Upcoming Clinic Invitation

[SAump]

Why should you attend?

1) Nice warm weather for snowbirds.
2) It's baseball umpires coming together again, baby.

http://www.southtexasumpireclinic.co.../referrals.htm

Hit home and tell 'em SAump sent you.

Sorry, no time for golf.

[Dave Hensley]

Originally Posted by SAump

Why should you attend?

1) Nice warm weather for snowbirds.
2) Wife will love the shopping.
3) Both will love the riverwalk.
4) It's baseball umpires coming together again, baby.

http://www.southtexasumpireclinic.co.../referrals.htm

Hit home and tell 'em SAump sent you.

Sorry, no time for golf.

I'm not an MLB umpire groupie so maybe it's just me, but I didn't recognize any of the names of the instructor staff as "professional umpires" which I inferred to mean MLB.

In the section on "Plate Mechanics," the website says "we teach the box system." I thought that died (at professional levels) when Durwood Merrill retired.

Not trying to knock the clinic, just somewhat curious about who's behind it and what their true bona fides are.

[SAump]

Originally Posted by Dave Hensley

I'm not an MLB umpire groupie so maybe it's just me, but I didn't recognize any of the names of the instructor staff as "professional umpires" which I inferred to mean MLB.

In the section on "Plate Mechanics," the website says "we teach the box system." I thought that died (at professional levels) when Durwood Merrill retired.

Not trying to knock the clinic, just somewhat curious about who's behind it and what their true bona fides are.

Paragraph 1: Staff attended JE or HW PRO Umpire Schools and have A, AA, and AAA experience. Chief instructor is about 27 and calling AAA. Lead instructor has years in AAA and is MLB fill-in. Rest of these Charlies, not Smitties, help take "beginners" through the paces. Obviously you struggle with inferrences between MLB and PRO baseball. These young guys umpire baseball in their sleep.

Paragraph 2 and 3: Take that up with them. I do not sniff their jocks. Who am I to endorse their product? I will never fly to Florida for 5 weeks of umpire instruction. I encourage all who have the means to atend to attend. I did attend the clinic twice at the beginner level. I will now go back and attend the advanced level. I will also plan to attend in the future. I do know I will meet snowbirds there who can afford the time and expense to come to SA for the weekend.

[Dave Hensley]

Originally Posted by SAump

Paragraph 1: Staff attended JE or HW PRO Umpire Schools and have A, AA, and AAA experience. Chief instructor is about 27 and calling AAA. Lead instructor has years in AAA and is MLB fill-in. Rest of these Charlies, not Smitties, help take "beginners" through the paces. Obviously you struggle with inferrences between MLB and PRO baseball. These young guys umpire baseball in their sleep.

Paragraph 2 and 3: Take that up with them. I do not sniff their jocks. Who am I to endorse their product? I will never fly to Florida for 5 weeks of umpire instruction. I encourage all who have the means to atend to attend. I did attend the clinic twice at the beginner level. I will now go back and attend the advanced level. I will also plan to attend in the future. I do know I will meet snowbirds there who can afford the time and expense to come to SA for the weekend. Southwest Airlines is fairly cheap for those who may want to get away from home for 3 days in January.

I wouldn't have thought sniffing the instructors' jocks would be required to understand what they're talking about when they describe their plate mechanics instruction as "teaching the box system." I'm pretty sure I'm correct that that terminology does NOT describe the plate mechanics taught at either professional school.

Sorry if my questions put a damper on your efforts to make some referral fees or something.

[SAump]

Originally Posted by Dave Hensley

I wouldn't have thought sniffing the instructors' jocks would be required to understand what they're talking about when they describe their plate mechanics instruction as "teaching the box system." I'm pretty sure I'm correct that that terminology does NOT describe the plate mechanics taught at either professional school.

Sorry if my questions put a damper on your efforts to make some referral fees or something.

