Quite honestly,

What is the big deal with wristbands? I see tons of umpires wearing them, no one even gives a crap that iam wearing them either! They dont affect my performance, and i feel they help me. I do not wear them all the time but i see no harm in them. I want to know why you think they are unprofessional. I have seen them at LLWS, MLB, ad College.

This is exactly why I have disdain for Evans, and why I wouldn't attend one of his camps, clinics, classics, or schools if you paid my way there and back. It is this kind of "elitist" (to borrow Ray-Ray's term) mentality which pisses me off. I am sure that the jock sniffers will take exception with my opinion, but I don't really care. People who believe themselves to be superior to others, are in fact quite inferior in many ways.

Harry is a much better teacher, IMO, anyway.

Let's put the shoe on the other foor, Dan. How in the World can wearing wristbands help you as an umpire?


Tim.

Dan,

I watched your video, and I think for a beginner, you are heading in the right direction.

I would work on the following though,

1. Do not sit so far in the slot. You can set yourself behind the catcher more then what the video indicated, and still be positioned correctly.

2. I agree with the posters who have said not to point when calling strikes. I use to point, until this coming year. The reason behind the change....the "one right afte the other" two outs at the plate in the top of the 1st inning in game 1 of last years NLDS between the Mets and Dodgers....Because of John Hirschbeck's mechanics of calling strikes and already being "eyes toward the pitcher" he was ready and in position for both calls.

3. IMHO, the only time you want to point on strikes is on a dropped third strike that needs to be completed to first base, or a normal swing or miss strike.

4. Yes, loose the wrist bands.

5. Also, work on your voice control in your spare time as well. You want your tone to be loud enough to call strikes, but not so loud that you are calling your attention to yourself. Except, for when you are calling a batter out on the third strike.

6. Plus, also keep yourself open to trying different things. I watch alot of college games, MLB games, and minor league games in my home area during the season, and if I see something by an umpire that looks better, I try what I saw for two or three games or maybe up to a week to see if I like it or not.

Just a few thoughts. I hope this helps. Good Luck.

Dan, please find a pic of an MLB umpire with wristbands, that are not commemorative in any ways (ie- breast cancer, in memory of someone) and post it. I'd bet you'd have a tough time finding 2.


They don't match your uniform and are very unprofessional - get rid of them if you want to move up from little league. We're only trying to help you here. "Take the medicine"

Of course you're entitled to your opinion; however, I would hope that you haven't formed your opinion of Jim Evans solely, or even mostly, based on the kind of comments about him that have been made in this thread. Many of the statements I've read are not fully compatible with the Jim Evans I am familiar with. Some of his opinions and observations have been conveyed out of context, making him seem, as you say, elitist, which is just plain wrong. He has a dedication to excellence and a desire to share his knowledge that is the antithesis of elitist.

No, I didn't base it on the comments of this thread. These comments merely added to the perception I had already developed over the years. I have been listening to graduates of his school for years, most of whom couldn't umpire their way out of a pop can before attending the school. They come back as if they are now the cream of the crop all of a sudden, complete with chips on their shoulders, and high-and-mighty attitudes. Many of them start chuckin' coaches left and right, and always look for trouble.

I have learned a lot about umpiring from graduates of Harry's and Joe's over the years, but not much from Evans grads, as most I've seen just hold the fact that they are Evans grads over everybody's heads. Maybe it's different in other associations. This has just been my experience.

For the 1000th time, loose the wristbands.

I'm not completely sure, but it appears you might be using black ball bags. If that's the case, loose them as well -- get navy. If I'm wrong, disregard this.

Tuck in or cut off your mask's straps that are hanging out.

Also, I've picked a reference point three different times and not one of them is your head consistently in the same place.

Get a hair cut!

Hmmm,
 

I do not own navy ball bags. I have black and grey only.

Regards,

How are they "out of context" Dave?

I wouldn't wear grey ball bags if they were given to me as a gift. They look like an old pair of pants were cut up to make them. Blech.

LL-
As the instructors at Evans' said, "The big leaguers can do whatever they want; they're big leaguers. You, dear cadet, will do it this way until told otherwise. If ever."
Unless you have a pituitary problem, no wrist bands. (I have not witnessed your video. Good initiative though.)

What is wrong with black ball bags? Some associations require black bags and hats. Black ball bags go with black, cream, and MLB Lt. Blue shirts. Navy bags do not.

Get a haircut? Geez, you sound just like my old man!

One of the finest umpires I know has long red hair (in a braided ponytail), and a scraggly red beard. He has been very highly rated for many years. Nobody ever suggested he get a haircut, as he probably would have knocked them on their a$$ for asking him.

David
 

I am slightly confused by your statement:

Jim Evans has never been shy about #1. He says it at all clinics and makes a point of it.

I am confused about #2 as we discussed this issue very throughly on your private list serve group more than once. Jim Evans also said this (in print) to a few umpires in an e-mail to some of the posters on this site.

#3 was said in front of over 100 umpires at the Portland Evans camp last spring.

Now I do not want to define Jim Evans by these three statements but they are accurate, delivered in the context with which he used them and are accurately reported in this thread.

How have they been taken out of context?

Regards,

Sds:
 

In Portland your longhaired, ponytailed and with a beard would not work a playoff game in high school or be accepted into the college group.

Steve, I am just reporting facts here not jumping anyone in Sa Diego.

And I agree with SDS: navy bags do not go with black shirts, creme shirts and the Delta Blue black trimmed MLB shirts. BTW, we have both navy and black caps approved in our group.

Regards,