Signalling the count

[Dominic]

Get an indicator with balls on top and then give the count when the count means something. when you reach 2 strikes or 3 balls or you have a runner steal give the count balls first strikes next.

[Mr Umpire]

Get an indicator with balls on top and then give the count when the count means something. when you reach 2 strikes or 3 balls or you have a runner steal give the count balls first strikes next.

Kind of a "Do it my way or else" comment. Dictating how someone should do something this trivial is unnecessary to say the least.

If you feel comfortable with that, go ahead. I gave my description of how I do it. And, I do it from the second pitch to the end unless the count remains the same due to a foul ball after 2 strikes. Otherwise, everyone knows what the count is from the 2nd pitch on as long as they pay attention.

[noumpere]

Get an indicator with balls on top

Or, .... what?

I'll point out that there's a difference between saying the count for the batter and catcher's benefit (frequently, for me), and giving the count to others on the field (less frequently).

[POLOGREEN]

I use my index and middle fingers for 2. 3 balls, I use my middle ring and pinky and hold my indicator with my thumb and index fingers.

I will verbally give the count after every pitch to a batter. I will use the fist for 0. When I give the count I will give it towards my partner and both dugouts.

I give the count at chest level and against the back round of my shirt

[MCLEOD36]

I will do it on odd counts, and that has helped me in the past to keep count. I will show it above my neckline and call it out, but only for granny in the first row, not the top deck. If asked by catcher or batter I will reply or sometimes, on evens I will say it so they hear it only.

[kylejt]

Yeah, no clanging empty fists for full count. And yes, I do only use one hand if there's not count on the other. I also use pinky, ring and middle for three balls.

But here's a trick that I saw years ago, that I employ now and again. If the scoreboard is slow, or wrong, I'll give the count more. The trouble is, the benches can't see your fingers, and if you have a good crowd they can't hear you. I'll give the count normally, then pull back my right hand a bit, and rotate both hands 90 degrees. (try it at your desk, right now). There, now the benches have the count. Painless, easy, it keeps down the questions, and even elicites a few thank you's. And it takes about one and a half seconds to do.

Edited May 21, 2009 by kylejt

[LMSANS]

Yeah, no clanging empty fists for full count. And yes, I do only use one hand if there's not count on the other. I also use pinky, ring and middle for three balls.

But here's a trick that I saw years ago, that I employ now and again. If the scoreboard is slow, or wrong, I'll give the count more. The trouble is, the benches can't see your fingers, and if you have a good crowd they can't hear you. I'll give the count normally, then pull back my right hand a bit, and rotate both hands 90 degrees. (try it at your desk, right now). There, now the benches have the count. Painless, easy, it keeps down the questions, and even elicites a few thank you's. And it takes about one and a half seconds to do.

:shrug:scoreboard? What's that?

[crazyaboutcoues]

This brings up a funny thing that happen to me this year. I was PU in a very intense HS Play-off rival game the score was 1-1 bottom of the 8th inning, the crowd was so loud you could barely hear my balls and strike calls, so I had to raise my voice when calling. One of the coaches asked "what the count, Blue?" I turned and yelled out " I GOT TWO BALLS" It seemed like just as I said that, the crowd quieted down so it rang out pretty loud. The fans that heard me started busting out "are you sure blue" "Prove it". It was pretty funny...

[nzblue9]

hmmm, guess i am doing it waay differently than most here, although none of my evaluators ever had a problem with it, as it is clear and concise:

if there is no balls, i dont say anything...so just: 2 strikes

if there is no strikes, dont say a word either....so just 3 balls

as far as indicating goes, now this should be funny :-)

1 ball or strike: index finger

2 balls or strikes: index and pinkie

3 balls: index pinkie and....wait for it...thumb

on top of it, when its either 3 balls or 2 strikes, i ll rotate my hand around....kinda hard to explain, but trust me, its VERY easy to see and understand

never had an issues in HS, or college ball, and even my evaluators had only good things to say about it

there are even a couple of special motions for certain counts:

1-1: index fingers on both hands, facing backwards, coming together and back out

any 2 balls count: index and pinkie on leht hand facing forwards and up, before tilting to the right

i suppose a lot of these are idiosyncrasies that I adopted over 15 years of umpiring and only have gotten praise for, so I never saw any reason to change it.....if anything, i guess, its a huge part of my personality

Last year one of the national coaches for the Australian U16 team approached me after the game when they lost to japan and said:" you know, I have never quite seen this way of indicating certain counts, but we all liked it...it concise and clear"......even though his pitchers liked it better when i did the chainsaw for a close called 3rd strike :bang:

[Mr Umpire]

2 balls or strikes: index and pinkie

3 balls: index pinkie and....wait for it...thumb

Rocker symbols. You must have been a headbanger. :fuel:

[nzblue9]

hahaha, yeah i am not sure how it all started....i suppose i felt comfy with it ever since i started, and since nobody ever had a problem with it, i never actually thought about it twice, til you guys brought it up :-)

[MCLEOD36]

Shoot, is NZ from New Zealand or Hawaii? Or did he just see the movie; Star Trek?

[nzblue9]

that would be new zealand, you muppet :-)

then again, i have only been here for 3 years...most of the time i have been umpiring in the US(short for united states, hehe)

[therefump]

that would be new zealand, you muppet :-)

then again, i have only been here for 3 years...most of the time i have been umpiring in the US(short for united states, hehe)

So what country does California (when read, say it the way Arnold says it) belong?:givebeer: