For your viewing enjoyment...

[UmpJM]

Gentlemen,

I had an evaluation done this past July while working a "summer" HS Soph game (working solo for this game). My evaluator was kind enough to videotape part of the game and send me a copy. Linked below is a video of a few of my calls from that game. I would be interested in your commentary.

Click here to watch UmpJM07142007

Thanks.

JM

[bobbybanaduck]

i'll have a bunch of time tomorrow if you'd like my input.

[bobbybanaduck]

and if you do, please specify if you'd like it publicly or privately.

[UmpJM]

bobby,

I'm interested. Public is fine. My evaluator had a number of suggestions for me, and I've tried to incorporate his suggestions, but I'm interested in what others have to say as well.

JM

[GarthB]

PM on the way.

[BigUmp56]

Just a couple of things, John. There looked to be several times where you started coming up out of your stance to call the pitch before the ball made it to the catchers mitt. I'd suggest staying locked in longer. The other thing I saw that I didn't particularly care for is you giving the count to the third base coach and rotating it around to the opposite foul line. It's best to just signal the count to the pitcher. This is especially important when you're working solo so you don't take your eyes off of the ball while you're looking at the coaches box. Eventually there'll be a pick-off attempt that you'll miss if you continue to signal the count like you do.


Tim.

[JJ]

Start your stance with your feet farther apart - it will lower your center of gravity and help with balance.
When calling a strike, wait longer, come upright, then with a closed fist higher than your head, pretend you're banging on a door (one time) as you yell, "Strike!". The pointing the strike with one finger looks like you're indicating to the pitcher to "look over there!". If you want to do the finger thing, snap it out there more authoritatively (and keep it up a bit higher than horizontal).

JJ

[bobbybanaduck]

Originally Posted by JJ

(and keep it up a bit higher than horizontal).

JJ

Originally Posted by msavakinas

jj,

FWIW we agree all the way until the end. but if he's gonna do the point, don't put it higher, point it out there authoritatively a lil lower than shoulder height. it looks a lil more athletic IMO.

viso gero!

a bit higher than hoizontal and a lil lower than shoulder height are the same thing in my world....

[canadaump6]

I like the heel-instep that you use; I prefer using it to the heel-toe as I find it gives me better balance.

With a right-handed batter at the plate, it probably isn't necessary to hide your right hand behind your thigh; the catcher is already protecting it. Try putting your left hand behind your left thigh, as it is more likely to get hit by a foul ball. Then place your right arm in front of your crotch, or on your right knee, whatever gives you the best protection. Use the opposite steps with a left-handed batter at the dish.

Another thing I'd suggest is to stay down a bit longer after saying "strike". I like to say it verbally, and only once I have said it out loud will I come up out of my stance and make my visual strike mechanic.

[bossman72]

just a few things i noticed.

1- be louder. your strike calls lack "umph" for lack of a better term. a little bit more energy in the call is needed.

2- strike mechanic needs to be more crisp. by crisp i mean a little faster and harder with the movement of the arm with an abrupt stop at the end. looks better. use in conjunction with point #1 i made and you'll look sharp. i personally don't have too much of a problem with the point, but make it more crisp if that's what you want to use. i personally use the hammer as JJ suggested.

3- it appears you don't have a "lock in" mechanism in your stance. i suggest putting your slot arm across your waist / upper thigh so you have something to lock in with. you seem pretty rock solid, but without a lock in mechanism, you may drift without realizing it.


i'm glad that you want to improve yourself by asking for criticism on the board though. it's refreshing to see umpires who want to get better.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

I like to say it verbally,

As opposed to saying it how?

[bobbybanaduck]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

Another thing I'd suggest is to stay down a bit longer after saying "strike". I like to say it verbally, and only once I have said it out loud will I come up out of my stance and make my visual strike mechanic.

the two part practice (verbal first, visual second) is a very softball-like mechanic. the verbal and visual strike mechanic should be "married," meaning coming out at the same time.

[bobbybanaduck]

i'm going to try and do this part by part along with the video sections. my girlfriend went nuts with a camera at one of my games this year, so i'm gonna throw a couple of photos in there to illustate a couple of points.

part 1.

point A to to point B and locking in looks good. you do well getting from the rest position (point A) to the set position (point B) quickly and at the appropriate time...not too early, not too late. also, good hustle getting out from behind the catcher and up the line, and good job going to the catcher's left. that is a good practice to be in, clearing him to the left. good work.

part 2.

i'd like to see a crisper "play" mechanic. snap it off and get it so it's pointing straight at the pitcher instead of up in the air. i'd also like to see you in there and ready to go before putting the ball in play instead of moving around. it wasn't too bad, but you never know when the pitcher will snap a throw somewhere immediately after you put it in play.



the strike mechanic.

