"Yes He Did" mechanic

[zoops]

Had a situation come up a few days ago, batter checks his swing, I point at it with my left hand and say "Yes he did" and give my hammer for strike three.  Just as I give my signal, I see my BU giving a safe signal.  He thought I pointed at him for an appeal.  Just wondering about input here.  Seems most I see point with the left hand but should I get in the habit of pointing with the right?  

[grayhawk]

2 minutes ago, zoops said:

Had a situation come up a few days ago, batter checks his swing, I point at it with my left hand and say "Yes he did" and give my hammer for strike three.  Just as I give my signal, I see my BU giving a safe signal.  He thought I pointed at him for an appeal.  Just wondering about input here.  Seems most I see point with the left hand but should I get in the habit of pointing with the right?  

The proper mechanic is to point with your left hand for RH batters and your right hand with LH batters. In other words, you point with your hand that is the side the batter is on.

[jimurrayalterego]

1 minute ago, grayhawk said:

The proper mechanic is to point with your left hand for RH batters and your right hand with LH batters. In other words, you point with your hand that is the side the batter is on.

Known as the "slot arm".

[zoops]

Cool, have not heard that before.  Thank you

[Velho]

1 hour ago, zoops said:

He thought I pointed at him for an appeal. 

Mechanic is your BU needs to slow down.

If you're going for help you'd step out opposite the batter, point at BU with left hand (I like palm up personally), and ask what him/[his name] if he went.*

* Or "What do you have?" in 2025+ LL 

[SeeingEyeDog]

I am a strike pointer. In pre-game, I show my partner what my strike call looks like and then I show them what my check swing appeal mechanic looks like...left palm up with fingers extended and the verbal, "{Insert partner's name}, did he go?" and if it's a FED game, I remind them that all check swing appeals must be made through the plate umpire who will then send the appeal to the correct umpire. I also discuss check swing on a U3K which for me is...plate is NOT waiting for the appeal. If you are truly uncertain, send the appeal IMMEDIATELY to your partner without waiting for the appeal. Then, if needed, administer the U3K.

Interestingly, I saw two unusual check swing appeal mechanics that I am considering making one of them my new mechanic...

1) Instead of left palm up with fingers extended, plate gives BOTH palms up with fingers extended.

2) Left palm up with fingers extended and then you make a fist with your right hand and oscillate that fist over the open palm (simulating the swing of a bat).

Thoughts on these, brothers?

~Dawg

[grayhawk]

3 minutes ago, SeeingEyeDog said:

1) Instead of left palm up with fingers extended, plate gives BOTH palms up with fingers extended.

2) Left palm up with fingers extended and then you make a fist with your right hand and oscillate that fist over the open palm (simulating the swing of a bat).

#1 is my check swing appeal mechanic. It is unmistakeable for my partner and very natural for me.

#2 I'm happy to report that I have never seen it. Never want to.

[Velho]

1 hour ago, SeeingEyeDog said:

2) Left palm up with fingers extended and then you make a fist with your right hand and oscillate that fist over the open palm (simulating the swing of a bat).

As in "double, double toil and trouble, fire burn, and caldron bubble"?*

Or "stirring the sauce"?

I gotta say Dawg:  I'm guessing it looks better than it sounds. LOL

* (that one is for @The Man in Blue)

[BigBlue4u]

3 hours ago, grayhawk said:

The proper mechanic is to point with your left hand for RH batters and your right hand with LH batters. In other words, you point with your hand that is the side the batter is on.

grayhawk, where did you get this information? #1 I've been umpiring for a long time and I've never heard of this before and #2, I would NEVER point to my partner for help on a half-swing with my right hand. Do it with your right hand, and sooner or later, it will be interpreted by your partner as a strike call, not a request for help. As pointed out earlier, if you want help on a half-swing, step to the side, and point to your partner with your left hand.  And, if you are the base umpire and the game is being televised, hold your signal for a few moments so TV can get a camera on you.  In your double-call situation, I would point to my chest, and loudly proclaim, "That's my call and it's a strike."  I might even repeat myself. Then give a strike signal.

[grayhawk]

1 minute ago, BigBlue4u said:

grayhawk, where did you get this information? #1 I've been umpiring for a long time and I've never heard of this before and #2, I would NEVER point to my partner for help on a half-swing with my right hand. Do it with your right hand, and sooner or later, it will be interpreted by your partner as a strike call, not a request for help. As pointed out earlier, if you want help on a half-swing, step to the side, and point to your partner with your left hand.  And, if you are the base umpire and the game is being televised, hold your signal for a few moments so TV can get a camera on you.  In your double-call situation, I would point to my chest, and loudly proclaim, "That's my call and it's a strike."  I might even repeat myself. Then give a strike signal.

