Tim McClelland - Very low key mechanics.....

[KLAH316]

I have thought this for years, but does anyone else think that Tim McClelland has the most "Low Key" or "Non-Chalant" mechanics/attitude out there??

Sometimes it's hard to tell what he's calling behind the plate....

Or is that just what happens after being in the bigs for 30 years???

[VAUmp]

I noticed that today.  The dude is built like Frankenstine, so I'm guessing no one will complain to him about it.

[grayhawk]

Watching him right now.  With R1 stealing on a 3-2 pitch, he makes an extremely late strike call (without his normal non-chalant chain saw stike three mechanic).  Finally, he gives a lame hammer.  Scioscia asked him what he called and you can hear him saying "the catcher and batter both knew it was strike 3."

[Richvee]

Broadcasters have been complaining for years. They have to wait....and wait some more to call pitches. It's especially frustrating, I would imagine, for radio guys who are trying to fill air. Long pauses between,"He sets and delivers" and "called strike 0ne" isn't good radio. . 

[grayhawk]

Broadcasters have been complaining for years. They have to wait....and wait some more to call pitches. It's especially frustrating, I would imagine, for radio guys who are trying to fill air. Long pauses between,"He sets and delivers" and "called strike 0ne" isn't good radio. . 

 

Victor Rojas already had to correct himself.  "That misses inside..........no it's called a strike."

[Richvee]

Watching him right now.  With R1 stealing on a 3-2 pitch, he makes an extremely late strike call (without his normal non-chalant chain saw stike three mechanic).  Finally, he gives a lame hammer.  Scioscia asked him what he called and you can hear him saying "the catcher and batter both knew it was strike 3."

I have heard that he does verbalize to the batter and F2 long before that slow right arm begins the strike mechanic. In his favor  Ballplayers consistently rank him 1 of the best balls and strikes umpires

[BalkHawk]

Joe West's strike call looks to me like he's casually flicking a boogie.

[Jocko]

Broadcasters have been complaining for years. They have to wait....and wait some more to call pitches. It's especially frustrating, I would imagine, for radio guys who are trying to fill air. Long pauses between,"He sets and delivers" and "called strike 0ne" isn't good radio. . 

But it's great timing :D

[mstaylor]

It worked better when he scissored but they talked him out of doing it. 

[Umpire in Chief]

I think very relaxed nonchalant calls can look really good-- for the right person. It will not work well for most people.

[mstaylor]

To be honest, that is why most people can't work the knee. It's not that it is bad, it looks  too nonchalant or even lazy.  

[Jocko]

Especially behind F1 :horse:

[mstaylor]

Especially behind F1

Now that's funny right there!

[Thunderheads]

It worked better when he scissored but they talked him out of doing it. 

MST, do you mean 'kneeled'? He used to work the knee, didn't he?

 

And, to his mechanics, ... he's always been like that.  On the rare occasion there's a microphone nearby, you can hear him grunt the strike call fairly quickly...his mechanic is timed with a sundial though ........

[mstaylor]

I thought he had done both knee and scissors. As big as he is he can either and be good. 

[yawetag]

I've heard Mike Shannon joke about the delay with McClelland, stating something about Shannon being able to take a drink of beer between the pitch and the call.