Neighborhood plays

[GarthB]

Sparky:

Calm down, you're gonna have a stroke.

You're right, you were set up. You were set up in hopes you would see that you were being judgemental when in fact you were guilty of the same crime.

You were set up in hopes that it would help you to understand why umpires do certain things at certain levels.

You were set up to try to get you off you high moralistic horse.

You were set up in hopes that you would start thinking at a little more deeper level about the rules and umpiring.

You were set up to see if we could figure out what level you were at and what experience you had so that we could explain things in a manner that you would better understand.

If you will note, after your responses the posts started zeroing in on the topic in a more precise and, hopefully helpful manner. Kyle got it. You will too if you can lower your blood pressure a bit and open your mind a little.

Hang in there, you can figure this out, if you want to.

God forgive me, but this all brings to mind a "Peterism".

Peter is fond of saying that we should emulate the top umpires in our associations and do as they do, not as they say. The only real problem with this is that Peter fails to clarify which top umpires and at which games they should be emulated.

If you are calling 13U ball, and you emulate a top D-1 or even a Varsity ump and call your game like he calls his D-1 or varsity game, you're gonna have a long afternoon.

If you are calling 13U ball, emulate a top U13 ump, or the D-1/Varsity umps WHEN THEY CALL U13 BALL.

As you move up, watch the top umps and at each level take what they do and introduce into your game, at the appropriate level.

As I told Kyle, if you are not working games where these kinds of plays are understood or needed, don't call them. Nobody expects you to call the phantom tag at a PONY game.

I've called in New York, California and Washington and in every association I've worked with, the so-called "unwritten" rules, including the neighborhood play, have been observed from Freshman level on up.

The experienced umpires who call upper level ball on this site, TEE & HHH to name just two, will tell you the same thing. We are not making this up.

Relax, Sparky. You'll either get it and use it, or you won't. Either way, nothing earthshaking will happen. The ozone won't go away, the rain forest will still be destroyed and the American League will still have the designated hitter. The only consequence will be imposed down the road by those who decide your rating and your level of assignments. If they care they will let you know.


BTW: You'll know when the umpire gods show up when you see Carl post.

[Edited by GarthB on Aug 3rd, 2002 at 12:48 AM]

[jicecone]

And speaking of Mr. Childress.

Sparky. Get some of those books he has written. Believe me, they did more for me then any one umpire could have in all my years of officiating Baseball.

[blarson]

I saw it coming. The fact that you didn't even see it coming and typed the responses you did speaks volumes of the angle your approaching this from.

It sucks to be wrong in front of so many but you know what, I've learned a hell of alot by being wrong on the internet which has translated in to being right alot more often on the field.

Get to clinics now, early in your umpiring career. I envy the rookies I see when I go to clinics. They get a fresh start and don't have to 're-learn' and correct bad habits. Keep reading on the internet and keep posting. I learned more in the last three years because of the access to information on the net and the people I've met through the net than I did in my first 8 years of umpiring. (with a approx 10 year break in the middle).

Bob

[Gold_Spark]

I call Youth League Games to help out the league and because I love baseball. I have no hopes of succeeding higher up the ladder of "ball/strike" success. I wanted to post here because I thought it would be fun and that I could learn a few things. That's all.

I was set up with the questions, but I was hardly proven wrong. My answers were centered around the basis that I would call the game to the best of my knowledge and ability. My argument was against blatant ignorance of rules. It's easy to take something someone said and use it against them. Too easy. Especially to prove a point.

I'm sorry I came off as I did. I called a game tonight that made "The Official Forum" seem like heaven. lol. See my next post.

From now . . . no more advice from this wannabe umpire. I'll ask and listen. That's all. There's no reason for arguments. And I again apologize for my part in it.

[GarthB]

That's how 75% of us got started, Sparky. The bug bites. You've got the inquiring mind required to learn and a passion for "getting it right." I'll bet you're still with us years from now.

Welcome aboard.

GB