MLB Differences?

[gordon30307]

Originally Posted by JJ

I was talking about the back foot being completely out of the box.

Also, the foot may be ON the line, but no part of it may be OUTSIDE of the line when the batter takes his position (MLB Rules 6.03). This part is loosely adhered to, and is not what I was concerned with.

JJ

At time of the pitch you can see the back foot out of the box or for that matter anytime during an at bat? If you can I'm switching chanels. Watching a game on TV this is the last thing I want to see. Besides after the a batter or two the box is gone. I don't think I've ever called an out with the back foot out of the box.

Enjoy the game quit watching the umpires. It's doubtful you'll pick up anything that you can apply at whatever level of ball you work.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by gordon30307

At time of the pitch you can see the back foot out of the box or for that matter anytime during an at bat? If you can I'm switching chanels. Watching a game on TV this is the last thing I want to see. Besides after the a batter or two the box is gone. I don't think I've ever called an out with the back foot out of the box.

Enjoy the game quit watching the umpires. It's doubtful you'll pick up anything that you can apply at whatever level of ball you work.

I saw it too--the reason why it was visible is that they showed a close-up of the feet in the box as they were describing how close the batter stood to the plate.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by gordon30307

At time of the pitch you can see the back foot out of the box or for that matter anytime during an at bat? If you can I'm switching chanels. Watching a game on TV this is the last thing I want to see. Besides after the a batter or two the box is gone. I don't think I've ever called an out with the back foot out of the box.

Enjoy the game quit watching the umpires. It's doubtful you'll pick up anything that you can apply at whatever level of ball you work.

Now that's funny. You certainly appear to be more of a fan than an umpire. The reason I commented on this in the first place was because the tv folks showed a closeup of that batter's foot. Matt picked up on it, too. I guess he's less of a fan (like you) and more of an umpire (like me).
Keep watching - you may pick up something that you can apply to whatever level of ball YOU work.
Oh, FWIW, I've never called an out with the back foot out of the box, but I HAVE told batters to "get in the box" before the pitcher pitches. Picking boogers? Not when the opposing catcher calls it to my attention. I choose not to ignore that situation on the level of ball that I work.

[gordon30307]

Originally Posted by JJ

Now that's funny. You certainly appear to be more of a fan than an umpire. The reason I commented on this in the first place was because the tv folks showed a closeup of that batter's foot. Matt picked up on it, too. I guess he's less of a fan (like you) and more of an umpire (like me).
Keep watching - you may pick up something that you can apply to whatever level of ball YOU work.
Oh, FWIW, I've never called an out with the back foot out of the box, but I HAVE told batters to "get in the box" before the pitcher pitches. Picking boogers? Not when the opposing catcher calls it to my attention. I choose not to ignore that situation on the level of ball that I work.

The only time I watch an official work is if I'm going to support a friend working a State Tourney game etc. Watching a game on TV or in person I'm watching the GAME. I don't care who's working what playoff series etc. At the major league level game management is different, coverage is different, there's no FPSR, fly ball coverage is different. They're working with four man crews. If you want to learn umpiring attend clinics, join an association, get a mentor and do lots and lots of games.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by gordon30307

The only time I watch an official work is if I'm going to support a friend working a State Tourney game etc. Watching a game on TV or in person I'm watching the GAME. I don't care who's working what playoff series etc. At the major league level game management is different, coverage is different, there's no FPSR, fly ball coverage is different. They're working with four man crews. If you want to learn umpiring attend clinics, join an association, get a mentor and do lots and lots of games.

There was no FPSR in the many OBR games I worked either, and I've certainly learned a lot over the years by watching MLB umpires. Just because the pros don't play by the sissy HS rules doesn't mean you shouldn't watch them at work.

I worked plenty of 3 man and some 4 man games as well, and the rotations and coverages were exactly the same as MLB. If I were to work 6 man, I'm sure we would be using MLB rotations and coverages. I worked over 3,000 games over 21 years, and still find things to learn from watching the umpires on TV or at the games. There are lots of things to study, most importantly how to carry yourself on the field. They are generally the best umpires in the business (with a few notable exceptions), so there is always something to be learned by emulating them.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

so there is always something to be learned by emulating them.

Watching Tim McClelland is like looking in a mirror. He's the man.

[justanotherblue]

Originally Posted by gordon30307

The only time I watch an official work is if I'm going to support a friend working a State Tourney game etc. Watching a game on TV or in person I'm watching the GAME. I don't care who's working what playoff series etc. At the major league level game management is different, coverage is different, there's no FPSR, fly ball coverage is different. They're working with four man crews. If you want to learn umpiring attend clinics, join an association, get a mentor and do lots and lots of games.

That's to bad, if you had been watching the umpires during the playoffs, you would have seen Ted Barrett working the plate. There was a great shot of him demonstrating outstanding proper use of eyes. You could CLEARLY see him track the ball completly into the glove with his eyes without moving his head.

[gordon30307]

Originally Posted by justanotherblue

That's to bad, if you had been watching the umpires during the playoffs, you would have seen Ted Barrett working the plate. There was a great shot of him demonstrating outstanding proper use of eyes. You could CLEARLY see him track the ball completly into the glove with his eyes without moving his head.

Wow learned something new here. Come to think of it it was the first thing I learned before I ever called a pitch in a game.

Did you watch the game last night? If you did you saw Kemp screaming at the plate guy after he took a called third. Did he get lauched. Of course not. Is this behaviour allowed in High School, college etc. I don't think so. What would a new guy learn watching that? Not much.

The fundamental are used at all levels, timing, dressing the part, knowledge of rules, proper angles etc. All you were alluding to above is a fundamental skill that ALL umpires should use. Best way to learn that is by attending clinics, join an association, get a mentor and do as many games as you can.

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by gordon30307

Did you watch the game last night? If you did you saw Kemp screaming at the plate guy after he took a called third. Did he get lauched. Of course not.

A lot of guys were screaming at the plate. The strike zone was, shall we say, unpredictable.

[johnnyg08]

I thought he missed Kent's pitch...the MLB guys don't miss low very often...but IMO he missed though there...yep, I know, they're human too...my only point is that I thought he missed it and I don't remember an MLB guy missing low by that much. other thoughts?

[justanotherblue]

Originally Posted by gordon30307

The fundamental are used at all levels, timing, dressing the part, knowledge of rules, proper angles etc. All you were alluding to above is a fundamental skill that ALL umpires should use. Best way to learn that is by attending clinics, join an association, get a mentor and do as many games as you can.

Well, your right, all umpires shoud use and be taught something as simple as timing, which as we both hopefully know, is the proper use of eyes. Guess what, that isn't always the case. In fact most of what you site as fundamentals used at all levels isn't always taught, known or felt important enough to teach to a young impressionable umpire. Granted, I can only speak for my association, it's not taught here. Something as simple as chest to ball when in the middle isn't taught as well, and not just in my association, this I see in clinics I've attended and confirmed when talking with attendees. Mentioning Barretts use of eyes, in one specific camera shot as an example of something good, was just that something good one can learn from. There are good and bad examples every day from MLB Umpires. Then again, there are good and bad examples every day from us amature umpires as well. They're just on TV and a damn lot better than us. They also use different mechanics than most of us, 4 vs. 2 man mechanics. Again as we both should know, there is a difference in responsibilities and mechanics when in the field. One can see good and bad plate mechanics and hopefully learn from them. By watching the plate umpire you can hopefully pick up the good from the bad, and improve your game. Cleary your beyond that in your game.