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[BlueLawyer]

Originally Posted by CoachJM

My strike zone seems to come and go. In my opinion, it's generally fine and then I'll hit a point in the game where even I can't believe some of the calls I'm making; and then it comes back. Timing? Fatigue? Focus? Beats me.

Oh. And did you know that you should NEVER try to come back into the infield after having gone "out" on a fly ball, nor try to go "out" from B or C? Of course you did!!!! Having committed each of these FUBARs exactly once, now I know too! And, I know WHY! If you've never done it, you really ought to give it a try. It's an experience you'll never forget.

JM

The best thing to develop consistentcy in the zone is to see and call pitches. The second best thing is to get somebody to tape you so you can see yourself and your head, stance, timing, etc. It'll get better.

I agree with lawump: I say "strike three!" on a called third strike and I've been doing it for all 16 years I've been working. Only recently did somebody tell me not to do it ("strike!" only), and I put that in my mental file under "advice I'll never follow."

I have also been taught (and I think the CCA manual says) that you are indeed supposed to come back in for a play at the plate in two man after you've gone out. I do it. In three man, (and I know you're not to this point yet, John) the CCA manual definitely says to go out from B or C for "trouble" fly balls in your area of responsibility. That was one of the hardest things for me to get used to- crossing the dirt- often with a runner advancing- to go look at a fly ball. It's tricky and I'm not sure I agree with it, but it's in the manual.

Anyway, John, are you ready to change your handle to "UmpJM"?

Strikes and outs!
Z

[GarthB]

John,

Don't worry about any of this now.

(By the end of next month you'll understand why.)

Good luck.

[LLPA13UmpDan]

***claps***



What was your first game like?

on a side note, during a 9-10 baseball tourney, we were short on umpires for allstars, so the assigner had a coach that wanted to do it (he wasnt involved with any of the teams, so it was all good). So for all stars it was funny umpiring with someone who during the season i had to throw out (and yes, he was in uniform.)

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by BlueLawyer

The best thing to develop consistentcy in the zone is to see and call pitches. The second best thing is to get somebody to tape you so you can see yourself and your head, stance, timing, etc. It'll get better.

John:

Our resident barrister has hit on a key point that will help you to avoid struggling with your strike zone in the later innings of a game. It's a very common mistake for a new umpire to fail to lock in properly from the first pitch of the game to the last. As the game wears on and you're not locking in well, your head begins to drop. This makes it extremely difficult to call the zone with any consistency. Normally, timing will be consistent throughout the game, whether good or bad, but a proper stance in the slot with a sound lock in mechanism is a must for a good plate man. Tell your son to bring a glove on the 4th and we'll try to get out on a field with my son and I'll show you what I mean.


Tim.