Dropped Strike 3

[Haid D' Salaami]

The reason is to simplify the mechanics, and make it easy for Us...

[Haid D' Salaami]

I am in the "no catch" verbalization camp, I also hold both arms out with clenched fists while I verbalize (can't remember where I was taught that).

 

This fall it backfired on me (well, not so much on me), there was an uncaught swinging third strike, I called "no catch" with the corresponding signal.  The ball was up the 1B line a bit so once the runner and catcher cleared the plate area I tailed them up the line to watch for running lane interference or a pulled foot by F3.  The 1BC had his runner stop and he walked right into a tag by F2 on his way back to the plate.  The coach thought I called "foul"...

what does the safe with closed fist mean, over a safe with open hand?

 

Maybe I'm confused to our safe mechanics? I thought we only had 1 type of safe signal arms out with palms facing down?...

[Haid D' Salaami]

I was taught to clear the catcher, yell loudly “ no catch, no catch†shaking your head with a NO gesture making a safe sign and be prepared to trail the runner to first keeping the ball in your eye at all times.

wow that is alot of stuff going on... I need to say safe... shake my head and give a safe signal.....wow.... that's sure is a lot.

[Haid D' Salaami]

Just got done discussing the why. The safe mechanic is saved in the event that there is a no tag after the dropped third strike. This eliminates the double safe mechanic in those situations. They still use the verbal of No Catch. When the ball is caught, the out mechanic with the verbal Batter's Out.

That being said, I highly recommend that those working amateur ball use the safe mechanic on dropped third strikes. Everyone is on the same page at the pro level, including managers, players and umpires. This is not always the case in the amateur game and misinterpretations can happen, sometimes resulting in situations that could lead to arguments/ejections. Why place yourself in that situation when it could have easily been avoided?

Again, each to his own. For the record, the accepted college mechanic is the safe signal.

Down in the south, they do like they do at MiLB and school.. with one arm out to avoid the mass confusion. .. But use what you want as long as you can explain your mechanics to the coach.

[alex7]

I was taught to clear the catcher, yell loudly “ no catch, no catch†shaking your head with a NO gesture making a safe sign and be prepared to trail the runner to first keeping the ball in your eye at all times.

wow that is alot of stuff going on... I need to say safe... shake my head and give a safe signal.....wow.... that's sure is a lot.

All he did was add a head shake to the standard safe call.

[UmpTTS43]

Just got done discussing the why. The safe mechanic is saved in the event that there is a no tag after the dropped third strike. This eliminates the double safe mechanic in those situations. They still use the verbal of No Catch. When the ball is caught, the out mechanic with the verbal Batter's Out.

That being said, I highly recommend that those working amateur ball use the safe mechanic on dropped third strikes. Everyone is on the same page at the pro level, including managers, players and umpires. This is not always the case in the amateur game and misinterpretations can happen, sometimes resulting in situations that could lead to arguments/ejections. Why place yourself in that situation when it could have easily been avoided?

Again, each to his own. For the record, the accepted college mechanic is the safe signal.

Down in the south, they do like they do at MiLB and school.. with one arm out to avoid the mass confusion. .. But use what you want as long as you can explain your mechanics to the coach. Thanks for the advice. Not once in my 2000+ games have I ever had to explain my mechanics concerning dropped third strikes. Even the ones that had a no tag mechanic right after that.

I do seem to recall however that there was quite a stir over these one armed mechanics during a MLB playoff game.

I may consider to use this one armed simpler thing when there is an uncaught line drive that short hops an infielder where a tag might immediately follow. That way no one will be confused when I make the second call of out or safe, whichever it is.

[ricka56]

I do seem to recall however that there was quite a stir over these one armed mechanics during a MLB playoff game.

Would this be one of them ?

http://m.mlb.com/video/v20254775/

[UmpTTS43]

That's the one. I guess the confusion came when he signaled strike after that which looked like an out call.

Think maybe a verbal no catch would have prevented this?

[alex7]

That's the one. I guess the confusion came when he signaled strike after that which looked like an out call.