The OP was asking about the "Yes, he did" mechanic, not the check swing appeal mechanic. His partner misinterpreted his "yes, he did" mechanic with his check swing appeal mechanic. I could see a scenario where, with a LH batter, if you point to the batter with your left hand, your partner in A in the 2 umpire system could think you are asking him on the check swing. That's probably why the proper mechanic is to point to the LH batter with your right hand.

[jimurrayalterego]

39 minutes ago, BigBlue4u said:

grayhawk, where did you get this information? #1 I've been umpiring for a long time and I've never heard of this before and #2, I would NEVER point to my partner for help on a half-swing with my right hand. Do it with your right hand, and sooner or later, it will be interpreted by your partner as a strike call, not a request for help. As pointed out earlier, if you want help on a half-swing, step to the side, and point to your partner with your left hand.  And, if you are the base umpire and the game is being televised, hold your signal for a few moments so TV can get a camera on you.  In your double-call situation, I would point to my chest, and loudly proclaim, "That's my call and it's a strike."  I might even repeat myself. Then give a strike signal.

Was this a failure to read the whole effin thread? I just did the same thing on another thread last night.

[jimurrayalterego]

2 hours ago, Velho said:

Mechanic is your BU needs to slow down.

If you're going for help you'd step out opposite the batter, point at BU with left hand (I like palm up personally), and ask what him/[his name] if he went.*

* Or "What do you have?" in 2025+ LL 

Why not right palm up like Joe West did? Never confused his crew.🙂

[MadMax]

Establish the habit in/for 3- & 4-man, and you’ll unconsciously repeat it in 2-man. 

To wit, always “send” (and I’ll use the term “sending” forthwith) check swing appeals with your left – not strike – hand. Remember, not only are your partners (possibly) looking to your signals, but so are the participants (coaches and players), and (likely) a scorekeeper. In 3- & 4- man, you are never sending “thru” a batter; instead, there is always a direct line-of-sight to a BU, unobstructed by a Batter. That’s the one you’re sending your appeal to… so do it with your left hand.
It’s also beneficial to your habits to make that send with your hand – whether you do palm up, or slanted, is no matter – but don’t point. Pointing, as you’ll see, is for strikes. 

As @grayhawk mentioned, the “grabbing strikes” mechanic can be performed by either hand; optimally, it should be performed by the arm-and-hand opposite the Batter’s side. And, point. Right. At. Him. Be (contextually*) big. Project. Declare “Yes he did!” 
One of my colleagues had a term he used – “skewering”. Point at him, and imagine jabbing it into him, then as he twists about and leaves the box, keep it “jabbed at him”. Then compose yourself, and give a/your simple swung-strike mechanic (my called strike and swung strike < 2 strikes are the same). 

If you “grab the swung-strike” with a point of your right hand, and it’s strike 3, then it’s an easy segue to C3K → Out mechanic (or however you gussey it up alá Guccione or Tumpane) or the point to the side if U3K. 

The only time you have to be conscious of what you’re doing, then, is check-swing sending in 2-man. You might have to go thru a (LH) Batter. In that case, I still stick with the left arm, but depending on and aware of where the catcher caught it, I’ll either step to my left and send it, or step to my right behind the Batter and send it. 

Left arm every time. 

Edited May 8, 2025 by MadMax
I was in error in my advice

[jimurrayalterego]

10 minutes ago, MadMax said:

 

As @grayhawk mentioned, the “grabbing strikes” mechanic can be performed by either hand; optimally, it should be performed by the arm-and-hand opposite the Batter’s side. And, point. Right. At. Him. Be (contextually*) big. Project. Declare “Yes he did!” 

Am I reading this wrong? Every clinic I have attended taught the slot arm for "yes he did".

[Replacematt]

1 hour ago, jimurrayalterego said:

Am I reading this wrong? Every clinic I have attended taught the slot arm for "yes he did".

Same here. Going across our body looks like dookie.

[Replacematt]

4 hours ago, SeeingEyeDog said:

1) Instead of left palm up with fingers extended, plate gives BOTH palms up with fingers extended.

I'm not a fan, as it looks too much like a shrug, or the salute we used in military intelligence.

4 hours ago, SeeingEyeDog said:

2) Left palm up with fingers extended and then you make a fist with your right hand and oscillate that fist over the open palm (simulating the swing of a bat).

This sounds like it's simulating something...I've never heard it called a swing of a bat. Plenty of other things, though.

