when to verbalize and when not to

[plateumpire]

I have heard that I shouldn't verbalize all of my safe/out calls. When should I verbalize? Should I always verbalize when the runner is safe on a pick off attempt? What about stealing?

[blue23ll]

You should verbalize most of your out calls, except the very, very obvious outs. Those you just give a very non-dramatic hammer. I think you should always verbalize and signal safe calls, and match your 'selling' of your call with the closeness of the play. The important thing is to reserve your overhand punch outs for the really close outs, and the double safe calls with a loud "SAFE, SAFE"  for those really important, game changing calls.

[BuckeyeMike]

Generally speaking, it has a lot to do with how close the play is.  For a routine ground out at 1st, you wouldn't say anything....just give the signal.  If it's a banger/whacker, sure.....give that verbal.  I raise my voice directly proportional to 1) how close the play is and 2) the situation or tension level.

 

On a pick off, I almost never say "safe"......unless it's really close.  But you ABSOLUTELY want to be verbal and "sell the call" if he's OUT!   Knaw mean? 

 

It's a feel thing.  I don't know you're experience level, but from my observations, BU's conform to standards with repetition. 

[plateumpire]

Generally speaking, it has a lot to do with how close the play is.  For a routine ground out at 1st, you wouldn't say anything....just give the signal.  If it's a banger/whacker, sure.....give that verbal.  I raise my voice directly proportional to 1) how close the play is and 2) the situation or tension level.

 

On a pick off, I almost never say "safe"......unless it's really close.  But you ABSOLUTELY want to be verbal and "sell the call" if he's OUT!   Knaw mean? 

 

It's a feel thing.  I don't know you're experience level, but from my observations, BU's conform to standards with repetition. 

I have only had about 8 games on the bases with stealing and lead offs. Most of my games have been with teams that do not steal or lead off. 

[BuckeyeMike]

Again, don't know your situation, but when i was in your shoes starting out, i made sure to go catch a few higher level games (HS Varsity as it was) just to critically watch the umpires.  They'll show you a lot if you're paying attention.  A lot of questions can be answered by just observing a few umps in action.  Notice i didn't say "...by just observing a few GAMES."  You need to focus on what the UMPS are doing, which runs counter to every instinct you've ever had.  It's incredibly hard to NOT watch the ball when watching  a game.

 

Signals (what in the world did THAT signal mean?!)

Positioning

Timing

Mechanics......mechanics.....some more mechanics.  LOL

And inevitably, their vocal inflections relative to the play situation

 

Fear not.  Like I said, your concern tends to take care of itself through repetition. 

[umpstu]

I think anytime you have a pickoff attempt and a tag applied you should verbalize the call, be it safe or out, and I mean on all of them, not just the close ones. Naturally the voice would be louder the closer the play. I recommend using this approach on safe out calls as well. Not so sure about safe, safe.

[BuckeyeMike]

I recommend using this approach on safe out calls as well. Not so sure about safe, safe.

 

??  HUH?   lol

[Thunderheads]

I think anytime you have a pickoff attempt and a tag applied you should verbalize the call, be it safe or out, and I mean on all of them, not just the close ones. Naturally the voice would be louder the closer the play. I recommend using this approach on safe out calls as well. Not so sure about safe, safe.

Nahhhh.....

 

think about a lazy pickoff attempt at first ...... R1 is tying his shoes by the time the ball is there, and F3 taps his leg with the ball, ...a formality .....no verbal needed whatsoever ....

 

plateumpire,.... just feel the situation,....IF EVERYONE in the park can see it's safe or out,.... that's when a verbal isn't needed.  On that same realm though, ...it doesn't hurt to verbalize everything, correct?!

[noumpere]

Again, don't know your situation, but when i was in your shoes starting out, i made sure to go catch a few higher level games (HS Varsity as it was) just to critically watch the umpires.  They'll show you a lot if you're paying attention.  A lot of questions can be answered by just observing a few umps in action.  Notice i didn't say "...by just observing a few GAMES."  You need to focus on what the UMPS are doing, which runs counter to every instinct you've ever had.  It's incredibly hard to NOT watch the ball when watching  a game.

