How would you do on TV

[Tim C]

Pete:

What an interesting post.

I have worked games before 39,000 and 40,000 people in the stands. The advantage of working in an MLB Stadium is that the crowd is so far away you really can't hear any comments directly from the fans. You, of course, can hear the huge crowd noise but I have heard many, many more comments in high school games where the "crowd" is sometimes less than 15' from the dish.

I have also seen myself work on TV. Some of our college games are played live on TV and then re-cylced on cable over-and-over.

I also have hired an evaluation firm each of the last three year to video me when I umpire.

Here's point:

When you see yourself on the big screen it sure doesn't happen the way you think it does!

Seriously, I was flat out embarrasssed by my "look" in my plate tape of three years agao. If, as the experts say, TV adds 25 to 30 pounds to the average person think what it did to a 275 pound FATTY! It was flat out embarrassing.

My tape from this season if much better simply because I am just under 200 pounds now and that makes me not only look better but I do move better.

From my college tapes it is fortunate (?) there is no centerfield camera to evaluate my "K Zone" . . . I know I call the bottom of the knee and I am afraid of what it would look like when the catcher snatches the pitch just above ground level.

I don't buy outright your concerns over the size of players -- I work plenty of high school games where heights of players are drastically different. I adjust the best I can -- sometimes you win, other times you tie.

In another thread SDS speaks of "pressure" of working sub-varsity games compared to varsity contests . . . while I have identified that it is just a different type of pressure . . . REAL PRESSURE is to walk out of the tunnel and see a see of 40,000 fans that don't give a $hit about the job you are about to do . . . and noticing how FAST real baseball (tm) happens.

[ctblu40]

Originally Posted by Tim C

Pete:

I also have hired an evaluation firm each of the last three year to video me when I umpire.

Where do you find such firms? I've been looking for someone to tape me for the last 3 seasons and have drawn a blank.

[piaa_ump]

If I was on TV, I'd probably come off with these 2 comments....

Points too much.......(swinging strike...I point at batter, then hammer) (plus points at plate when runs score).....

I do have a bit of an excuse for that....when I was young I was trained by an old SAL league umpire, and heaven help the umpire who did not point at the plate and indicate that the plate was touched and then hold up the number of fingers to indicate how many runs scored.....I know it was for the scorer in the press box, but that was his mechanic and we all toed the mark......I cant seem to break the habit......

Needs to lose more weight....

Stan

[scott1231]

At a clinic I attend, we are taped during cage sessions so that on playback we can hear the instructor's comments/suggestions and watch our work. We're also taped during our games. While it's not of ESPN quality with close-ups and such, it's incredibly helpful.

Also, our state hs playoff games are televised and re-broadcast on cable, so I've seen myself there as well.

Being my toughest judge ...
On TV or tape, people would say:

1. Looks "dumpy." I need to drop another 20. I don't like the way I look in uniform.

2. Good, crisp mechanics on the dish. Good, strong verbals. Not too showy, but a good look and sound.

3. He's slow on strike calls. (I quietly say "yes" to the catcher and hitter, and then stand to call it for everyone else).

4. Good zone, but the bottom of the zone can be fuzzy.

5. Good hustle, maybe over-hustles sometimes.

6. Good positioning and timing on safe/out.

7. Good communication (verbal and non) with crew.

* My wife comes to my hs and collegiate games when she can ... she tells me to smile more when I'm on the field. Not gonna do it. Wouldn't be prudent at this juncture.

[GarthB]

Slightly relevant to this thread are a couple of posts at http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/llumpires/ in which a couple of umpires who have worked LLWS games or LL Regional games dismiss comments about missed calls, being out of position, and even facing the wrong direction on a play by blaming the camera lens, distortion from "compression" and distortion from converting the signal from analog to digital.

The denials begin with "I've seen the tape and I can't believe how different a picture it presents from what really happened."

It's effing hilarious.

Due to the anal retentive and, at times, vengeful management at that site, no one dares to question those in deep denial. Pity.