My plate mechanics

[Tim C]

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,

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by Tim C

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 C]

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,

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Tim C

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."

[Tim C]

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,

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Tim C

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.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Tim C

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,

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.

[Dave Hensley]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

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.

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.

[David B]

Originally Posted by Tim C

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,

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

[bossman72]

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.

[LLPA13UmpDan]

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.

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by LLPA13UmpDan

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.

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


Tim.

[briancurtin]

Originally Posted by LLPA13UmpDan

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.

id never wear them unless they were for a commemorative reason. i see the harm in them, in that you'd probably get docked points by an evaluator. from below freezing, to over 100 degrees, ive never considered wearing wristbands while umpiring.