Mound Visit Basics: Do It Like a Pro

This is one of the most missed mechanics at the high school level, and its a mechanic that umpires at the professional level never miss.
You won’t find it in your manual, you won’t find it in the rules, but this simple mechanic is a pro-school 101 and can make a big difference when tempers are ready to flare!
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[@DavidEmerling79]

This is very good advice. When I'm working the plate - in a contentious game - during a mound visit - I don't like it when my partner hangs around the mound and gets into conversations with the manager. Also, I have had partners (base umpires) who take it upon themselves to get involved with the mound visit by telling the pitcher how many warm-up pitches he gets and then, once the pitcher has completed his warm-ups, tells the pitcher something like, "You have runners on 1st and 3rd and there's no outs." In my opinion, that is *not* the umpires' responsibility. This is now part of my pregame with my partners. "Let me handle *everything* involved with mound visits."

[@crpmllc]

Another outstanding case study!

[@MH-Tesla]

Thanks for covering this topic. I've often wondered where I should stand during a conference when they happened but never remembered to ask anyone after the game. On TV they don't show the umpires, so can't learn that way. And I flunked the quiz! I feel like I'm back in high school.

[@UmpireClassroom]

It's not your fault! I looked through the NFHS Manual, College Manual, even the MiLB Mechanics. It's taught in umpire school, but never covered in the basic instructions.

[@prsguitars42]

You passed with flying colors because you made the effort to be here and to learn.

[@thatzwhat]

This is well-reasoned advice for umpires at all levels.

[@UmpireClassroom]

It’s super important, yet rarely talked about in training.

[@aycroth]

Great videos

[@bobp6164]

Excellent info, as always! Thanks Patrick!

[@UmpireClassroom]

Glad it was helpful!

[@rf7591]

Thank you for your videos!

[@UmpireClassroom]

Glad you like them!

[@barryreynoldshuntingwithtr8728]

Awesome! Thank you

[@UmpireClassroom]

You're welcome!

[@dfscott62]

Just recently stumbled on your site and am really enjoying the content! I coached youth baseball for years (in the Atlanta area) and wish I had this resource back then. Looking forward to getting caught up with all your content (bonus points for your "money's worth" nod to CCS).

[@UmpireClassroom]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@jessekriebel1346]

Excellent video! Thank you.

[@UmpireClassroom]

Glad you liked it!

[@altonweaver7757]

Great mechanics instruction for this situation. Thank you sir!

[@UmpireClassroom]

Glad it was helpful!

[@erikpaullive]

I was the head coach in the semis of the high school state championship as the home team. My starting pitcher took his at bat and struck out swinging. He then squatted for 5 seconds, then went to the dugout and started puking. I thought it was related to nerves and so I went to the PU to discuss. We both went to eval him and after a few minutes it was obvious he was not going back in. I then talked with my defense and out our SS on the mound and then I talked with the PU who granted necessary pitches to be fully warm (the SS throws a 25 pitch bullpen before his pitching outings). At pitch 7, the BU signaled 1 pitch left, to which I got quite upset. Am I correct here, injury change allows a necessary warmup? If the goal is injury prevention, this seems like a must. Thanks!

[@UmpireClassroom]

You are correct, did they end up going with the number of pitches as the plate umpire deemed necessary?

[@erikpaullive]

@@UmpireClassroom nope , he got 8 pitches. My player told me to sit down. He didn't want to get on the bad side of the ump. He then pitched 6 no hit, no run innings for the win to send the team to the championship game. The ump did come to me and apologize in the 5th inning.

[@UmpireClassroom]

@@erikpaullive 😬😞

[@prsguitars42]

Yea.....if that all went down as you said, I would have granted more pitches than the 8 (i.e. old weather, injury)...............

[@ts4426]

How many conferences are allotted each team per game?

[@UmpireClassroom]

3 in regulation. And 1 per inning in extra innings. But they do not roll over in extras. We did a good review of it last year that may help! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYKXq4uCns5sl68

[@ts4426]

@@UmpireClassroom thank you and are these 3 allotted in aggregate for offense and defense?

[@UmpireClassroom]

Offense is a different rule. 3-4-2 "Each team, when on offense, may be granted not more than one charged conference per inning..."

[@johnbehrend31]

Outsanding

[@UmpireClassroom]

Thanks! Hope it helps!