Stance
 

why is it that every so called top guy in your organization always critizises the way your stance is behind the plate. i have been doing this for 6 yrs now.
i have tried many and i mean many stances to find a comfort zone and also find what is comfortable to me to be able to get the best look at the zone.
alot of times my stance changes from the way alot of these catchers move.
For one, when a catcher has an 0-2 count and does the 3 feet outside the plate move....i know i aint sitting in the slot no matter what anyone says...have had 2 many pichers throw a fastball inside cause they can't control where they throw...sometimes catchers almost stand when the catch...some are short and are so low you have to move a diffrent way.
there are many fine umps that stay the same place everytime...good for them...i feel to line up over the inside edge of the catchers head to see the slot makes it more comfortable for me...yea, i do like hidind most of my body behind the catcher...i like my bones and need to be at work the next day...noone has ever really complained about my stike zone... so i move with the catcher...is this wrong ?

Mike,

I found that the quickest way to move ahead is to ignore the advice of the 'top guys'. Heck, the game has most likely passed them by. :rolleyes:

If no one is complaining about your strike zone and you are feeling secure about your safety, I really don't see your problem. Do not let those "top dogs" change what is obviously successful for you !:rolleyes:

BTW, are they no longer teaching basic writing and grammar skills in our schools ?

1. Buy good equipment and trust it.
2. Do what your assignor and trainers what you to do, or don't whine when you don't get what you want from them.

A lot of the "top dogs" in association are seeing how the game is changing both in the style of play and the style of umpiring, and they do not want to change.

My old partner thought my mechanics and the style I use was not very good, and he use to call me out on it.

I just finally did what another poster said in an earlier comment, I ignored it and did what I was taught, watched and adapted into my own game, asked to do by supervisors, and it has worked for me.

Our association uses a rule toward newer officials, if we (veteran officials aka "top dogs") are not asked for advice, do not offer advice.

I've discovered that most umpires who feel their association keeps them in the dark never saw the light in the first place.

Maybe you should talk to Hensley.

Many years ago starting out, I didn't care for the advice I was getting from "top dogs" in my association. I thought I had better ways of doing things and "they work for me" attitude.

Guess what? I didn't advance very quickly. In fact, QUITE slowly!

Do not discount the advice of "top dogs" so easily.

A fine example. I worked with a guy last year who's stike mechanic is a "hammer" out in front. The problem is, he doesn't hammer it, he just sort of brings his arm up into the finish position of the hammer.

Get in front of a mirror and try just bringing your arm up to the finish position of the hammer and tell me what that looks like you are doing to the pitcher. ;)

I tried to tell him, but he didn't want to listen. Same guy didn't like what I had to say about that curve ball that the catcher is digging out of the dirt. It isn't a strike, but on this pre-season varsity game, he was ringing it up all day and claims that this sophmores curve ball is breaking that hard.:confused: :rolleyes: :(

Every level I have moved up into has required me to make adjustments to the things I do. Sometimes, it is little stuff like where I put my hands when I am relaxing between innings on the bases (in my back pockets). Sometimes, it is bigger stuff like staying in the same spot so that if the pitch is way outside, every person in the ball park can tell that the catcher is actually set up 2' outside receiving the ball! ;)

Remember, your assignor is probably asking these "top dogs" what they think about you and probably trusts most of what they say! Again, you don't have to listen or heed their advise, but it may hold you back.

Good luck.

Consider the source
 

My advice would be to always consider the source when taking any kind of advice from another umpire.

Is the umpire talking to you about improvement an umpire that you respect and admire. If not, then he's probably not worth listening to.

A lot of the top dogs are simply not good umpires, just guys that knew how the food chain worked and took advantage of it.

My advice is to find some umpires that YOU respect. Go to their games, watch them and learn. There has to be a reason that you respect them.
Then if you get the chance to work a game with one of them, learn, learn. learn.

I've been doing this umpiring thing for over 30 years and I'm always finding something new to work toward.

Thanks
David

SA, rei was referring to an arm motion with the right fist, or half of a not-so-nice Italian salutation. That particular version of the "hammer" would not be such a welcome sight for the pitcher:eek: .

Paul,

So you're saying that Hensley has a "phony baloney job?"

I thought he might be in a good position to work with you and then recommend you to the higher ups.

That would be taking positive action, which I believe, works better than whining.

Paul,

So you're accusing Dave of being involved in cheating, plus some other things you "will not go into."

I'm amazed. I've never known Dave to be anything less than honest, even when we disagree.

I don't think you understand. The hammer looks great when it is done right! Bring your arm up and "hammer" it.

