[David Emerling]

Originally posted by jicecone

One more good lesson here. Go over these things during your pre-game with your partner and it will at least be understood. In 4-5 min you can cover everything.

During a game you can even speak up before play begins and state "I have the runner at 3". or a quick signal. I try to announce, "I got ball and runner". There leave nothing to the imagination then. Communication on the field like that , lets everybody know and even shows that your team is working together.

This especially works with a new partner that you know didn't really understand or care about what you were saying during your pre-game.

Good Luck

Everything that COULD happen in a game can not possibly be discussed in the pregame. The PU getting the tag-up at 3rd is a fairly standard and basic item for umpires. It's fair to assume that a certified umpire would know that. It's always a bit surprising when they fail to know something very basic.

For instance, in the pregame, as the BU, would you tell/remind your partner that he has to cover the bases when you decide to "go out?" In my area, you actually have to go over that - believe it or not. They might even say, "Go where?" That calls into question what ELSE of a very basic nature needs to be addressed. If very basic things have to be discussed, then it opens up a huge spectrum of more advanced things that would probably need to be touched upon. Just how long is the pregame going to be? Is it going to be a briefing or a clinic? When you're working with somebody for whom mechanics do not come easy, invariably, something will arise that has not been addressed. You can TRY to cover everything ... but it's nearly impossible.

Whenever I'm working with an umpire I do not know, I engage in a little light conversation looking for indications of his experience level. Once I'm confident that he seems to be fairly experienced, I tend to cover idiosyncrasies of mine. 1) I will be quick to come to you on a checked swing. Sometimes I'll come to you in certain situations, even if I'm not asked. Be ready. 2) As BU, I go out frequently. If in doubt, I go out. 3) In a rundown, when I come to help you, I'll only cover the cutout area in the immediate proximity of my base - you have EVERYTHING else in the rundown. Stuff like that.

I shouldn't feel the need to explain flyball coverage. How many of you have had a BU, in position A, signal outs on flyballs in the infield and routine catches in the outfield when you're the PU? I have it happen all the time. Normally it's no big deal. The participants hardly ever notice the double call. But you can see how this trend could be a potential disaster later in the game on that shoestring catch you just KNOW is coming in the final inning. I usually have to have a word with my partner between innings.

So where does the pregame start and end? How much do you cover? How much of it should be basic stuff? Should you even address the basics at the risk of insulting your partner?

It's tough.

David Emerling
Memphis, TN

[Edited by David Emerling on Aug 24th, 2004 at 07:16 PM]