Think maybe a verbal no catch would have prevented this?

And the newer right arm signal looks too similar to an out call at the high school and low college level where the kids and coaches likely don't keep up with umpire signals.

[ricka56]

Think maybe a verbal no catch would have prevented this?

I would have perferred a verbal, "that's a catch, batter's out"...

...AJ is such a douche

[Haid D' Salaami]

That's the one. I guess the confusion came when he signaled strike after that which looked like an out call.

Think maybe a verbal no catch would have prevented this?

this isnt een the same thing Troy..Doug got beat up over the use of the hammer and his out mechanic...

 

 

I was taught to clear the catcher, yell loudly “ no catch, no catch†shaking your head with a NO gesture making a safe sign and be prepared to trail the runner to first keeping the ball in your eye at all times.

wow that is alot of stuff going on... I need to say safe... shake my head and give a safe signal.....wow.... that's sure is a lot.

All he did was add a head shake to the standard safe call.

 

I read that.. thanks for the update.

[Haid D' Salaami]

 

That's the one. I guess the confusion came when he signaled strike after that which looked like an out call.

Think maybe a verbal no catch would have prevented this?

And the newer right arm signal looks too similar to an out call at the high school and low college level where the kids and coaches likely don't keep up with umpire signals.

 

We umpires should not be worried ( as it seems you are ) with what the High school or lower level college kids are being taught...I just went to the NCAA meeting, i guess i was in the bathroom when they talked about this subject...LOL

 

Like Troy said, I don't need to explain my mechanics..and have I yet.

[UmpTTS43]

That's the one. I guess the confusion came when he signaled strike after that which looked like an out call.

Think maybe a verbal no catch would have prevented this?

this isnt een the same thing Troy..Doug got beat up over the use of the hammer and his out mechanic...

Yes

[ricka56]

 

That's the one. I guess the confusion came when he signaled strike after that which looked like an out call.

Think maybe a verbal no catch would have prevented this?

this isnt een the same thing Troy..Doug got beat up over the use of the hammer and his out mechanic...

 

I thought that the controversy in the video was over DE's hammer strike/out mechanics also, but given that the proper pro school mechanics is to point towards 1B on an U3K, I'm not so sure anymore. In the video, DE pointed towards 1B, and then the hammer. He could have either:

1) pointed a strike and mistakenly hammered an out; or

2) pointed a U3K (as you say the proper pro school mechanic is) and hammered a strike.

 

I wonder which it really was.

[BillKen]

This should end the discussion!  

[alex7]

 

 

That's the one. I guess the confusion came when he signaled strike after that which looked like an out call.

Think maybe a verbal no catch would have prevented this?

And the newer right arm signal looks too similar to an out call at the high school and low college level where the kids and coaches likely don't keep up with umpire signals.

 

We umpires should not be worried ( as it seems you are ) with what the High school or lower level college kids are being taught...I just went to the NCAA meeting, i guess i was in the bathroom when they talked about this subject...LOL

 

Like Troy said, I don't need to explain my mechanics..and have I yet.

 

 

At some point, I figure the very purpose of our mechanics is to deliver a non-verbal message to the teams, so I do take into consideration what the kids know.

 

I believe at certain HS and CC levels, if I have an uncaught 3rd strike and I stick my right arm sideways with a fist, my mechanic might be a disservice as it will look too much like an out call or the old-fashioned obstruction mechanic.  Someone mentioned NCAA still wants the safe mechanic, so that's good to hear.

[Fittske24]

From a post I made back in 2012... Still applies for me today....

- On DK3 I will give my swinging strike Mechanic (pointing strike mechanic) with arm extended.

- If it is unclear to the off. or def. that the ball was dropped (i.e. short hop), i will also give a verbal "No Catch"

- I take a read step right or left as needed to see the possible tag attempt.

- If tag is made, I give my OUT mechanic.

- If tag is attempted and missed, I will give the SAFE mechanic.

- If no tag attempt is made, I will leave my right arm extended until runner steps out of the dirt circle.

