Pro Mechanics (called strike)

[Codyw09]

I have been using the hammer mostly but fooling around with the point. Does anyone know what is being taught as far feet work with the point strike call?

[Forest Ump]

I have been using the hammer mostly but fooling around with the point. Does anyone know what is being taught as far feet work with the point strike call?

Cody...You just have to play around with this if you want to start doing it. Tell your partner that during the game you are going to try a few different things and ask him to give you feedback. I point all of my strikes. My feet are in a heel- toe (instep) position.I start with a step back of my right foot as I come up and point.

[mstaylor]

Everyone does it a little differently but you generally want to step as you point, it makes it stronger.

[bniu]

I always hammer called strikes, it looks more authoritative, and honestly, I'm just too lazy to step to the side to point , and I'm already used to hammering strikes from doing softball as well, and it keeps my eyes on the field.

For swinging strikes, I go ahead and point to the right for righty batters and to the left for lefty batters, in that case, the point is a pretty relaxed point. On swinging strike 3, I never point, I simply get out of my crouch and let the batter leave and hammer the out. On D3K, I go straight to the safe signal.

[Guest]

Both umpire schools and PBUC mandate the hammer.

I believe it is once you progress to AA that you can begin to point strikes.

Speaking from a pro perspective.

Dale Scott has one of the slickest strike calls (point) that I've seen - you may want to find some game tape of his and watch what he does. He worked the dish in Toronto (damn, didn't go!) Friday night.

On this note though, if you are ever being evaluated, make sure you know your evaluator's feelings on turning your head to the side to call the strike. Some guys have hard-ons for marking umpires down for doing that because they don't know what else to look for to mark a PU down. Others assume general competency and will only mark you down for that if you miss some sort of call around the plate IE batter INT

[kcfan102]

They made us to the hammer at pro school. The very last day they took off the "academy mechanics" and basically told us that each umpire can do whatever we want to. They just preached that, no matter what we do, keep the same basic principles in place.

1) Keep your head forward.

2) Make it loud and crisp.

There are some very good hammer mechanics as well as bad hammer mechanics. I personally don't use the point because I always felt awkward when I tried it. Who/what am I pointing at?

But like ump_24, Dale Scott (#5 on your scorecards, #1 in your hearts) has a very good point mechanic.

[Thunderheads]

Dale Scott has one of the slickest strike calls (point) that I've seen - you may want to find some game tape of his and watch what he does. He worked the dish in Toronto (damn, didn't go!) Friday night.

Oh no ... no ....

For me, IMHO, ... his strike call is way too "showy"..it's like a pirouette or some kind of little dance ...

Adrian Johnson, ...THAT is a nice point mechanic!:Cool2:

[SnareDrum]

I'm a pointer myself (I've tried the hammer, but couldn't quite get used to it), but I always find it interesting to watch old MLB footage and see how the strike call has slowly evolved over the decades. If it continues to evolve, I wonder what it will look like decades down the road.

I've heard that historically, there was no hand signal at all, but it was instituted in some obscure early league due to a deaf fielder as a courtesy and it just caught on. I think it was just a bit of a wave gesture.

[yawetag]

I've heard that historically, there was no hand signal at all, but it was instituted in some obscure early league due to a deaf fielder as a courtesy and it just caught on. I think it was just a bit of a wave gesture.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3CdgQA1nhE

[SnareDrum]

Thanks yawetag! Love that baseball history!!

[gdpmumin]

I went to an Augusta GreenJackets (Single A affiliate of the SF Giants) game Saturday night and really enjoyed watching the two-man system done well. Two things I noticed about the PU:

1) PU always had his thumb out, but it wasn't part of the signal. In other words, for signaling two outs to his partner, he used the index and middle fingers, but the thumb was also out. That would actually confuse me until I got used to working with that partner.

2) His strike call was a point to the right. He pivoted on both feet simultaneously to the right and made his strike call with the index finger pointing ahead. Again, the thumb was extended, so he was basically pointing a gun.

Aside from those two quirks (and the fact that both umpires appeared to be half my age--and I'm only 38), they really worked well together and I learned a lot from watching them.

And the game was good, too.

[mazzamouth]

Both umpire schools and PBUC mandate the hammer.

I believe it is once you progress to AA that you can begin to point strikes.

Actually when you get to High A you can point.

[TXUmp77]

Yeah that pivot on both balls of feet and point all at once is what alot of Minor guys are using. I have a friend in Florida state league that does it and most that i watch at those games do it. I have another friend in AA and he does that. And i like the thumb up like a gun thats what i use.

[mstaylor]

I point all strikes except a third strike swung at, then I hammer. My thumb is up for points, bith strike point and putting the ball in play. I learned a ton from a MiLB guy that when he pointed his little finger came out but partially curled.

[JaxRolo]

I work with a guy that must have a problem with his pinky . It always comes out

[SnareDrum]

I tried the thumb-up "gun" once instead of a regular point. By some strange coincidence, on the next strike it was right at someone in the dugout that had started chirping a little too much. Stranger still, the chirping stopped, so I put the gun away.

[carolinablue]

I used to do the vocal strike call followed by a point to the right. I went to a clinic and they made us do the simultaneous strike( vocal ) and hammer. I liked it so I worked on changing my mechanic and must say the first few games was an adventure but eventually I got it. I feel like my timing is better and much more consistent when using this mechanic.

[mtnump]

For you pointers, with a lefthanded batter do you point to the right behind him or across your body?

[SnareDrum]

For you pointers, with a lefthanded batter do you point to the right behind him or across your body?

I was taught to go across the body. But recently, I've been going only right with a higher arm above the batter.

[SnareDrum]

For you pointers, with a lefthanded batter do you point to the right behind him or across your body?

I was taught to go across the body and I usually do. But recently, I've been going only right with a higher arm above the batter. A little experimentation...

[mstaylor]

To the right period.

[mfd110]

I agree with Micheal, you always go to the right on the strike call!

[mazzamouth]

For you pointers, with a lefthanded batter do you point to the right behind him or across your body?

Your are suppose to go behind the body, the only reason big league guys do it, is because of TV.. that way the TV watchers can see the called strike...

[gatoremt]

I hate the hammer. I have never liked it. I always point and give my call at the sametime. Bring my heels together forming the angle of square.

[Thunderheads]

For you pointers, with a lefthanded batter do you point to the right behind him or across your body?

I was taught to go across the body and I usually do. But recently, I've been going only right with a higher arm above the batter. A little experimentation...

Roger, where were you taught this, ...pointing across the body on a leftie strike ?