Strike Call

[Concernedcitizen2]

As someone who has never really umped seriously but has an interest in it, I have kind of a noob question.

 

My classic idea of an umpire calling a strike (1 or 2 looking) is to turn to the side and point and with the point indicate how many strikes (hopefully that makes sense).

 

But whenever I see clips from the umpiring schools, it seems they teach you to keep looking in the pitchers direction and over your head do a "hammer" to indicate a strike looking (that's not a 3rd strike).  Is there a reason for this?

 

Is the hammer technically correct, it's just a lot of umpires don't do the correct way?  Or is it just that I haven't seen the clips from umpire school where they teach other ways to signal a strike?  Is it that you need to do the hammer to get good marks from the school and then once you graduate you can develop your own style? Would that work for minor league umps?

[plateumpire]

It is good to keep looking at the pitch all the way. I was taught that if I turn away I might miss something like a dropped third strike. I believe they do want the hammer at school. 

[renegadewolf]

I prefer the point to the side as I am rising and then vocalize the strike, as my out mechanic is a hammer fist forward, but I never look away from the ball, because Murphy (of Murphys Law fame) seems to like me and will ensure something odd happens when I am not looking.  The Baseball Ontario "curriculum" teaches the traditional hammer fist as appropriate for both strikes and outs with the variation is a strike hammer is held still and the out is a forceful "pounding" of the hammer fist, although the pointing to the side mechanic is widely accepted

[immaculate1976]

I do the side mechanic on called strike 1 & 2. I voice the strike than than do the mechanic. I hate the hammer mechanic just think it looks stupid but that's just me. In 5 years I have never missed anything by doing the side mechanic

[Les-Aussie-Ump]

I personally preferr it on the side ( the strike call ) one finger strike one ,two fingers strike two.

then hope like hell that it's fat down the middle, court looking OH YEAH thank you ring em up time !

[catsbackr]

You're not going to be caught missing anything if you employ good timing with your strike mechanic.

[Thunderheads]

As someone who has never really umped seriously but has an interest in it, I have kind of a noob question.

 

My classic idea of an umpire calling a strike (1 or 2 looking) is to turn to the side and point and with the point indicate how many strikes (hopefully that makes sense).

 

But whenever I see clips from the umpiring schools, it seems they teach you to keep looking in the pitchers direction and over your head do a "hammer" to indicate a strike looking (that's not a 3rd strike).  Is there a reason for this?

 

Is the hammer technically correct, it's just a lot of umpires don't do the correct way?  Or is it just that I haven't seen the clips from umpire school where they teach other ways to signal a strike?  Is it that you need to do the hammer to get good marks from the school and then once you graduate you can develop your own style? Would that work for minor league umps?

If you've noticed, you'll see a combination of 'strike calls' in MLB .....

[JHSump]

Point or hammer may be a personal preference thing.  It may not matter at the MLB level.

 

But consider *Youth* Baseball "Funny" Moment #273:  R3.  Pitch is caught.  Your timing is good.  You call a strike.  As you are pointing to the right, the RHB steps out (one foot or both), because his coach taught him to always step out for the next sign.  Just then F2 decides he will try picking off R3.  His throw hits the RHB in the helmet.  You hear the wack, and immediately turn your head to see what happened.  But all you have now is a RHB batter looking alarmed, a catcher looking over into the 3B dugout where the ball is heading, and everyone else screaming "Interference!" or other useful things at you.  Did the RHB end up out of the box because he got hit by the throw, or did he step out of the box and then get hit with the thrown?  You didn't see it.

 

There is no such thing as predictable in youth baseball.  I've learned to prefer the hammer.

[maven]

If you point, you might try not turning your head or body. Just stand and point to the side. Keeps your eyes on the action.

[BigUmpire]

Point or hammer may be a personal preference thing.  It may not matter at the MLB level.

 

But consider *Youth* Baseball "Funny" Moment #273:  R3.  Pitch is caught.  Your timing is good.  You call a strike.  As you are pointing to the right, the RHB steps out (one foot or both), because his coach taught him to always step out for the next sign.  Just then F2 decides he will try picking off R3.  His throw hits the RHB in the helmet.  You hear the wack, and immediately turn your head to see what happened.  But all you have now is a RHB batter looking alarmed, a catcher looking over into the 3B dugout where the ball is heading, and everyone else screaming "Interference!" or other useful things at you.  Did the RHB end up out of the box because he got hit by the throw, or did he step out of the box and then get hit with the thrown?  You didn't see it.

 

There is no such thing as predictable in youth baseball.  I've learned to prefer the hammer.