[jimurrayalterego]

1 hour ago, Replacematt said:

I'm not a fan, as it looks too much like a shrug, or the salute we used in military intelligence.

This sounds like it's simulating something...I've never heard it called a swing of a bat. Plenty of other things, though.

Moderator, do you see what he said? Is that allowed?

[JonnyCat]

12 minutes ago, jimurrayalterego said:

Moderator, do you see what he said? Is that allowed?

[The Man in Blue]

I'm with @Replacematt, that #1 sounds like

 

 

 

Over the weekend I worked with a guy who kept pointing to first base on walks.  I really, REALLY wanted to start giving check swing opinions every time.

When I am on the bases, if you don't give me a verbal "Did he go?!", I don't give you anything.  (Unless it is super obvious that the appeal is what is happening, then I will consider it.)  I believe I posted a story about an annoying assignor/God Umpire of Dune accusing me of staring at my (notched All Star) indicator, because he was asking for an appeal from behind a batter and catcher who were both 6 inches taller than him, without him saying a word. 

Yeah, sure, I totally got what you weren't saying as I was staring at an indicator I haven't physically  looked at in over two years. 

[concertman1971]

I am a "send the check swing" call to U1/U3 with 2 hands, palms up. I started using it a couple of seasons ago and just really like it. No room for confusion either. 

I was having the point the "yes he did" with the hand on the batter side last week with a partner. He is in the use the hand on the batter side camp, and I am a Stand up, big point with the left hand, verbal "YES", twirl that right hand in a circular motion, and the strike point. I cant bring myself to point with the right hand, then point again for the strike call.

It may have to do with the fact I am 6' 5" and am not hiding behind many F2s. When I stand up and point at the batter, its easily seen.

Can anyone confirm where the "point with the hand on the batter side" mechanic came from?

[Replacematt]

12 minutes ago, concertman1971 said:

Can anyone confirm where the "point with the hand on the batter side" mechanic came from?

It's taught at Wendy (and explicitly that we are only to use the relevant hand,) that I can say.

[jimurrayalterego]

1 hour ago, concertman1971 said:

I am a "send the check swing" call to U1/U3 with 2 hands, palms up. I started using it a couple of seasons ago and just really like it. No room for confusion either. 

I was having the point the "yes he did" with the hand on the batter side last week with a partner. He is in the use the hand on the batter side camp, and I am a Stand up, big point with the left hand, verbal "YES", twirl that right hand in a circular motion, and the strike point. I cant bring myself to point with the right hand, then point again for the strike call.

It may have to do with the fact I am 6' 5" and am not hiding behind many F2s. When I stand up and point at the batter, its easily seen.

Can anyone confirm where the "point with the hand on the batter side" mechanic came from?

I learnt it at a 2006 Desert Classic.

[grayhawk]

6 hours ago, concertman1971 said:

I am a "send the check swing" call to U1/U3 with 2 hands, palms up. I started using it a couple of seasons ago and just really like it. No room for confusion either. 

I knew there was something I liked about you. Like the Crane technique, "If do right, no can defense."

6 hours ago, concertman1971 said:

Can anyone confirm where the "point with the hand on the batter side" mechanic came from?

I learned it at a Wendlestedt weekend clinic back in around 2015.

[JonnyCat]

15 hours ago, grayhawk said:

I learned it at a Wendlestedt weekend clinic back in around 2015.

I remember that clinic, it was towards the end of 2014, up in the L.A. area around Glendale IIRC.

Funny side note about that clinic. I went there with 2 friends of mine Bill and Chris, and Bill them ended up winning a clinic prize of tickets to a game that Hunter would be umpiring at. After he and I got back from pro school in 2015, Bill set up a game at Dodger stadium early in the season to see Hunter. Dodger stadium was the closest he was going to be, so it worked out perfect. I believe Hunter himself was communicating with Bill, and arranged the whole thing.

So the day of the game, Bill, Chris, and I head up to Dodger stadium, arrive at will call, and no tickets. Guy at will call tries to call down to the umpire room to see if we were legit. No one answers, even after repeated attempts. Luckily Bill had some e-mail correspondence on his phone verifying the story. Will call guy comps us our tickets fortunately, and we see the game.

Never heard from Hunter, didn't meet him after the game, not a word.

Oh well, at least we got a Dodger dog and a $15.00 beer. It was still a fun experience.

[MadMax]

On 5/5/2025 at 7:13 PM, MadMax said:

the “grabbing strikes” mechanic can be performed by either hand; optimally, it should be performed by the arm-and-hand opposite the Batter’s side.

I completely 🤬 this all up. Mea culpa. I was corrected by several of my colleagues and fellow alums of school. 

Sorry guys.