Some recent pix....

[UmpJM]

Gentlemen,

Every year I try to get someone to come and take some pictures of me working a game. I've found it very helpful to me to have an "objective reference" of what I actually look like whne working, it lets me see if my plate stance is really what I think I'm doing, what my mechanics look like, my timing, if I'm flinching, etc.

I've always received good feedback when I post them here, so have at it. Any and all commentary is welcome.

First, my "called strike" mechanic.



Putting the ball back in play after a foul.





A couple of strike outs - one swinging, one called.





Pitch "in flight" - Ball or Strike?.



Pitches "in the dirt".





Going to the "library" & getting an angle for a tagging R3.





There are a few others posted at the link below if anyone would care to look.

Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket

Thanks.

JM

[Kevin Finnerty]

Lookin' sweet, JM! You got your Honig's shirt, polywool slacks and ball bags, the Wilson Classic and the NB 450s. You're the goods.

I love the look on the batter's eyes after he let that one go and you punched him.

This is great stuff.

(You gotta' love us gray-haired guys who can still sprint. I'll bet you hear "Good hustle, Blue" all the time. )

[GA Umpire]

Get rid of 32 in the first one. He looks like he is thinking about questioning balls and strikes.

[Forest Ump]

I don't usually make such comment but I will say that the polywools do look nice. Much better than the GD's. It's good to see you have them hemmed properly. I have noticed lately, a lot of umpires with the pants way to long. They just crumple all the way up when they are standing. Even some of the ML guys don't have the pants hemmed well. Not a good look, for sure. My observations fwiw.

[Rich]

I think it's time to drop the "nee CoachJM".

Looking that fine, nobody would ever mistake you for a coach.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by Forest Ump

I have noticed lately, a lot of umpires with the pants way to long. They just crumple all the way up when they are standing. Even some of the ML guys don't have the pants hemmed well. Not a good look, for sure. My observations fwiw.

I think that looks better than pants riding half way up your shin guards while in your plate stance.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Welpe

I think that looks better than pants riding half way up your shin guards while in your plate stance.

Well, this is the dilemma, isn't it?

My pants do ride up. But they hang perfectly when I'm standing up. What gets noticed more, if anything?

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by Forest Ump

I don't usually make such comment but I will say that the polywools do look nice. Much better than the GD's. It's good to see you have them hemmed properly. I have noticed lately, a lot of umpires with the pants way to long. They just crumple all the way up when they are standing. Even some of the ML guys don't have the pants hemmed well. Not a good look, for sure. My observations fwiw.

He is reluctant to make such a comment because he doesn't want to get us incurably ill gear junkies started on one of our expanded fashion debates.

[waltjp]

John, some really nice pictures. The last one of you busting it up the line is my favorite. This would be a really great shot if it was from in front of you.

[SanDiegoSteve]

John, you're looking good!

My association is still in the dark ages and requires Navy shirts, hats and ball bags for all high school games.

[ozzy6900]

Nice form - I call the strike the same way.......... even though there are those of the newer thought processes in my association that feel turning the head is incorrect. To them I simply ask, "Have I ever missed any action when I called a strike?"

[DonInKansas]

Lookin' sharp in the 450s; I love mine.

Excellent camerawork as well--With the shot of the ball in flight that's no normal point n' shoot.

[Forest Ump]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

Pitch "in flight" - Ball or Strike?.



JM

I'm going with "BALL".

[cbfoulds]

John:
Count me among those who feel it's time to drop the "Coach". You definitely look like an umpire in these.

Only critique I've got is that it looks like you are a bit low in your stance.

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

I don't know, obviously, but I'd bet those were taken in the latter innings [there is a shot earlier in your series where your head height is better].

As a game goes on, if your "lock" mechanism does not solidly fix your head height [think Davis system, here], most guys have a tendency to "drift" lower, until their head is level with F2, rather than at the top of F2's head where it belongs. As a proponent/ convert to Davis, I believe strongly that higher is better. I can pretty much guarantee that you didn't actually see F2 glove either of those pitches.

Naturally, if what you are doing doesn't seem broke, why "fix" it: but if you think, reflecting on games, that maybe you are not getting a 100% consitent "look" at pitches, head-height-wise, from the 1st to the last pitch, you might consider adopting a "lock" [like that of Davis] which ACTUALLY locks you in place.

[UmpJM]

cbfoulds,

I think my head height is OK and my lock in is working.

This is a frame that immediately preceded the 1st "pitch in the dirt" you reference above.



I "lock-in" when the pitcher "sets" to receive the pitch. I stay in that set, even should the catcher move. I believe in the pics you reference, the catcher has "gotten tall" as part of his blocking technique, and I'm locked in where I started.

JM