Distance from catcher

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

If you climb on F2's back when F1 comes set, you should be okay. Just jump off when F2 catches the ball!

Hey, don't get ticked off - a dumb question deserves a dumb answer!

ozzy6900:

Judging by the answers given in the posts before yours, it appears to me that cc6 had a legitmate question (and that he is probably a new umpire, probably three years or less of experience, I am guessing). Therefore, that makes his question not a dumb question but your post a dumb post.

MTD, Sr.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

ozzy6900:

Judging by the answers given in the posts before yours, it appears to me that cc6 had a legitmate question (and that he is probably a new umpire, probably three years or less of experience, I am guessing). Therefore, that makes his question not a dumb question but your post a dumb post.

MTD, Sr.

The poster you are referring to is a resurfaced troll who we tried to teach several years ago. He has come back to us under a different name but the same troll as before.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.

ozzy6900:

Judging by the answers given in the posts before yours, it appears to me that cc6 had a legitmate question (and that he is probably a new umpire, probably three years or less of experience, I am guessing). Therefore, that makes his question not a dumb question but your post a dumb post.

MTD, Sr.

This is cc6's second, at least, incarnation. An earlier, perhaps first, was as candaump6 who first graced these pages around February 2007, I believe. A sample of an early post, which would seem to indicate a level of previous experience:

Originally Posted by candaump6

By my second game of the season I have my strikezone consistent to within one to one and a half inches on the corners, an inch on the low part of the zone, and I've got a general idea of the high part of my zone as well. Usually just takes me one plate game to get me back in the swing of things."

While looking back at this goldie oldie, I was equally amused to see one of ozzy's early replies:

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

OMG! Get Stuffed, will you please?

[cc6]

I am very disappointed with most of the replies to this thread. The replies themselves are classless- I am not making any moral judgments about the people who posted them. It was a legit question as Mark T. DeNucci, Sr. pointed out.

I asked because I am making adjustments to my stance, including changing distance from the catcher. I have been told that I should be far back enough that I shouldn't have to move when the catcher throws. I was planning on keeping it that way, and moving in a bit, but a in this thread a couple people mentioned getting out of the way when the catcher throws. It is hard to know whether it is sarcasm or not. I see sarcasm as a very dangerous form of trolling, because it can be misinterpreted as real advice.

Mark, ozzy has been attacking me for years now, without any sort of provocation. I have observed that people who put someone down often do so because they are unhappy, and their behaviour tends to repeat itself with other people.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by cc6

I have observed that people who put someone down often do so because they are unhappy, and their behaviour tends to repeat itself with other people.

Being unhappy is the only reason? An oversimplification, maybe?

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

Being unhappy is the only reason? An oversimplification, maybe?

Deliriously happy myself.

Hey Bobby, the advice I gave, while a smart a$$ answer, was also very sound advice. If you are getting hit by the catcher, you are either too close, or you don't know how to get out of the way properly. When you see that the catcher is going to have a play, stand up and back away.

[cc6]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Deliriously happy myself.

Hey Bobby, the advice I gave, while a smart a$$ answer, was also very sound advice. If you are getting hit by the catcher, you are either too close, or you don't know how to get out of the way properly. When you see that the catcher is going to have a play, stand up and back away.

I like that answer. Thank you Steve. Let's continue to talk about distance from catcher. It's nice to have a mechanics discussion from time to time.

[johnnyg08]

I've enjoyed getting seats along the 1B or 3B line and watching the different MLB guys work the dish. I watch their head height and distance from F2...on TV, I watch how they adjust when F2 takes away their slot or relocates at the last minute.

As for the perfect distance...I don't think there is one...certainly you can be too far back...but as for your starting point...the other posters have summed it up nicely. Try to get evaluated from a competent official in your area...he should be able to give you feedback on how you're working...if you know he's going to be there, ask him to watch for it. A lot of where you want to be in umpiring depends on you. Many will get by being "good enough"...you have to decide if that's where you want to be.

[cc6]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

Being unhappy is the only reason? An oversimplification, maybe?

True, but there's no point in getting into a long explanation.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by cc6

including changing distance from the catcher.

Why? What problems has your current distance caused? (it's a rhetorical question)

Try standing at the back of the catcher's box (9' from the center of home plate) for (almost) all pitches. That will give you a consistent look no matter where the batter and catcher set up.

If the batter is far forward and the catcher moves way up, then you can move forward just enough to see the plate.