Some recent pix....
 

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.

http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m...lledStrike.jpg

Putting the ball back in play after a foul.

http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m...2009/Play1.jpg

http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m...2009/Play2.jpg

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

http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m...3KSwinging.jpg

http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m...9/PunchOut.jpg

Pitch "in flight" - Ball or Strike?.

http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m...llOrStrike.jpg

Pitches "in the dirt".

http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m...uncedPitch.jpg

http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m.../InTheDirt.jpg

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

http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m...9/1stTo3rd.jpg

http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m...R3Tagging2.jpg

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

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. :))

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

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.

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

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

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?

I'm a 31-inch inseam guy. I always have my umpire slacks hemmed at 32 or 32.5. I had my last pair of plate pants hemmed at a graduating angle so that the front is 32 and the back is 33. They look pretty slick when you stand.

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. :D

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.

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.

Assignor 1: "Wear whatever you want as long as you match, and you both have a patch."
Assignor 2: "Navy's the standard, but you can wear any of those alternate colors as long as you match. I like the black."

Great pictures! Thanks for sharing.

http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m...lledStrike.jpg


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?"

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.

I'm going with "BALL".

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.

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.

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.

http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m...TheDirtSet.jpg

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

JM, I agree with CB... bring your head up higher ever so slightly.


In regards to the pants thing - I'm always afraid that if I get them too long that they will droop in the back and drag on the dirt.

I think it depends on your shoes. I wear Tanel 360's. Has anyone else experimented or have the same problem?


PS - I told you to drop the coach thing on your screen name years ago! (all you will be losing is post count) You look great brother!

I'm a 32 inseam and my poly-wools are hemmed a little over 33". They probably look a tad bit long to some people, but I'd rather have them that way than have them half way up my shin guards like my Smitty pants that I have. I had those hemmed way too short and they were constantly getting stuck on the tops of my shoes.

You too skinny, make some of us look bad. Eat some beans...

You had stated earlier that you remain locked even if the catcher adjusts. You may want to consider moving with the catcher and re-lock so you're in the proper position in the slot. When I was critiqued in the past, I was coached to adjust with the catcher. I feel comfortable re-locking now.

Not sure if you've tried that or not. I can say that the MLB guys will often times adjust with the catcher...it's something that is easy to see with the centerfield cameras.

Looks pretty good though.

Nice pics, JM. The only thing I've got for you appearance-wise is a suggestion to get yourself a wider belt. Your belt should be as wide as your belt loops will allow. Using the wider one will help prevent your ball bag(s) from bunching up like in the photos I left in below. Have a nice day!

http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m...2009/Play1.jpg

http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m...2009/Play2.jpg


http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m...3KSwinging.jpg

I don't think it's the belt or the ball bag. It's the umpire. He's too damn skinny! :D

This is a HS game with FED rules correct? If so why is the catcher wearing that skull cap and mask?

belt looks wide enough, just need to pull back the bag. Eat a cheese burger! Nice pics!

His belt looks like it's a full 1-3/4" wide to me. It goes from the top of the loop to the bottom, and I don't think a wider belt would fit the loops.

http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m...9/1stTo3rd.jpg


Hmmmmm!

Gonna need a little Grecian Formula for the "snow cap", there buddy boy! ;) :D

I'm betting JUCO boys......

I'm sure glad I didn't post pictures of myself if you guys are commenting about weight. I wouldn't hear the end of it! I like to think I'm a sleek, fast umpire at 131 lbs. It doesn't help that I also run marathons ;)

http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/t...to/Image_7.jpg

Now I've set myself up for criticism.

JM, you're looking good in my opinion!

-Josh

I'm used to seeing you in a tan uniform, Deputy Fife. JK look good kid. Nothing wrong with thin.

Nothing at all. Less wear and tear on the legs and back and heart when the weight is down.

I think I have spent at least 30 years trying to either get thin or remain somewhere near thin. I see buddies who used to be rail thin 20 or so years ago who are now considerably heavier than I am now that we're in our early 50s. I watch things carefully and do a fair amount of exercise to remain at my playing weight of 200 (6'0''), while they kick back and soar right past me. I can also still run pretty fast and throw pretty well, which is something that none of my old buddies can still do.

So, if you're predisposed to being thin: all the power to you!

195 lbs. dripping wet - 1990

http://i451.photobucket.com/albums/q...e/A_edited.jpg

Yep, there's a lot to say about genetics especially once we age and metabolism catches up with us. during the season, I try not to eat right before a game/games due to a few close digestive calls over my career. somehow, i managed to lose 15-20 pounds in the process...only happend this year though...my wife thinks I have a tapeworm! (joking about the worm, but no offense to anybody who's had the condition)

Pellegrino instead of Sprite; Power Bars instead of Butterfingers; apples instead of muffins ...

Excellent example of what I was talking about. I can't wait to see the same pose when you get back there! Still have the Elbeco??

I can give you the same pose now, but I'd look like Alfred Hitchcock! No, the shirts became rags many years ago.

