Lessons Learned

[Phil Vivenzio]

In my first year of umpiring, I worked a number of games with Carl. Carl is a veteran of 25 years of umpiring. He gave me numerous positioning hints, but the best piece of advise that he gave me is "Don't give more information then is necessary on a call. Out or Safe, Strike or Ball. Maybe on a checked swing acknowledge that you saw a swing." On the bases I was saying safe, you missed the tag or Out he got your leg etc. I had taken his advise to heart and recently, I had a brain lock and called a runner safe you missed the bag. Well, he didn't think he missed the bag, so I caused myself a little bit of a problem. That was good sound advise that I use most of the time.

Regards
Phil