Awareness / Game Management

[JWig]

First of all I would like to thank everyone for there great comments. I have most of them and your input and opinions are very insightful.

My first question on this forum is one of a new umpire. I have been umpiring now for two years and have begun to receive Varsity game assignments and the invite to start an intro to Collegiate ball in the Southland Conference.

Awareness? I like this idea. I never realized what it was but I am well aware of the impact during games. History and tradition play a big part of baseball here in Texas and most of the coaches stay for long periods of time. I am looking for game management ideas that might help a young umpire become more efficient in keeping up with those all important details.

Reading references?
Use of lineup cards?

Anything will be of value.

Thanks again for any responses and I will be reading on.

J. Wig

[Tim C]

I have posted the system for "line-up" cards as listed below several times:

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We've talked about this several times in the past and there is no set way.

The following is the system that I use and teach to my classes:

As you are waiting for the home team pitcher to complete his warm up throws at the start of the first inning take out the line up card and but a letter next to the name of each sub of the visiting team.

A - Jones
B - Anderson
C -- Morgan
etc.

Put the card away.

During the bottom half of the inning while the visiting pitcher is warming up do the same to the names of the home team.

A -- Blake
B -- Asford
C -- Warner
etc.

Now you're ready for a sub.

IF WORKING FED or a league with re-entry you follow this system:

When a sub comes in you run a single line through the name of the player that the sub is in for -- ALSO -- put a single line through the sub and enter the "letter" that corresponds to the sub on a line next to the starter (I would also note the inning of the replacement).

When a player returns you put two lines through the letter of the sub and circle the starter. This means you are back to the original player.

If a second sub enters for a starter (thus ending the reentry) put a second line through the starter and follow the same letter system for the sub.

If you review this system you see that you do a "pre-plan" of preparing the card and then are only making very simple and very quick notations.

From this time on whenever you look at your line-up card and see a name with two lines through it that means he is done -- fini -- out.

Finally, ALWAYS ask the coach if the sub is what he really wants (i.e. "hey skip, is this what you want?") and remember that the game cannot restart until you put the ball into play.

TAKE YOUR TIME and do a complete and "readable" version of the line-up card

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So we know that in Federation we have re-entry. Many college groups (NAIA for one) that also use re-entry and this system works well for that.

I suggest as you venture into college baseball that you get the "cheat sheet" card for DH subs that was authored (and used) by Jon Bible. We know, since NCAA Baseball is lead by coaches, that they have a very difficult DH/Pitcher rule and the card REALLY HELPS.

Hope this is the kind of stuff you're looking for . . .

Tee

[JWig]

Would really be interested in this cheat sheet from Jon Bible. Have done a search for it but I am not able to locate it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. These are great tips for new umpires.

Thank Again

J. Wig