Pre Game Discussions

[Rich]

I work with the same group of people all the time. I can count on one hand the number of games I've worked with someone other than my core 4-5 guys.

Our pregame discussion has been going on since 2002. On the way to the park, we usually discuss where we're going AFTER the game

[piaa_ump]

I am fortunate to be able to work the majority of my games with my regular partner....we have partnered up for about 7 years now.......our pregame conversation (and we ALWAYS have it) may last less than a minute, but which ever one of us has the plate that night will hold it.....

With other/infrequent partners, I make time to hold a pregame........it might be brief, But I am going to hit my list of hot points and get some confidence that we are on the same page.

[TussAgee11]

If you have time to change, you have time to have a pregame. When you work with those core partners it may be as short as 15 seconds. My pregame is this when I'm PU. It takes about 5 mins.

1) I'll rotate up to third with R1.
2) When I rotate I'll wait until you get into position, then I'll rotate back to mine.
3) I'll always have your help on swipe tags and pulled feet at first
4) I'm coming to you no matter where you are on checked swings, RHB or LHB.
5) Kill anything at my feet.
6) If you go out from A, I'll rotate up. Will you come back to the plate?
7) I'll help you on rundowns if there are no preceeding runners, and holler at you when I'm there.

I would go over catch/no catch stuff, but some of the people I end up working with its a challenge to get the 7 points above across. Also, when I'm BU, sometimes I have to ask my partner these points because he doesn't seem to intent on having a pregame.

Is that an efficiant pregame or is there something needed to be added that I miss?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

If you have time to change, you have time to have a pregame. When you work with those core partners it may be as short as 15 seconds. My pregame is this when I'm PU. It takes about 5 mins.

1) I'll rotate up to third with R1.
2) When I rotate I'll wait until you get into position, then I'll rotate back to mine.
3) I'll always have your help on swipe tags and pulled feet at first
4) I'm coming to you no matter where you are on checked swings, RHB or LHB.
5) Kill anything at my feet.
6) If you go out from A, I'll rotate up. Will you come back to the plate?
7) I'll help you on rundowns if there are no preceeding runners, and holler at you when I'm there.

I would go over catch/no catch stuff, but some of the people I end up working with its a challenge to get the 7 points above across. Also, when I'm BU, sometimes I have to ask my partner these points because he doesn't seem to intent on having a pregame.

Is that an efficiant pregame or is there something needed to be added that I miss?

I agree that it needn't take too long. I always try to cover "the second play in the infield" (BU or PU?)

Someone ( ) once wrote a really good article on this site (iirc) about what to cover in a pre-game -- the 5-7 "critical" items and the 5-7 "nice to have items).

That said, some conferences, especially at the higher levels, require a longer pre-game before the first game of a series.

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by piaa_ump

I am fortunate to be able to work the majority of my games with my regular partner....we have partnered up for about 7 years now.......our pregame conversation (and we ALWAYS have it) may last less than a minute, but which ever one of us has the plate that night will hold it.....

With other/infrequent partners, I make time to hold a pregame........it might be brief, But I am going to hit my list of hot points and get some confidence that we are on the same page.

What are your hotpoints and how much time do they take? What are your partners hot points and how much time do they take?

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by Rich Fronheiser

I work with the same group of people all the time. I can count on one hand the number of games I've worked with someone other than my core 4-5 guys.

Our pregame discussion has been going on since 2002. On the way to the park, we usually discuss where we're going AFTER the game

You're very fortunate but the remaining 95% +/- of umpires are not. Which is my point about Pre Game and how so many on the Forum preach "this (issue, mechanic, rule, etc) can or should be covered in Pre Game."

It's BS and totally out of touch with reality.

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by fitump56

You're very fortunate but the remaining 95% +/- of umpires are not. Which is my point about Pre Game and how so many on the Forum preach "this (issue, mechanic, rule, etc) can or should be covered in Pre Game."

It's BS and totally out of touch with reality.

What do you recommend be covered at a minimum during a pre-game?


Tim.

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

What do you recommend be covered at a minimum during a pre-game?


Tim.

I have none.

[RPatrino]

Fitty, you don't have a pre-game meeting with your partner(s)? Hmmmm...

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by RPatrino

Fitty, you don't have a pre-game meeting with your partner(s)? Hmmmm...

Not often and certainly not to cover the dozens of topics that are frequently mentioned here. In 5 minutes of pre-game. Most of what has been posted in this thread is not about meetings, it's about what a poster has to say to a partner. Rare (is there?) a post that talks about what partners want to talk about.

I fall outside of the typical example, I don't have a lot of partners. Most umpires in the Real World (the one that exists outside this highly segregated universe of FO.com) have lots of partners. Unless you are one that likes to have "meetings" where you talk and your partner sits in awe and great adulation of your officiating and verbal skills, then how is one to know what the agenda is for a real discussion?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by fitump56

I have none.

I'm confused. You don't have a pre-game when you are working with a partner with whom you've never (or rarely) worked? Wow.

Here's a chance for you to make a difference and improive the quality of umpiring in your area. Take the lead on this and have a pre-game. Even during the walk to the field you can cover a few points.

[RPatrino]

I personally think he's jerking our chains...and rendering his input insignificant in the process.

[canadaump6]

There isn't much point to having a pregame mechanics and positioning discussion when you're only working a 2 man system. First to third rotation, and going out on a flyball are the only 2 things to go over, and everyone knows them anyways. In my city we have a lot of partners showing up 7 minutes before game time. I always try to show up a half hour before the game, but if there is no umpire's room there is no way I am going to loiter around the area before my game. They can provide an umpire's room for me, and only then will I show up early.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by fitump56

I have none.

Now I've heard everything. YGTBSM. You don't have a pre-game talk with a new partner? How do you know that you are both on the same page? I can easily envision you both standing at 3rd base making different calls.

Even with guys I've worked many times with, we at least go over the essential coverages just to be sure.

I really hate trying to initiate a pre-game discussion, only to have my partner say something like, "I know what I'm supposed to do, and where I'm supposed to be, so I don't need to talk about it." These are the first guys to end up in the wrong place doing the wrong thing. Happens every time.

[charliej47]

I've had that happen more than once and we both looked stupid and both of us get yelled at.