Quote:
Originally posted by Striker991
To read what I wrote....
My specific point is purely anticipation DURING a play.
You, your very self said, "As a base umpire, I am fooled by the players about once every three games." If you let the play itself guide you to where you should be, you wouldn't be fooled at all, because you wouldn't be guessing er, sorry...anticipating. And, following correct mechanics, you would be in position to make a good call.
So I guess the umpires out there would have to make their own decision, right? Let's see, what are the choices? Follow Peter's instructions and get fooled once every three games, possibly being in the wrong place, making a bad call, or getting beaned once every three games. Or, following accepted mechanics, NOT anticipating DURING a play, and not getting fooled, because you are letting the play direct your movements.
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So many assumptions, and two of them dead wrong. A third is probably wrong.
First, you wrote:
"...If you let the play itself guide you to where you should be, you wouldn't be fooled at all, because you wouldn't be guessing er, sorry...anticipating. And, following correct mechanics, you would be in position to make a good call."
That's true, I won't be fooled but it is false to say that I will be in the correct position to make the call. I will be near the working area for a call at first base in NCAA baseball. NCAA players are simply too quick and too strong for me to move very much after they indicate where they are going to throw the ball. For average high school ball, I can get a reasonable angle and distance. If you have never done NCAA ball, you cannot appreciate how fast these players are. You must experience it for yourself. All new NCAA umpires comment on how surprised they are at the quickness of the players at this level.
So, if it is correct for me to be two steps from the working area, then yes, I am in the correct position to make the call. However, I have no credibility if something goes wrong when I am 40 feet from the play. With accpeted mechanics, you do not get ideal angle and distance. You get what some big dog pro has determined is an acceptable compromise.
Second, you wrote:
"So I guess the umpires out there would have to make their own decision, right? Let's see, what are the choices? Follow Peter's instructions and get fooled once every three games, possibly being in the wrong place, making a bad call, or getting beaned once every three games."
That's deliberate deception on your part. I have never been beaned by a thrown ball. Where did I write that I take my eye off the ball or place myself in any possible throwing lane?
Here's the real choice. I can be in great position to make 98% of my calls and horrible position to make 2% of my calls. Or I can be is so-so position to make 100% of the calls. If I am in so-so position, I will be just like any other cookie cutter umpire. If I am just so-so, there is nothing to distiquish me from the 10 wannabe NCAA umpires available for each game. I will be a high school umpire.
One more luxury that I have that most umpires don't have. On the 2% of calls that I am in horrible position for, it is the players that screwed up, not me. And just like the example that I gave in the previous post, their coaches know it. I did not hear a word about that play at third. In any event my partner thought that I got it right. He was only a little farther away than me.
The third assumption that you got wrong is that I will blow a call that I am 70 feet away from. If my head is still and locked in, I can get at least as good a look at the play as the coach in the dugout. That's all I need for the rare call that I am out of position for. If I am on top of 98% of the plays, I can sell the 2% that I am out of position for. If I am so-so on all plays, the coach is going to be on my a$$ sooner or later.
A coach rarely comes out on me regarding one these rare plays that I am out of postition for. First, he knows that his team screwed up. And second, he knows that in the two umpire system, we have to make compromises. The answer to his question of having an umpire on top of every play is "4 umpires." His budget won't allow it.
Striker, you think like a rec ball umpire or high school umpire. When I was a high school umpire, I knew better than to share any of my ideas with my fellow umpires, especially those senior to me. They will not accept new stuff from a little dog. To get ahead in your organization it may be necessary for you to regurgitate the pablem that they feed you. To stay ahead, however, you will have to engage your brain.
Peter