I agree with that as long as you recognize that you might also learn what NOT to do. lol.

 

And, to the OP -- newer umpires and younger players need to give / hear the verbal calls more than experienced umpires and older players.  Heck at the college level you probably can get games where theres less than one verbal call per inning by the base umpire (no close steals; no diving catches)

[Mike Prince]

Over-verbalizing (quantity, not tone) is not a big deal, use postgame discussions with your partner to ask if you are over-verbalizing.  The only real downside I see is that coaches/managers will identify you as a "green" umpire if you verbalize a lot of stuff that is normally not by others.

 

I once had a (more experienced) partner tell me that if it is a "grandma" call (grandma in the stands even knows the call) then there is no need to verbalize.  Also, if there is no play (e.g. a pickoff attempt without a tag) there is no call to make, verbal or physical.

 

As you gain experience and situational confidence, you will know when you should and when you shouldn't.  Just starting out, I would err on the side of doing it too much so you are not getting questions about whether a runner is out or safe.

[grayhawk]

Some good advice in this thread.  It's simply a matter of the closeness of the play.  There are varying degrees:

 

No mechanic, no verbal (such as on a pickoff where no tag is applied)

Mechanic, no verbal (tag applied, but not close)

Mechanic, soft verbal (tag applied, reasonably close)

Mechanic, loud verbal (tag applied, very close)

 

You get the idea.  Also, make sure you are not making stadium calls on catches.  On a can of corn, caught above the waist, do NOTHING (other than maybe tell your BU you have a catch if he is pivoting).  That's right - not even a mechanic.

[Jesse]

Some good advice in this thread.  It's simply a matter of the closeness of the play.  There are varying degrees:

 

No mechanic, no verbal (such as on a pickoff where no tag is applied)

Mechanic, no verbal (tag applied, but not close)

Mechanic, soft verbal (tag applied, reasonably close)

Mechanic, loud verbal (tag applied, very close)

 

You get the idea.  Also, make sure you are not making stadium calls on catches.  On a can of corn, caught above the waist, do NOTHING (other than maybe tell your BU you have a catch if he is pivoting).  That's right - not even a mechanic.

^^^

Great advice here.

 

The key thing here is what the situation is.

 

One thing to note:

 

At lower levels, they want you to verbalize more. I've stepped down and done some lower levels and umpired according to the levels I'm used to and it's been difficult. The lower you get, the more they want you to verbalize (maybe it's because they're shocked a play was made lol). But when you get higher, follow @grayhawk 's advice and you'll be just fine. 

[plateumpire]

Thanks for all of the advice all of you.

[JaxRolo]

Better to over-verbilize than under.

[mstaylor]

Akso, on a no brainer ground out where is is easily out, wait until he crosses first or gives up, then show an out, no verbal. 

[umpstu]

 

I recommend using this approach on safe out calls as well. Not so sure about safe, safe.

 

??  HUH?   lol

 

Ya got me. I still recommend verbalizing on any pick off attempt where there is a tag, even if it is just saying it in a regular voice. Too many times I've seen an umpire trying to be Mr. Cool and not verbalizing a call when it is a real whacker. The it makes you look unsure or lacking of experience, don't agree. I work college ball and don't see a lot of umpires not verbalize a call.

[JaxRolo]

Been to 2 camps recently and the say to verbilize all tag attempts

[Oldcrow]

Akso, on a no brainer ground out where is is easily out, wait until he crosses first or gives up, then show an out, no verbal. 

  My first year of doing High school ball...Ground out and the batter/runner is out by two or three steps...I give the simple fist and the batter/runner complains after crossing first. He says, "Make a call!"......I call time and warn him and his coach that another outburst and he is done.

Well, right or wrong, I couldn't help myself when on his next AB the exact same thing arises and he's out by a long way on a grounder....This time I decided to show him up and yell "OUT" and use the classic right arm throw....Not a word was said to me. I wanted him to learn that doing the latter was simply showing him up and he doesn't wan that.

After the game the coach talked to me and thanked me for doing it. Said no one likes the kid, not even his teammates.