Metropolitan Baseball Umpires Association Proudly Serving the Best Interest of Baseball Since 1920

Last Updated: Monday, January 9, 2006 10:58 AM

Printed by permission of the Author. See this article in the Winter 2003 issue of NASO Official's Quarterly.

"Your head will go where your feet go." Jim Evans, AL #3

Locked In - The Plate Mechanic Myth

Attend a mechanics clinic at the High School level and the instructors will be umpires who have found some degree of success at a higher level of ball, perhaps even retired Major Leaguers. These seasoned instructors are more than happy to show their current mechanics and their present version of basic mechanics to willing novice and newbie umpires, apprentice students, and dedicated clinic attendees. Good instruction is a premium commodity.

One of the first mechanics taught is the plate mechanic. First, where the umpire's position is located relative to the players. Second, how to place the umpire's body and head to see the pitch. Third, how to see the pitch from pitcher's hand to catcher's glove. Fourth, how to make the strike/ball announcement. Let's go through these four items and find the truth while exposing the myths taught.

First, just where is an umpire supposed to stand relative to the catcher and batter? The common idea is that the umpire is to find the slot, that space between the plate and the batter, and get into the middle of that slot. That's not entirely accurate. The truth is that the umpire needs to center his head on the inside edge of the plate.

That sounds simple enough, until the slot disappears that is. For that situation the student is counseled to move up and back. That's not entirely accurate advice either. Up and back work if you are tall enough, but what if you are not so blessed? The truth is that an umpire has two choices at this point. He might ask the catcher to move. But that is a difficult request if the catcher is a "one position" catcher and has not learned to assume one position behind the plate and use his glove to properly frame the catch with his glove. Or, the umpire might ask the batter to move his feet further from the plate to a legal position. That might work, too. The truth is, the umpire has one more choice. He is also able to move to the catcher's opposite shoulder. That is a more exposed position, but the view is also wide open. [see reference to NCAA article in final paragraphs of this article]

At this point, some experienced umpires choose a stance which positions their feet more than two feet behind the catcher. The reason cited is "why not start there if you are going to end up there." This is a mythical assumption. Young umpires need to learn to adjust to situations rather than become rigid in their chosen mechanics.

Moving out of the slot to the other side of the plate is a creative, controversial and new idea. It is not a popular thought presently. However, for the time being, it is a viable option that can be used. If the coach does not appreciate the calls the umpire offers from the other side of the catcher, the coach can always tell the catcher move to open the slot again for the umpire.

Moving out of the slot to the other side is also opposed allegedly because the umpire is changing his view of the plate. This idea will be further explored below in point number three. For now, it is sufficient to say that just as players must adapt to umpires, so also umpires must adapt. If you are unable to adapt and learn, how do you expect to perform and produce?

Second, the essential of head position is explained to the novice umpire. Always attempt to view the strike zone from the same position is the instructor's mantra. However, this ignores the innumerable variations of batter and catcher sizes in the High School and lower levels of the game. It's a myth that the umpire can assume one position which will allow him to view all situations with a consistent, uniform, stance. At the more advanced levels, NCAA and Pro, the slot disappears with far less frequency than in High School ball.

Your head always goes where your feet lead it. The Heel-Toe-Heel-Toe method of body placement forces the umpire to begin body placement at the catcher's heel. This method is taught at only the best of the schools and clinics.

The myth of body placement teaches that the umpire steps into his stance from the rear of the box. It doesn't matter how far behind the catcher you stand, according to the "locked in" methodology. Just make sure you can see the pitch, even if you cannot see the entire plate. If the catcher moves, with this mythical method, the umpire is suddenly out of position. At the last second, the umpire must adapt his starting point to the catcher's stance. Late movement is exactly what an umpire does not want. [see the NCAA reference in the final paragraphs of this article]

At this point, and only at this point, does it make sense to decide which stance is most comfortable for the individual umpire, whether the box, the scissors, or the knee. Each stance begins in the same way, at the catcher's feet, not at some point in the rear of the catcher's box. The umpire steps into his stance. He does not step up or forward into his stance. The step-up method will leave the umpire standing so far from the plate he cannot see it at all.

And the next question is what is to be done with the umpire's arms. The locked in method, especially in the scissors stance, has the arms extended in front of the umpire with palms resting on the front knee closest to the catcher. The arms are rigidly, stiffly "locked" into this position so that the same stance is imitated for every pitch and situation. This is not the same type of "Locked In" to which Jon Bible refers. [see final paragraphs of this article] That this "locking" is preferred defies the laws of physics which state that when a flying object hits a stationary object something might break. Conversely, when a flying object hits a more relaxed and flexible object, less damage is done. The conclusion is plain, "locking" in this fashion will get you hurt, if not break your arm.

