Sds,
 

I agree that MLB umpires at times have worn bands for different charity awareness programs.

I remember Yellow (Lance Armstrong Foundation) and light blue on Father's Day (Prostrate Test awareness) . . . and I am sure there are others.

I think you understood the point that many of us were making to LLdanFake.

Regards,

Yes, of course I understood. And his reason for wearing the wristbands wasn't compelling either. If he had said he was wearing them in support of Black History Month, I might have bought their use.:cool:

Haha...
 

I think we should all post videos of ourselves. Should make for some good preseason discussion.

Who has a video camera?

I'd say it's more that he's impetuous and young that causes him to say and do some of the things he does. We were all teenagers at one time and can well remember what it was like to want to assert our own individuality.

There's really nothing about wearing his wrist bands that'll drastically effect his games mechanically. It's only a perception problem amongst the coaches that it looks unprofessional that could cause him some difficulty.


Tim.

Chris:
 

1) Evans has made an effort to tell all students to NOT LOOK TO THE SIDE when you call strikes. At the five week, one week Desert Classic and week end clinics Jim specifically comments tht umpires should not look to the side while calling strikes . . . do what you want Chris . . . it is not what Evans currently teaches.

2) You noted: " . . . but you got to give him some credit....He posted himself on video."

The following quote was taken from my post of 01.02.07: " . . . since you took the time and guts to put a vid on . . . "

Chris, it is becoming obvious too me that we have grown apart over the past 5 or 6 yeasr of posting on what it takes to be a great umpire.

I also "am at the top of my game" . . . I just posted a still shot of me working the Davis System and got GREAT criticism. If I had the technology and knew how, I would certainly put video footage of my plate work.

Regards,

I pointed off to the side as a minor league umpire...and received a 4.5 plate rating on my plate work. (For those familiar with the PBUC evaluation "system"...that grade speaks for itself.)

Also, "Sarge" (now an Evans instructor, but at the time a PBUC evaluator) told me after a game, "don't change a thing and you are on your way. And if any one tells you to change, you tell them I told you not to." And that was after a game where I had pointed off to the side.

While "Sarge" does not have the Major League resume of Jim...he certainly has decades of experience as an evaluator/instructor on the professional level.

However...to be fair...if you turn off to the side, you better be darn sure of "what just happened" if something did happen. That's why, LLDan, that I echo the calls from others above for you to slow down.

Is all umpiring now judged on what Evans is currently teaching? How would he feel about the GD system in his 5-week school?

Rich:
 

As you know I would not be allowed to use the Davis Stance at Evans EVEN if I was there not wanting a professional position.

Regards,

Tee:

Any idea why they would be against using the GD?


Tim.

Tim:
 

At professional schools the teach ONLY ONE system so that all students can be evaluated the same. All Class A umpires must work the standard heel-to-instep system as taught at school.

Evans does not even allow the GDS at a WEEKEND Clinics (as we had in Portland last spring) -- when you get your registration information from the Evans Group before the clinic it states that they will teach only those that use the stand heel-to-instep and the scissors.

Evans, BTW, does not believe in ANY part of the GDS system. He thinks it is "mumbo-jumbo" (my term). I had a long talk with him about the stance at our clinic.

Regards,

BigUmp:

You ought to hear Evans's opinion of "Internet umpires."

Rich:
 

I think that Evans's feelings are quite interesting about a number of things:

1) He feels that the only people that can teach umpiring are professional umpires. In fact at all his clinics, classes and schools he makes fun of local trainers and calls them "Charlies" . . . all his instructor use the term freely also.

2) On more than one occasion Evans has intoned that "internet umpires" are a bunch of guys that cannot umpire and are basically "keyboard" umpires that couldn't work real games.

3) He feels that umpires not trained by professional umpires are hurting the game of baseball and the future of umpiring.

Of course there is no conflict of interest in his position.

Regards,

I've seen all three (from your list) in person.

It's why I've gone to one weekend clinic (where I certainly don't feel I got my money's worth, but that's really the fault of the association setting the price too high) and haven't gone back. I'm sure the experience would be quite different over a week or 5 weeks, but I'll probably never find that out. Well, maybe some day. My pro aspirations are zero -- I couldn't afford the pay cut.

Out of touch?
 

Makes me wonder if Evans is getting a little out of touch by "not" allowing anything but one stance even at a weekend clinic.

I see several of the MLB umpires using GD or a variation of it and I think the games i've watched they have been very good at "balls and strikes"

I know since i've gone to the GD its made a lot of difference in the way i feel in the late innings and after the game.

Thanks
David

Dan,

Good advice given by everyone here. The one additional piece of advice i'd suggest is putting your right hand somewhere around your knee. This may help stabilize your upper body and prevent drift.

I used to have my "non-slot" hand right around where you had it, and i didn't get a good lock-in on every pitch. I've since moved it to the knee (off to the side with thumb on top) and i've felt more solid in my stance.

You off hand placement isn't really wrong, but maybe you should try moving it just to help out your upper body stabilization.