Tee or Garth

[BigUmp56]

I've been trying to explain to a few fellow umpires some of what you both taught me about timing when calling the dish being an end result of the proper use of the eyes, as opposed to a hesitation. Sorry to say, I'm failing miserably at it and I would like to hear it once again from you.

This request is for you, Tee. Sometime in 05 you wrote a great post on monocular vision and how it applies to our avocation. Do you remember where that post was placed, and if not, would you expand on it again.


Thanks,


Tim.

[SAump]

Gerry Davis stance

It is the only other thread with monocular vision that I found. Also from Oct. 2005.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

I've been trying to explain to a few fellow umpires some of what you both taught me about timing when calling the dish being an end result of the proper use of the eyes, as opposed to a hesitation. Sorry to say, I'm failing miserably at it and I would like to hear it once again from you.

This request is for you, Tee. Sometime in 05 you wrote a great post on monocular vision and how it applies to our avocation. Do you remember where that post was placed, and if not, would you expand on it again.


Thanks,


Tim.

As taught by the instructors at the Desert Classic and the Academy, it's actually quite simple in theory.

Two examples of timing being the proper use of the eyes.

BU:

BU in A. Batter hits grounder to third. BU hustles to get his 90 while keeping eye on ball. After he determines a quality throw has been made he gets set and looks for touch and listens for catch. After the play, his eyes go up from the bag to the ball. Only after finding the ball and seeing that it is indeed secure, he makes a call, which is a mental process. Then he signals, visually and verbally, his call.

No phony hesitation. No "two count" just proper use of eyes yielding excellent timing. Also no "OUT, no no, SAFE" calls.

PU:

PU tracks the pitch with his eyes all the way to the glove, being careful not to tunnel the ball, that is keeping eyes straight ahead and letting the ball travel through his field of vision and making absolutely certain he sees the catch. His eyes move to see the ball in the glove. He makes the call, again, a mental process, however prior to making his physical and verbal announcement of his call he continues to keep his eye on the ball in the glove as he rises. As he begins to make his physical and verbal "call" he then takes his eye off the ball.

Again, the continued and proper use of the eyes provide excellent timing with no phony counting or mumbling of any kind.

As I said, in theory, it's quite simple. The hard part is doing it right EVERY time and knowing when you are and aren't. Many students, including some D-1 folks were absolutely convinced they were doing as instructed until they saw their video tapes and witnessed their eyes leaving the ball or the glove before they should. Getting caught screwing up on the bases was easier. The instructor playing the first baseman would watch the students eyes and everytime they did not look up to find the ball, he'd drop the ball.

Everyone just KNOWS they are doing it correctly until they see for themselves that they are not. While the theory is simple, the practice is much more difficult than one would think and requires discipline for it to become habit.

[Kaliix]

Nice explanation Garth.

Thank you!