Lost 30 myself since last summer. had to buy alot of new pants, but glad i saved the ones that were tight. Just gained 6 on a cruise, gotta get that off. Feel good at 6-2 and 207

Grayslake Central HS vs Wauconda HS

Gentlemen,

Thank you, one and all, for your comments.

Kevin,

Why Thank You! :o Coming from a "gear junkie" such as yourself, high praise indeed. The pants are actually the GD pants. The ball bags are the new Dri-Lo from the ABUA store. (I wear a Honig's K1 CP if anyone GAS.) I have, in fact, been complemented on my hustle on occasion.

The look on the batter's face in the 1st picture I found "priceless".

Forest (et al),

This is the 3rd pair of plate pants I have acquired in my brief umpiring career, and the first I had properly hemmed. Who knew "umpire fashion" was so complicated?

SD Steve,

My association, well, more properly, the IHSA was as well until the pre-season "certified" clinic held last year (i.e., spring of 2008) when the state clinician said that we could wear any color as long as we "matched". Prior to that, HS was Navy shirts and hats, heather pants. (This may not have been strictly adhered to by all members at all times.)

My association emphasizes "professionalism", part of which is being properly attired for the game - as a crew. Navy is still the all-purpose "fall back" color for any game at any level.

Ozzy,

When I was taught, I was taught NOT to turn my head to the side, so, that's how I started. I saw some pix. Looked kind of "dorky". Had some evaluations done. Evaluators gave me suggestions to change, because apparently they thought it looked dorky too (though they were too polite to use that word). Finally, worked a HS DH with a senior, highly respected guy in the association. I asked him what he had for me after my plate game. He said, "I know why you're doing it, but it doesn't look good on you to do it that way." He kind of showed me how to do it so I looked more athletic, confident, and decisive.

I have found that the trick to not "missing anything" when you turn your head is "timing". Always make sure you've seen what you need to see before doing something. You do have to be "focused" in that regard.

DonInKansas,

The pictures were taken by my brother and nephew who both have kind of "fancy" digital SLR cameras. Long lenses, high-res, very "fast" shutters/lenses/CCDs, and continuous frame shooting. Between the two of them, I got about 400 pictures during about 4 innings of that game.

Forest,

I went with "Strike Three!"

http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m...kAndPunch2.jpg

DG,

You sound like my mother, bless her soul!

I don't much care for beans. A good cheeseburger I do. I have a taller, slender build and, apparently, a high metabolism. What can I say?

bobby,

I'm wearing a "standard" 1 3/4" black leather umpire belt, from Honig's, I believe. So, I don't think that's it. Definitely some "bunching" going on with the bag loops. I'll work on it. Thanks.

LDUB,

You are correct, this is a regular season HS Varsity game. The answer to your second question is that the "FED illegal" head gear on the green catcher was apparently invisible to the PU. Until I got home and saw the pics. Then it kind of jumped off the computer screen at me. I can't believe I didn't notice that during the game! Live and learn.

I was curious how long it would be before somebody noticed.

Ozzy,

As I'm sure you already know, such cosmetic endeavors are only for pussies who can't handle reality. ;)

In closing, thanks again to everyone for their comments.

JM

I don't know ... that powdery dry matte black finish goes over big with the ladies, I hear.

I thought those were the Davis pants when I first saw them. Mainly because the Honigs poly-wools don't have the center belt loop in the back.

I was thinking strike when I saw it too. I call a low strike too and everybody knows it.

Definitely a strike height wise.

The Davis pants have THREE belt loops in the center back.

The ones he's wearing in that picture don't.

http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m...kAndPunch2.jpg

Great stuff Coach, I mean Ump. Gives us all a lot to discuss.

I looked long and hard at that 1st picture, at the catchers knees, the catchers glove, the batters knees, and the ball. Trying to line it all up from a 2d perspective and I figured ball. Looking now at the 2nd picture, where he caught it and how far back he was, it was a good call. Maybe just a little low.;)


My GD's have three loops in the back. I'm very aware of these loops. At least three times this season, I have told a partner that he has missed one of the three loops. I've gotten into the habit of reaching back there and checking it. (mine not his)

The one loop threw me off, too. :D

And JM, I too am just fine with that being a strike.

:D Well, I still have a full head of hair, more gray then brown. When it goes all gray it stays that way, if it falls out, who cares?

Great shots, JM! Yeah, I wondered about F2's helmet too.

The catcher received that border pitch at the knees quite nicely. Makes it easier for us to ring-em-up on those pitches. Rip that phonebook!

drop that name
 

no need to add the nee coachJm.....you are all umpire brother.......

get rid of those heather grey pants...LOL

The rules on what is legal.

Good for you.

Why? Many associations still require them. My association is going to move to charcoal grey next year.

My charcoals died the week before ;) My replacements were still getting altered. I have them now so you don't have to loose sleep over it :rolleyes:

-Josh

I was up all night wondering about it. Now, I know I can sleep better knowing you have yours. Now, if only I got them, then I guess others could sleep better. :p