Skip to main content

12 replies

Checked swing appeals, an AZ Fall League experiment

justbaseballjustbaseball10,000+ posts
I'm down in Phoenix watching some Arizona Fall League games. Interesting stuff...for a lot of reasons.

Anyways, umpires are running 4-man crews. I assume that like many of the players, these are umpires who are getting fairly close to the big leagues.

Anyways, I heard one of them make a comment that they are running an experiment. Appealed check swings are being appealed to the umpire at the batter's back (1st or 3rd base). Opposite of what we're used too.

I've seen it done twice now in two games. I think they got it right both times...but the hitting team clearly disagreed with the first call. This is where I heard the crew chief(?) warn the bench to take it easy as they were experimenting.

Any thoughts as to why they would be checking this out? Why the experiment? Comments from umpires would be interesting.
Last edited {1}
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Jimmy03Jimmy031,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by justbaseball:
I'm down in Phoenix watching some Arizona Fall League games. Interesting stuff...for a lot of reasons.

Anyways, umpires are running 4-man crews. I assume that like many of the players, these are umpires who are getting fairly close to the big leagues.

Anyways, I heard one of them make a comment that they are running an experiment. Appealed check swings are being appealed to the umpire at the batter's back (1st or 3rd base). Opposite of what we're used too.

I've seen it done twice now in two games. I think they got it right both times...but the hitting team clearly disagreed with the first call. This is where I heard the crew chief(?) warn the bench to take it easy as they were experimenting.

Any thoughts as to why they would be checking this out? Why the experiment? Comments from umpires would be interesting.


Just spoke with a AAA call up umpire. He hadn't heard anything about it and thought it sounded ridiculous.

AZ fall league is used by MLB to select AAA umpires to compete for call up positions in Major League Spring Training. There should be six to eight openings for call ups. (3 AAA umpires are getting moved up to the majors and rumors are that 3 t0 5 others are being released)

Experiments aren't usually conducted in Fall league. Normally experiments begin in Instructs and low A.
Last edited by Jimmy03
D dash_riprock1,000+ posts
Jimmy can correct me if I have it wrong, but for 3-man crews, I believe PBUC wants check swing appeals going to the wing umpire (the umpire on the line) regardless of the "handedness" of the batter.

It makes sense to me. I have rung up strikes on lefties from the A. You can easily see a swing from there - better than you can from the infield.
D dash_riprock1,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Emanski's Heroes:
For two man crews, with no one on base (umpire on 1st baseline- this may be what dash calls A), can't the plate ump appeal a lefty's check swing to the base ump? Or is it HP ump's call to make?

He can always appeal (and should, if asked to do so). Only FED gives the PU the option of denying any request for a check swing appeal. I don't know why anyone would refuse. At worst, you get a strike out of it and it's your partner's fault.
Jimmy03Jimmy031,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by justbaseball:
quote:
Just spoke with a AAA call up umpire. He hadn't heard anything about it and thought it sounded ridiculous.


Does that mean its only one crew running the experiment?

Not sure if I saw the same crew in the 2 games or not? But this 'experiment' was clearly being used in both games.

Interesting.


He wouldn't know. Since he's already a call-up he's not there. AZ Fall is staffed by those trying to get a number and become call ups.

He just gave his opinion that going back side in 4 man is, in his words, "ridiculous."

As Dash has stated, some crews will appeal to the umpire on the rail regardless of handedness of the batter rather than appealing to the umpire on the grass. In fact, this is standard in pro threeman. (AA and AAA)

But going backside in 4 man doesn't seem to have an upside at first glance.

That, and like I said, most experiments are tried out at Low A, not AAA. Recent examples would be keeping batters in the box between pitches and resticting the number of players that can congregate on near the mound during a "trip

It's a confusing report.
Last edited by Jimmy03
Jimmy03Jimmy031,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by yawetag:
quote:
Originally posted by Jimmy03:
That, and like I said, most experiments are tried out at Low A, not AAA.

Yes, but Low A doesn't use 4-man crews, do they?


This doesn't need a four man crew.

Low A "Instructs" often use three man and try out new mechanics and rules.

So far I have not found anyone who was at AZ Fall who knows of an experiment to go "closed side". It would appear it was a "crew thing."
yawetagyawetag100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by Jimmy03:
This doesn't need a four man crew.

Low A "Instructs" often use three man and try out new mechanics and rules.

So far I have not found anyone who was at AZ Fall who knows of an experiment to go "closed side". It would appear it was a "crew thing."

But it does require 4-man crews. It's already been mentioned that 3-man has tried always going to umpire on the line, regardless of the batter's side.

To try out going "opposite", you would have to try it on a 4-man crew. The only way to do that is in MLB or off-season lower levels that use 4-man crews.
Jimmy03Jimmy031,000+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by yawetag:
quote:
Originally posted by Jimmy03:
This doesn't need a four man crew.

Low A "Instructs" often use three man and try out new mechanics and rules.

So far I have not found anyone who was at AZ Fall who knows of an experiment to go "closed side". It would appear it was a "crew thing."

But it does require 4-man crews. It's already been mentioned that 3-man has tried always going to umpire on the line, regardless of the batter's side.

To try out going "opposite", you would have to try it on a 4-man crew. The only way to do that is in MLB or off-season lower levels that use 4-man crews.


Depends on the criteria of the experiment. If the criteria is accuracy and comfort with the call, it can be done with threeman.

Moot point. As far as those at MLB are aware, there was no experiment.

Add Reply

Post
.

Membership Required

We're sorry. You must be signed in to continue. Sign In or Register
×
Are you sure you want to remove from your Block List?
×
Loading...
×
When you block a person, they can no longer invite you to a private message or post to your profile wall. Replies and comments they make will be collapsed/hidden by default. Finally, you'll never receive email notifications about content they create or likes they designate for your content.
Note: if you proceed, you will no longer be following .
×
Advanced Search
Advanced Search
Link copied to your clipboard.
×