You can work any angle you prefer. These young guns will answer all your questions and leave you feeling good. I laugh when the instructors "hammer" the ole scissors stance. I am pretty sure the real Gerry Davis won't be there to give you that discount either. I also know there will be some TASO and MSBL guys standing 15 feet back. The more, the merrier. YOU can join em and find out where they are going after school.

Disclaimer: Please be sure to have plenty of good calories in your system before Sat morning. Alcohol is not being endorsed. I always feel bad for those who get sick trying to work it out on a hangover. Money spent in SA stays in SA.

[SAump]

Have you ever desired to work ONE night of PRO ball in front of a large crowd as a fill-in for a Texas League official who may have fallen ill for the night? This is a chance to open that door. You will also need bona-fide HS/college credentials and a recommendation from clinic staff.

Have you ever wanted to work pre-season TX league or college intersquad games or small local college pre-seasson non-conference games or college summer ball? This is a chance to walk through that door. You will also need HS credentials and a recommendation from clinic staff.

Have you ever thought of attending an umpire school on mechanics as an inherrent value? You will learn the latest mechanics for BU and PU taught by the very best, brightest and motivated students in the game. That is something a night away from the LL or TASO brotherhood can promise you. Leave those other affiliations at the doorstep and enter with an open mind.

[SAump]

Originally Posted by SAump

You can work any angle you prefer. 1) These young guns will answer all your questions and leave you feeling good. 2) I laugh when the instructors "hammer" the ole scissors stance. 3) I am pretty sure the real Gerry Davis won't be there to give you that discount either. I also know there will be some TASO and MSBL guys standing 15 feet back.

1) Many participants were returning for the 2nd or 3rd time within the past 2-3 years, nearly half. One participant from Corpus Christi is now calling some TASO college ball after attending the clinic two years in a row. He commented how his assignor and coaches noticed him and how he surprised older TASO veterans. Ssssshhhh. The majority of participants felt it was well worth it, again.

2) One gentleman present was allowed to work the scissors stance throughout camp. There were about a 1/2 dozen youngsters, the youngest being 12. None were bald. One member in my group of 7 was bald. I believe he was a peace officer. Two umpires were planning to attend the Jim Evans 5-week school in the near future. One, as soon, as he graduates with a degree in criminal justice.

3) The group was much smaller than past years, almost 1/2. The Gerry Davis rep wasn't there either. The Honig's rep gladly stepped in to meet our needs. He practically brought a truckload of uniforms, equipment, shoes, and many other things. The TASO officials who were present stood up there with the rest of us. I guess the other local TASO and MSBL guys already know everything there is to know. Perhaps, the local TASO group also scheduled a mandatory meeting for this same weekend.

[SAump]

I'm not sure what the policy is on discussing articles on the paid portion of Officiating.com. Please read Alan's entire article to understand what really goes on at a MLB level umpire's clinic and compare it to my comments.

Quote #1: "Only two students in the class did not use the box stance"

Quote #2: I remember thinking, “Good gosh, dude. Do you suck so bad that you need to keep coming back?” In reality, this guy turned out to be much smarter than I.

Quote 1 taken from http://baseball.officiating.com/x/article/4303
Quote 2 taken from http://baseball.officiating.com/x/article/4323
Title: 2005 Southern Umpires Camp — Parts V and VI Balls and strikes
Author: Alan Roper, You can reach Alan at [email protected]

Make your group's reservation today. Umpire Associations from NM, CO, OK, AR and LA as well as North, Central and South Texas will send their interested members. Most have far more experience than me. The choice to keep coming back and how often will be left to YOU. Best wishes and have a great spring season.

[SAump]

Scrimmages:
Looks like The Incarnate Word is going to scrimmage on Saturday and Sunday, so our advanced students will get a chance to work a few innings of college ball while the pro's provide an evaluation.

Live college ball this weekend. Hope the weather is beautiful.

See ya next year.