Happens all of the time in youth ball.

[Concernedcitizen2]

 

As someone who has never really umped seriously but has an interest in it, I have kind of a noob question.

 

My classic idea of an umpire calling a strike (1 or 2 looking) is to turn to the side and point and with the point indicate how many strikes (hopefully that makes sense).

 

But whenever I see clips from the umpiring schools, it seems they teach you to keep looking in the pitchers direction and over your head do a "hammer" to indicate a strike looking (that's not a 3rd strike).  Is there a reason for this?

 

Is the hammer technically correct, it's just a lot of umpires don't do the correct way?  Or is it just that I haven't seen the clips from umpire school where they teach other ways to signal a strike?  Is it that you need to do the hammer to get good marks from the school and then once you graduate you can develop your own style? Would that work for minor league umps?

If you've noticed, you'll see a combination of 'strike calls' in MLB .....

 

Yeah, I've noticed a mix of MLB calls but I'm wondering (I've never kept track) if those are mostly by older guys who might have been taught under a different system and the younger guys go with the hammer? 

 

For people that went to the professional umpire schools, were you able to get good marks for pointing instead of employing the hammer? Or is it everyone has to use the hammer and then as people move up in the ranks they get a little more leeway?

[RC@54OUTS]

PBUC requires that you do the hammer motion for strikes. When you get to the MLB you can do whatever. As far as youth ball nothing could be more true. If it can it will. Murphy's Law. Good timing will keep you out of trouble most of the time. Now if you are working one man try to keep your head looking forward.

[Larry in TN]

and everyone else screaming "Interference!"

 

Ha!  They're probably yelling "Obstruction!" 

[JHSump]

Or "Hinderance!"  

 

But your comment reminds me of the following. I once called, "That's obstruction!" while pointing at an obs on the basepaths.  I can't remember the actual circumstances, but they're not important.  What I do remember is a fan right behind the very close backstop saying to another fan, "He said 'obstruction.' What's 'obstruction'?  I've never heard that word before! Hahaha!"

[Specks]

The schools teach the hammer because it's uniform and they can grade everyone based on their criteria. Once your out of school then your expected to develop your own style.

[grayhawk]

The schools teach the hammer because it's uniform and they can grade everyone based on their criteria. Once your out of school then your expected to develop your own style.

 

I don't think that's right Specks.  Don't MiLB umpires have to use the hammer up until AA?

[BigUmpire]

The schools teach the hammer because it's uniform and they can grade everyone based on their criteria. Once your out of school then your expected to develop your own style.

Not true

[grayhawk]

I do the side mechanic on called strike 1 & 2. I voice the strike than than do the mechanic. I hate the hammer mechanic just think it looks stupid but that's just me. In 5 years I have never missed anything by doing the side mechanic

 

That's how it's done in softball, but not baseball.  In baseball, the verbal and mechanic should be done simultaneously.  Granted, Tim McClelland does this in MLB, but it's not standard by any means.

[LMSANS]

The schools teach the hammer because it's uniform and they can grade everyone based on their criteria. Once your out of school then your expected to develop your own style.

I don't think that's right Specks. Don't MiLB umpires have to use the hammer up until AA? The guys in SAL (A), point all the time. Larry Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

[grayhawk]

 

The schools teach the hammer because it's uniform and they can grade everyone based on their criteria. Once your out of school then your expected to develop your own style.

I don't think that's right Specks. Don't MiLB umpires have to use the hammer up until AA? The guys in SAL (A), point all the time. Larry Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 2

 

 

Hmm, thought I heard otherwise.  Glad they have the freedom to choose their strike mechanic.

[Specks]

 

The schools teach the hammer because it's uniform and they can grade everyone based on their criteria. Once your out of school then your expected to develop your own style.

 

I don't think that's right Specks.  Don't MiLB umpires have to use the hammer up until AA?

 

I haven't been to school (too fat, too old) but know several that work in the minors and 1 that taught at Wendelstadt and that's what they told me. Unless it's changed in the last couple of years I think they let you change.

[umpstu]

You're not going to be caught missing anything if you employ good timing with your strike mechanic.

I teach that it is ok to point to the side, but to keep your head towards the field in case of a steal attempt and possible batter's interference. You're 100% correct about the timing.

[JaxRolo]

Hammer Time!!!!

[BigUmpire]

Hammer Time!!!!

Can't touch that!

[noumpere]

 

The schools teach the hammer because it's uniform and they can grade everyone based on their criteria. Once your out of school then your expected to develop your own style.

 

This is correct (or at least it was) but I might change "expected" to "allowed".