When Calling the Plate - Announcing Balls?

[stkjock]

Curious about an inconsistent thing I noticed yesterday at a MS game and today watching a SEC playoff game from this past weekend.

 

If you're at the dish, do you let the defensive team know where a pitch missed?  In my experience yesterday, PU would frequently, but not always, indicate with his right hand, if the pitch was up or outside, in the Tx A&M vs Florida game, you could hear PU saying things like "no that's inside" or "that's outside" etc.

Is this just a umpire preference as to whether or not to verbalize the call?

 

TIA for the wisdom. 

[umpstu]

3 minutes ago, noumpere said:

It's louder than the obvious ball call.  It's not as loud as the obvious strike call.  It's also just a tad quicker than normal.  All convey the certainty without appearing to over sell it.  It's all an art, and some paint differently than others.

I feel you shouldn't change your tone and volume on anything other than a punch out.  A ball is a ball is a ball.

[noumpere]

11 minutes ago, umpstu said:

I feel you shouldn't change your tone and volume on anything other than a punch out.  A ball is a ball is a ball.

That can work.  Just like some umpires can (and should) use a casual out call on all plays ("yawn, yes he was out by at least a 1/4".  out") while others need to sell it.  And, for all umpires, the need / decision to do either can vary based on experience  and level and change over time.

[Stk004]

13 minutes ago, noumpere said:

That can work.  Just like some umpires can (and should) use a casual out call on all plays ("yawn, yes he was out by at least a 1/4".  out") while others need to sell it.  And, for all umpires, the need / decision to do either can vary based on experience  and level and change over time.

While I agree that the perception of a "close play" changes over time, I feel like a casual out call on a banger makes you look uncertain. 

[umpstu]

23 minutes ago, noumpere said:

That can work.  Just like some umpires can (and should) use a casual out call on all plays ("yawn, yes he was out by at least a 1/4".  out") while others need to sell it.  And, for all umpires, the need / decision to do either can vary based on experience  and level and change over time.

I don't agree on the close call anology.  I do like having the civil discussion, even though you are wrong. lol  That's the great thing about baseball.

 

[conbo61]

2 hours ago, umpstu said:

Let the catcher know what to tell the coach.

Last night I called ball on a pitch that was clearly outside. The benches were pretty far from the plate, so the DTHC asked where the pitch was.  I told him and the next thing I hear was him telling his F2, "Well don't agree with him!" Kid must have been nodding as I was speaking to his coach.

F2 just shook his head.

[umpstu]

29 minutes ago, conbo61 said:

Last night I called ball on a pitch that was clearly outside. The benches were pretty far from the plate, so the DTHC asked where the pitch was.  I told him and the next thing I hear was him telling his F2, "Well don't agree with him!" Kid must have been nodding as I was speaking to his coach.

F2 just shook his head.

Nice to get a catcher who attempts to keep the coach out of umpiring.

[noumpere]

3 hours ago, Stk004 said:

While I agree that the perception of a "close play" changes over time, I feel like a casual out call on a banger makes you look uncertain. 

Once can be casual and confident -- if s/he uses crisp mechanics.  It's the sloppy /lackadaisical / questioning body language that makes one appear uncertain.

 

And, it's why we teach younger (newer) umpires to sell the close plays.

[Stk004]

52 minutes ago, noumpere said:

Once can be casual and confident -- if s/he uses crisp mechanics.  It's the sloppy /lackadaisical / questioning body language that makes one appear uncertain.

 

And, it's why we teach younger (newer) umpires to sell the close plays.

I feel like you can make the same standard hammer motion on close plays if you want, but they're typically crisper and louder vocalization. 

[MidAmUmp]

6 hours ago, udbrky said:

Where did @MidAmUmp share this?

I'm assuming he's referring to one of the numerous debates we've had about giving pitch location and I posted a video of me balling a close pitch and turning my head to the 3rd base dugout to tell them the pitch was either in or out (I can't remember right now) to show exactly what I meant by giving location. I'm sure it's still on here somewhere. 

[udbrky]

4 hours ago, MidAmUmp said:

I'm assuming he's referring to one of the numerous debates we've had about giving pitch location and I posted a video of me balling a close pitch and turning my head to the 3rd base dugout to tell them the pitch was either in or out (I can't remember right now) to show exactly what I meant by giving location. I'm sure it's still on here somewhere. 

Thanks. Figured it would be a good example. Maybe I'll check into it sometime

[stkjock]

Frankly I'm surprised at the activity this thread got.   I did learn a few things, so thanks, particularly, "smitty", was a interesting new word to learn. 

[taa71458]

I like to verbalize where a ball missed just enough for the batter and catcher to hear. It helps the catcher coach his pitcher where to get the ball and he can answer his coach if he has a question. 

[Larry in TN]

On 6/1/2016 at 1:35 PM, kylehutson said:

Why not use the hand? I find myself indicating if a ball was inside or outside maybe 3-4 times/game. I've always used my hand to indicate that and this is the first time I'm seeing that it's considered "unprofessional" - so why is that?

Because it looks like a (poor) strike mechanic.  

Drives me nuts at the local LL when I'm scoring a game and the umpire is moving his right hand around on ball calls.  How am I supposed to know if he's calling a ball or a strike?  All I'm left with is with their verbal which often isn't consistent or easily heard from my position.

Okay, I feel better now...

[udbrky]

Had a 13-15 F2 yesterday that was awesome. 

 

Me: ball.

 

Him: Come on, bring it [up] [down] [in] [out] and even on close pitches, he was spot on.

 

Worked with a guy who called a strike quietly, head down, low to the ground point. I sometimes struggled seeing him call it behind F2. If he was pointing low/away, I'd think he called K.

[stkjock]

I noticed Greg Gibson on the plate last night in the Mets-Marlins game giving the location the majority of the time. 

[MadMax]

A-HA! I found it!

... although, Jason ( @MidAmUmp ), you might have to re-post it or link to it... The file might not have made it through the site-move Warren did last year.

[udbrky]

Thanks, that was helpful.