That is not what this guy is doing. It looks like he is flipping everybody off.:o

Hey guys. I've been absent from this forum for a couple of weeks. As PWL mentioned, I didn't take a high school schedule this year due to a change in my job situation that has me traveling frequently and on short notice. I made the first few meetings of the year, but when it came time to fish or cut bait on committing to my availability to get a schedule, I cut bait.

I think PWL is referring to a perception of "good ol' boy" politics in the association he and I are members of. What I know is that the same handful of veterans have held most of the officer positions for a long time. My opinion is that that is really just a reflection of the 80/20 rule - 20% of the people in any volunteer organization end up doing 80% of the work, rather than any conscious effort on their part to exclude new blood from coming in.

Most playoff assignments are the result of coaches' requests, a practice I find somewhat peculiar but not particularly sinister. It does, though, I think make it tougher for the newer umpires to gain the necessary familiarity to get playoff assignment requests.

As for PWL's speculation that some members are skirting the meeting attendance rules without penalty, I think he's probably right. There are over 100 association members, but rarely are there more than 30-40 at any given meeting. The sign-in sheet is basically on the honor system, so he may be right that some guys are getting ghost-signed in without attending. I have never asked anyone to sign me in, nor have I ever signed in someone else.

I agree that the 80/20 rule is probably in play in more situations than any sinister motive.

So if an umpire isn't getting playoff assignments, it's due to the what the coaches who he has had think about him and not exclusion by the "big dogs." Interesting.

Coach's providing feedback is important, but having them select who works the playoffs is a bit much.

What should be more important, the opinions of coach's or the respect of your peers?

Hey, pal....you're the one to mention Dave's name in the same context of people cheating and things you couldn't mention. I asked if you accusing Dave. You could have just answered the question.

No one's hijacked anything. We've moved along to the policy Dave mentioned of your coaches selecting post season umps. Keep up.

In my area, playoff coaches can name three umps they would like to see on the dish or their home games, and three they want to scratch from any of their home games. The commissioner tries to accomodate the plate job requests (but, it is often the same few guys that EVERYBODY wants anyway!) and always honors the scratch list! I don't really have a problem with this, nor do most the umpires in my association I have talked to about it. You don't have to make anybodies "preferred" list to do playoffs, and you could still do an away game for a team who has scratched you! :) (don't get any funny ideas! Nobody ever knows if they have been scratched, and it should be that way!)

BTW, are they no longer teaching basic writing and grammar skills in our schools ?

In most American schools today, no. Unfortunately.

They're still "teaching" it. Unfortunately, there is no longer a requirement that it be learned.

Too many cons outweigh the pros.

Even if the coaches knew enough about mechanics, rules, and game management to make an intelligent decision, there would still be the matter of which umpires the coaches have seen through the season.

We told American Legion we would no longer work their games when the commissioner insisted on having approval of which of our members worked Legion games. He dropped that demand.

Mike, my 0.02
 

In my little association, I might be considerd "a big dog". Not that I am a great umpire or anything (though I think I am great umpire), but I spend 12 months a year on umpiring, and I do a lot of work in my local association, like teaching new umpires and etc.

So here is what I have to say to you:

1. The ultimate test of umpiring is the "mirror test". Can you look at yourself in the mirror the day after a game and say you did the best you can for those kids you umpired. That means are you the best umpire you can be with your "skill set"? If yes, then who really cares what anyone else thinks.

2. If you don't get any tournament games, who cares? If you pass the mirror test, then you are in good shape. There are some great umpires in my area who should be doing State Finals in baseball, and are better IMO than a lot of guys who are getting the games. For whatever reason, they don't get them. Many times it has nothing to do with politics, or anything else. Life isn't always fair.

3. I may be a big dog who baseball has passed by, but I see a lot of people who are not great B/S umpires because of a mechanical flaw or flaws, which lead to inconsistency. They may think they have a great zone and they think they are funamentally sound, but when they have the money pitch on the corner they miss it. Or when they have a big regular season game with two good batteries they hear the inconsistent word thrown all around them. Or on the tough pitches, they are not consistent.

Maybe those big dogs are in your corner, and want you to take the next step in your career. And they see something you need to think about doing to make your B/S better. Don't be so stubborn you don't at least listen to the older guys, and think about their advice. Ultimately it's your call, their advice might be bad. But doesn't hundred's or thousands of games under someone's belt give them some insight as to what might improve your work?

Or is it that every big dog in your association ar guys with 1 year of experience 20 times, instead of 20 years experience? Think about it.