Going Solo

[Tim C]

Here's my advice:

ALWAYS ask for help from your partner on checked/unchecked swing requests.

Regards,

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by Tim C

Here's my advice:

ALWAYS ask for help from your partner on checked/unchecked swing requests.

Regards,

You should ALWAYS ask for help from your partner in a day game. NEVER ever ask in a night game.

Regards,

[ozzy6900]

Here's my input:

1. Don't work alone.
2. If they can afford you, they can afford your partner!
3. A fee and a half is not worth the aggravation (at least not at my age, any longer).
4. If you have to ask, you are not ready to work alone.

Hope this gets the point across.... good luck.

[gordon30307]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

Here's my input:

1. Don't work alone.
2. If they can afford you, they can afford your partner!
3. A fee and a half is not worth the aggravation (at least not at my age, any longer).
4. If you have to ask, you are not ready to work alone.

Hope this gets the point across.... good luck.

In many areas of the country there are not enough umpires to have 2 man crews for JV, Soph and Freshman (High School) just a fact of life. This particularly true in the Chicago Metro Area.

[HokieUmp]

Originally Posted by gordon30307

In many areas of the country there are not enough umpires to have 2 man crews for JV, Soph and Freshman (High School) just a fact of life. This particularly true in the Chicago Metro Area.

In our area (Southern Hampton Roads), we have enough umpires for 2-man crews for all scholastic games - varsity, JV, middle school. And for all the other leagues our association does, too. In fact, we have such good numbers, we need more business to get everybody games. We do have some 1-umpire games, actually, but they're the real little dudes in the Pony system.

If you pay the travel fees, gordon30307, maybe can import some people your way....

[johnnyg08]

you do have it good

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by Tim C

Here's my advice:

ALWAYS ask for help from your partner on checked/unchecked swing requests.

Regards,

Years back, I was assigned to work a JV game. My partner did not show. One of the head coaches was known for his constant whining.

Around the fifth inning, I called a check swing: "No, he didn't go." This buffon yelled, "You gotta get some help on that!"

I looked around the field and then back at him. He yelled again, "C'mon, you gotta get some help!"

So, since there was a runner on second at the time, I pointed to left side of the mound and yelled, "Did he go?" I then jogged out to the "C" position, turned around gave the safe sign and yelled back, "No, he didn't go."

I jogged back to the plate, staring at the doofus coach all the way. About half way back, I saw that he finally showed some sign of recognition of reality, put his head down, and slinked back under his rock.

[johnnyg08]

Nice Garth...in response to the above post about not working solo...that's great if you can be as busy as you want to be by only working 2 man+...in my area of MN...we have to take some weekend adult league solo to keep as busy as we want to be...most of the veteran players get the fact that you're working alone which makes the steal of 2nd base or any tag play at 2B w/ more than one guy on base...probably the toughest call on those days...it sometimes is tough to not have your partner either, but I've learned to sell my calls when working alone and it's helped me with my 2 and 3 man games, and I get lots of opportunities to work on my plate as well

[soundedlikeastrike]

Call em as "you" see em. You will get em all right. You'll wanna feel frusrated on those PO's and steals, don't, just remember it's not "your fault".

F1 stealing, B squared to bunt, ball in the dirt, B offers and misses; don't expect to have the best view of the tag at 2nd. I mean how far ya gonna get from the plate, 8'-10' tops.

Snap throws to 3B from F2 or PO from F1 on a returning R3 can be a bear too, again, not your fault. They want that play covered, they'll pay the cover charge.

Keep your priorities straight, F1, balk, no balk, ball, strike, go, no go, fair, foul, catch no catch, the 1st play, running lane, pulled foot, swipe tag, interference, obstruction; slap a safe or out in there, sheesh, before ya know it, there's a 1/2 inning down.

Nobody likes one man, Except those writing the checks.
It's not that bad.
Kinda nice, never any overturned check swings, no inadvertant time outs by your partner, no huddles to discuss, ya never have to worry about your partner hanging out to dry, just gotta look for that silver lining..

[johnnyg08]

very nice points...good post! appreciated

[semperfiguy]

I know i too am forced to work 1 man games and they are tough. more often thatn not the assigner wanted 2 but could not fill the game. if the coach finds this out it can be tough from the start. Around the northeast they try to put 2 at every game. i knew on only one league (babe ruth) that would not pay. It lasted about a week when coaches backed up the officials. Best of luck. lots of gatorade and hustle. balls and strikes baby!!!!

[rngrck]

Well got called to work JV solo yesterday. It went well,low scoring game, only missed a pick off at 2nd due to F2 blocking my vision. Coach's very understanding at pre-game and were ok with me.
Gotta remember Garth's comment about the check swing. Classic!!! lol

[PeteBooth]

Hi Garth:

Nice one.

I had a different incident when working SOLO.

When working SOLO we give the best game possible.

During a check swing in which I called a ball NO he didn't offer, the Manager asked me to check with my partner. Instinctively I pointed to the first base coach before Reality sunk in.

Now after I pointed to the coach and got back to reality I said to myself "Pete what in the he** are you doing"

However, to my surprise the base coach gave me a strike signal on his own player. I said "hey if this kids own coach thought he offered who am I to argue" and I changed the call from ball to strike.

You should have seen the look the manager gave to his base coach. I had to call TIME for a minute because I started laughing.

Pete Booth

[johnnyg08]

Just for fun, I've appealed to the 1B coach before...I never changed my call but more so doing it to show the teams that "hey, it's just me out there..."

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by GarthB

Years back, I was assigned to work a JV game. My partner did not show. One of the head coaches was known for his constant whining.

Around the fifth inning, I called a check swing: "No, he didn't go." This buffon yelled, "You gotta get some help on that!"

I looked around the field and then back at him. He yelled again, "C'mon, you gotta get some help!"

So, since there was a runner on second at the time, I pointed to left side of the mound and yelled, "Did he go?" I then jogged out to the "C" position, turned around gave the safe sign and yelled back, "No, he didn't go."

I jogged back to the plate, staring at the doofus coach all the way. About half way back, I saw that he finally showed some sign of recognition of reality, put his head down, and slinked back under his rock.

I hope I never feel the urge as an umpire to act this unprofessional on a ballfield....