PU Balls and Strikes

[dumbdumb]

On 6/23/2024 at 11:24 PM, JonnyCat said:

Exactly! Thank you! I could care less if you carry one or not. How's your game? That's what is important.

And where did this notion come from that the world is going to end, or you're a SH*# umpire if you happen to glance at your indicator once in a while? Why is there a stigma around that?

Who the F*#K cares if you occasionally glance at you indicator at appropriate times? What F*#King possible difference could it make catching an occasional glance? It's no different than glancing at the scoreboard once in a while. And yes, we all do it. And yes my indicator is notched, been doing that for years.

I don't know why we sometimes focus on abject stupidity, like don't ever look at your indicator, you must wear your stupid association patch, you must wear the EXACT same shirt, color of ball bags, blah, blah, blah! Nobody F*#King cares and it's not helping recruiting and retaining umpires.

that quick glance is all the time needed to miss an obvious quik stop/start balk that everyone would call at all levels, or the old hidden ball trick if you carry one on the bases.

the glance at the indicator can have ramifications, and at the exact right time, huge ramifications.

[JonnyCat]

2 hours ago, dumbdumb said:

the glance at the indicator can have ramifications, and at the exact right time, huge ramifications.

"Who the F*#K cares if you occasionally glance at you indicator at appropriate times?"

I agree with you, however, maybe you missed that part of my OP. Obviously I agreed with Kevin about some umpires with their nose buried in their indicators most of the game, but an occasional quick glance at the right times is no issue for me.

Besides, any distraction could cause an umpire to miss something on the field, it could be anything other than looking at your indicator, maybe someone trying to get your attention, etc. Many things could cause us to momentarily look away. The key is to have situational awareness at all times during a game.

[The Man in Blue]

21 hours ago, Velho said:

This thing is a beast. I don't think I'm going to be misplacing it like I do my old one. And I'll sure feel secure walking to my car in a sticky situation.

It seems like it at first.  When you are used to carrying a cheap plastic squirt gun, the real thing will feel real heavy.  You will get used to it and won't even notice it after awhile.

[The Man in Blue]

14 hours ago, dumbdumb said:

that quick glance is all the time needed to miss an obvious quik stop/start balk that everyone would call at all levels, or the old hidden ball trick if you carry one on the bases.

the glance at the indicator can have ramifications, and at the exact right time, huge ramifications.

For me, it is more about the appearance.  I know, it seems small and it seems ticky-tacky, but glancing at your indicator at any time (even when appropriate) gives the appearance of lack of focus, lack of caring, or uncertainty.  I am not saying it actually means those things, but it gives that appearance.

I work with some very seasoned and damn fine umpires, but I still cringe every time they look at their indicator to clear it or check the count.  In that moment, they look no different than the goober who showed up with a $5 Walmart polo (it was navy!), grey cargo pants, and old catcher's gear.  (I was just impressed he didn't use the cargo pants as an alternative to his ball bags.)

It is like showing up in a wrinkled, faded navy shirt worn with your black hat.  You might actually be the world's best umpire, but nobody will ever know it while you are staring at your hand.

Why the "traditional" cheap indicator is even a thing still is beyond me.

[Velho]

1 hour ago, The Man in Blue said:

(I was just impressed he didn't use the cargo pants as an alternative to his ball bags.)

[Umpire in Chief]

On 6/23/2024 at 4:03 PM, MadMax said:

It’s amazing what your mind can do when you take the proverbial training wheels off. 

I never said I don’t lose the count. All I’ve said is that I lose the count no more frequently (or less often) than a contemporary using an indicator. Oh sure! I’ve had those spooked moments, when I’ve been hoping-hoping-hoping that the Batter fouls this one off, or puts it in play… but for the most part, and especially on high-end (as in, needing more cognition) games, I usually sort it out. 

I have a really sharp memory, and can recall pitch sequences. What helps me, tremendously, is I create “timestamps”. Say I have a 1-1 count, and the next pitch comes in to make it 2-1. I will purposely announce and present the count “2… 1” with my fingers. I say it with a cadence for a reason… I’m actually taking a snapshot of it. I have specific timestamps: 

• 1-2
• 2-1
• 3-0
• 3-2 
• And, any time there is a change in status on the basepaths (steal or CS, balk, etc) or a return from a conference. 

Granted, fatigue does affect me from time to time, and there’s been a few times where I’ve been rescued by the home book or the GameChanger. These are marginal when you consider I do ≈ 150 plates per year. 

Warren ( @Umpire in Chief ), Kyle ( @kylehutson ) and I are examples of guys using the “fingertap” method as an alternative to a physical indicator. 

Wow memories. 

Being its been about 6 years since I called a game I can't remember my finger combinations well. But I will say I did this as a back up to having an indicator. A few times in my career I either lost or broke an indicator during the game and had to come up with something.

[BigBlue4u]

On 6/23/2024 at 12:00 PM, MadMax said:

I think we can all agree PU should carry an indicator but ideally never look at it. To that end, what are the ways folks do that?

What other tips & tricks you all got?

I can tell you what to do so you don't have to check your indicator after you clear it.  Notch the wheels at "O."  You can then feel the notches as you reset your indicator.

[The Man in Blue]

7 hours ago, BigBlue4u said:

I can tell you what to do so you don't have to check your indicator after you clear it.  Notch the wheels at "O."  You can then feel the notches as you reset your indicator.

 

Spend the money.  Get the All-Star.  It seems pricey, but you won't be replacing every year (or multiple times per year).

[834k3r]

3 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

Spend the money.  Get the All-Star.  It seems pricey, but you won't be replacing every year (or multiple times per year).

💯

I've had mine for 3 years and I spend 5 minutes in pre-season maintenance (dry lube the wheels) and that's it. I've dropped it more times than I can count or remember and it still works flawlessly.

[Biscuit]

I'm full of anecdotes lately! I actually HAVE broken an Allstar! Took a foul ball (I think, it's been a couple years so the details are foggy) to the hand. Indicator went flying, hand kinda hurt, and when I went to use it, one of the wheels just... Wouldn't turn. Turns out, the ball had hit the wheel and bent the metal bit inside back. Later, i opened it up, bent it back, and I'm still using it.

[834k3r]

On 7/27/2024 at 7:26 AM, Biscuit said:

I'm full of anecdotes lately! I actually HAVE broken an Allstar! Took a foul ball (I think, it's been a couple years so the details are foggy) to the hand. Indicator went flying, hand kinda hurt, and when I went to use it, one of the wheels just... Wouldn't turn. Turns out, the ball had hit the wheel and bent the metal bit inside back. Later, i opened it up, bent it back, and I'm still using it.

[Velho]

On 7/27/2024 at 7:26 AM, Biscuit said:

and when I went to use it, one of the wheels just... Wouldn't turn.

That was a sign you weren't calling enough strikes.

[Umpy]

On 6/26/2024 at 6:56 PM, The Man in Blue said:

Why the "traditional" cheap indicator is even a thing still is beyond me.

I need something cheap enough to give away to coaches who forget the count.

[The Man in Blue]

3 minutes ago, Umpy said:

I need something cheap enough to give away to coaches who forget the count.

OK, stupid door prizes is an acceptable answer.