The solution is easy. Use the heel-toe method in the scissors stance. With a right handed batter, the umpire's left foot toe is placed in the close vicinity of the catcher's left heel. When the pitcher comes set, the umpire simply drops his head in a crisp fashion to a position above his left knee, extending his right leg straight out behind him. This is a far more stable stance than the "locked" in stance that starts far behind the catcher. Further, in this non-mythical stance, the umpire places his left arm across and close to his exposed belly while his right arm can be placed at his right side protected by the catcher's body.

In this stance, the head, 16 to 18 pounds, is placed over the neck rather than being stuck out in front of the body. Mask shots are more easily absorbed. And, the back has less strain place upon it. This is by far a stance which allows the umpire to balance himself, getting ready for the inevitable move of clearing the catcher.

If you are overly belly gifted and prefer the "locked" position, mounting your stance from the rear rather than from the catcher, you should consider loosing some weight, or maybe even a lot of weight, getting rid of that non-athletic belly. Or, use the more basic box stance.

Third, the Proper Use Of Eyes method proves more effective than the other methods of "eye-catching" or "tunnel-vision" or pausing a second before announcing the strike/ball. An umpire with a stable, still head, placed just above the catcher's head, in a position to see the outside edge of the plate, must use only eye movement to track the pitched ball from source to destination. Any head movement skews the judgment. Moving to the catcher's opposite shoulder, when the slot disappears, does not change the umpire's view of the zone because he is not concentrating on the zone. He's not looking at an imaginary box through which the pitch must pass in order for him to properly yell "strike." Instead, with Proper Use Of Eyes, an umpire will watch the entire flight of the ball instead of just when it gets to the plate area or the catcher's glove.

Furthermore, with the Proper Use Of Eyes method, the umpire's timing will be automatic. He will be forced to take time to see the ball in the glove. He will be forced to assimilate all information available. Then he will be able to make a most accurate decision or call, first mental and then verbal.

Fourth, and finally, the discussion automatically progresses to how an accurate strike/ball decision is made. With Proper Use Of Eyes methods, an umpire has time to decide what exactly happened on the pitch. That's the key. Give yourself time to decide. Simply teaching the novice umpire to go more slowly tells him nothing, because he wants to know HOW to go more slowly. What is the methodology? Not rushing tells him little. HOW does he not rush? The answer is straight forward.

Once the umpire realizes that making a strike/ball call has two parts, he's on the way to better timing. The first part of the call is mental. When he gives himself time to first see what just happened and then gives himself time to decide mentally what just happened, by the time he gets around to announcing that decision he's got good timing. He won't rush the announcement, because he's more relaxed. He's more in control of the situation. He's not surprised and confused. Those are the umpires worse enemies, by the way.

In the newly published NCAA Baseball Instructions To Umpires, January 28, 2004, page 16, Jon Bible uses the term "Locked In" position to explain that the umpire "does not drift side to side or up and down with pitch. Does not flinch on swings or foul tips; Feet remain stable throughout, providing solid base; Maintains proper spacing from catcher so as not to become entangled if catcher moves quickly and unexpectedly; Eyes remain at horizontal with ground and do not dip as game wears on; Head at proper height to allow unobstructed view of entire plate. Works in the "slot", not over the top of the catcher or to the outside."

The use of the term "Locked In" in this most helpful directive is most unfortunate. The definition provided in the paragraph do not conflict with any statement in this article. The unfortunate and generalized directive "Works in the slot, not over the top of the catcher or to the outside," is best applied at the NCAA level. At the High School level play is not as refined as at the NCAA or JUCO level. An umpire must adapt to the High School situations far more often than an NCAA umpire to his game.

As with every plate mechanic taught, there are going to be myths and brevity of understanding. We are not perfect in all situations nor in all mechanics taught. If you've got feet of clay and don't know it or won't admit it, you are headed for a fall. If you are honest and open and circumspect, you will be able to deal with clay feet and learn how to stand tall and strong in every baseball situation. You won't get surprised! You will adapt and succeed!

The learning umpire has a choice. He may either begin with the basics and advance, or, he may begin with the advanced ideas and forget the basics. Then, when things go wrong, he will have no basic reference to fall back on or to quickly recall in the middle of a game. He will be ham-strung, paralyzed. Good luck!