up their mind to fast.