I try to let the play dictate what mechanics to use. Remember that our safe mechanic has many meanings....."Safe", "No catch", "that's Nothing", "balls in play" etc. To everyone else, safe mechanic only looks like safe. So I try to use it only when the situation calls for it.

[BT_Blue]

That's the one. I guess the confusion came when he signaled strike after that which looked like an out call.

Think maybe a verbal no catch would have prevented this?

And the newer right arm signal looks too similar to an out call at the high school and low college level where the kids and coaches likely don't keep up with umpire signals.

We umpires should not be worried ( as it seems you are ) with what the High school or lower level college kids are being taught...I just went to the NCAA meeting, i guess i was in the bathroom when they talked about this subject...LOL

 

Like Troy said, I don't need to explain my mechanics..and have I yet.

 

At some point, I figure the very purpose of our mechanics is to deliver a non-verbal message to the teams, so I do take into consideration what the kids know.

 

I believe at certain HS and CC levels, if I have an uncaught 3rd strike and I stick my right arm sideways with a fist, my mechanic might be a disservice as it will look too much like an out call or the old-fashioned obstruction mechanic.  Someone mentioned NCAA still wants the safe mechanic, so that's good to hear.

How many coaches do you think even realized that stupid mechanic of the fist to the side was OBS. I cant recall ever even using it, nor ever being TOLD to use it.

Think I might ask around either at the college meeting next month or the HS clinic end of next month what they would prefer me to do. I do like the single arm mechanic as it is easier to get to then the safe signal.

[Matt. L.]

The one arm mechanic would be a right arm out to the side with a point? Almost like a pointing strike call? Thanks.

[BT_Blue]

That or extending the one arm out. Almost a half safe signal.

[MidAmUmp]

Remember...pro schools teach the hammer for the strike call. Which is also your out mechanic. Thus, the one hand put to the side mechanic. This is what got Eddings in trouble. He throws the hammer and his hammer on strike 3 looked like he was calling the batter out. Confusion set in.

Personally, I call my strike out to the side (as my pic would indicate) so I signal safe for a no catch and verbalize "No catch" so everyone knows what I have.

The bottom line is make sure your signals are not confusing and you'll be fine.

[coachump4]

Guess I have been doing this wrong for 8 years but never had anyone question it.  I extend my right arm with 3 fingers out and never verbalize anything.

[JaxRolo]

The one arm mechanic would be a right arm out to the side with a point? Almost like a pointing strike call? Thanks.

 

Yes because isn't a strike anyway? even on a dropped third strike! It is still a strike.

[grayhawk]

Remember...pro schools teach the hammer for the strike call. Which is also your out mechanic. Thus, the one hand put to the side mechanic. This is what got Eddings in trouble. He throws the hammer and his hammer on strike 3 looked like he was calling the batter out. Confusion set in.

Personally, I call my strike out to the side (as my pic would indicate) so I signal safe for a no catch and verbalize "No catch" so everyone knows what I have.

The bottom line is make sure your signals are not confusing and you'll be fine.

 

I prefer this mechanic as well.  Interesting that in our association's 2-man clinic this past weekend, the lead instructor told the entire group that no verbal is what they want us to do.  I'm okay with it, but don't agree if anyone says it's coaching (which I have heard many times).  On a close one (may have hit the dirt, may not have), saying "no catch" gives information equally to both the batter and the catcher at the same time.  It's not coaching, it's making your ruling known.

[maven]

I prefer this mechanic as well.  Interesting that in our association's 2-man clinic this past weekend, the lead instructor told the entire group that no verbal is what they want us to do.  I'm okay with it, but don't agree if anyone says it's coaching (which I have heard many times).  On a close one (may have hit the dirt, may not have), saying "no catch" gives information equally to both the batter and the catcher at the same time.  It's not coaching, it's making your ruling known.

Agree: I would add only that it's making your ruling known to the only 2 people on the whole freakin' field who cannot see what you're signaling!

 

I guess I would need a better rationale for not verbalizing than, "that's what they want us to do."