My plate mechanics

[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.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Dave Hensley

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.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Dave Hensley

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.

How are they "out of context" Dave?

[Dave Hensley]

Originally Posted by Rich Fronheiser

How are they "out of context" Dave?

Well, for example, when he was bashing "internet umpires," he specifically excluded me.

[LLPA13UmpDan]

back to the navy bags part.... Those are black bags. so what. The look is even better then that of navy. Navy reminds me too much of softball- only. Black is acceptable, and ive seen more black then navy.

End of rant.

Thanks to those of you posting sensible comments.