if you pause it at :27 it almost looks like you are signalling a home run and not a strike. if you are comfortable with your arm in that position that you use, consider switching to the hammer. if you would like to go to the side, work on going more to the side and bringing the mechanic down lower, as was brought up in an earlier post. i also agree with an earlier post that your timing may be a little quick on the strike call. make sure you are using your eyes properly and tracking the ball all the way into the mitt.

the first one is to the side. the second one is acually an out, but it looks the same as when i use the hammer for my strike call.





part 3.

i agree with the earlier post about displaying the count everywhere. straight out in front crisply is best, unless somebody asks you for it, then go ahead and show it to them. be careful with your head height getting too low. looks like you have a monster catcher working in front of you. be aware that sometimes he may set up higher and you may have to adjust (will be evident later.)

part 4.

at :57 you explode out on the infield fly, which is good, except that you actually are moving before the ball is even hit. make sure you stay locked in until something actually happens. on an infield fly, go out in the direction of the ball. i couldn't tell where the ball was hit, other than it wasn't hit to the third baseman, so you shouldn't have been headed toward third. you don't need to go too far, maybe halfway to the mound or a little less, but in the direction of the ball.

i am assuming this is a 2 man game, but i'm not 100% sure (i didn't hear anybody echo the infield fly, so maybe you were alone.) if it is a 2 man game, the BU is responsible for initiaing the infield fly call unless it's toward one of the lines or in the area of, or in front of, the pitcher's mound. good terminology. be careful looking up at the ball. this is one of the few times it is ok to take a quick glance up because you need to determine the apex of the ball and whether or not it is going to be an infield fly. you will see later when it isn't a good time to look up and i'll cover it more there.

part 5.

at 1:14 the catcher makes an adjustment and you don't move. i like that and that's what i teach my guys around here. i teach to set up on the edge of the plate and only make adjustments to your height. it gives you the same look at the outside pitch every time.

your timing on strike three is lightning fast, so much so that you were coming out of your stance while the ball was still in flight. this goes back to proper use of eyes. you had made up your mind on this pitch before it even got to the strike zone. see the pitch all the way in. the verbal mechanic for strike three needs to be more emphatic, and the visual mechanic just looks uncomfortable, almost like you were surprised it happened. watch video of the big leaguers calling third strikes and try to find something that works for you.

part 6.

at 1:40 the catcher sets up high. pause it and look at your head height. you are looking at the back of his head. again, make sure you are aware of what the catcher is doing and adjust your head height accordingly. when the ball is hit you immediately look straight up. you know the ball went up, you don't need to find it. let the catcher take you to the ball. your first movement should be to get out of your stance by taking a step or two backwards, opening up your gate by drop stepping (with your right foot in this specific situation) then distancing yourself from the catcher by moving under control sideways allowing him to take you to the ball. you quickly backpedalled, which is dangerous and is generally not a good idea to do anywhere on the field because you can't see behind you. also, this was dangerously close to needing a fair/foul decsion. make sure you are aware of this and be ready to get on the proper line to make the call. you were off the screen, so you may well have been in good position, i'm just making a point.

part 7.

at 2:00 good job once again busting out from behind the plate, and much better job going in the direction of the ball. you looked up again, which is unneccessary as you already know the ball is in the air, and you already know which drection it is going in. good job staying on the line for the fair/foul call. you don't need to be hands on knees set for this play, in fact, it is detrimental as you may hurt your view of the play by angling your eyes downward. the play is happening off the ground. stay standing for this play. you have multiple responsibilities with the fair/foul and catch/no catch. good job keeping your distance from the play, allowing yourself to see everything that happens.

if you are on the line (at any time, not just on this play) then you need to give a fair/foul mechanic. when the catch is routine as it was in this play, there is no need to give an out mechanic. if it is obvious to everyone there that it was caught, you do not need to give the mechanic on a routine caught fly ball. instead, only give the fair/foul mechanic and do not give an out mechainc.

hope you find something in here that helps. feel free to ask questions either by PM or on here.

edited for spelling after review.

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

Just a couple of things, John. There looked to be several times where you started coming up out of your stance to call the pitch before the ball made it to the catchers mitt.

Whew, Tim, I thought you had died. I never saw anywhere he did that, not even close. Several? There were only a few B-S calls in the whole video.

The other thing I saw that I didn't particularly care for is you giving the count to the third base coach and rotating it around to the opposite foul line. It's best to just signal the count to the pitcher. This is especially important when you're working solo so you don't take your eyes off of the ball while you're looking at the coaches box.
Tim.

Then signal the count but don't look away. Turn the torso, hands, eyes forward. On 90' basepaths, no scoreboard, it's a different game, Tim.

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by bobbybanaduck

the two part practice (verbal first, visual second) is a very softball-like mechanic. the verbal and visual strike mechanic should be "married," meaning coming out at the same time.

Yt you see it constantly at the MLB level. So, not worth commenting on.