For your viewing pleasure, redux...

[Chris_Hickman]

On the foul, the players in this league WANT a call on a routine catch.

So the players tell us how to umpire now? GREAT!!! I KNOW the pitchers want me to give them that pitch 2 ball off the plate too...I guess I better do it....

The players do not tell us how to umpire. What the big boys cannot tell if a ball caught above their head is a "catch"? Give me a break!

Not "raggin" on you coach..but don't let the rats run your game.

[rookieblue]

UmpJM,

Thanks for posting these videos. That takes guts and a lot of integrity to throw yourself open to critiques. I may do the same, if I can find someone willing to tape me! You're a huge asset to this forum, and it's great to see you in action.

As for giving the players in a given league what they expect, why is that a problem? They - and the game - are the "clients," so to speak. Was it Richie Garcia who said, "a strike is where I call it and they don't *****"? We all give 'em what they want to some extent. This is entirely meet.

God bless,

Bob James

[DG]

Very nice and great courage to post. I don't have a problem putting the ball in play every time it is dead. It is a good habit. Do it rather nonchalantly and no voice with no runners, emphatically and with voice with runners.

The only thing I noted not mentioned here is that on one occassion players tossed balls to you from 20' or more. They should bring them to you or if tossed, a much shorter distance, like 5'. I especially despise a batter coming to the plate with a ball and he tosses it 20' before he reaches the plate. He is coming to the plate, why not hand it to me when he gets there.

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by DG

The only thing I noted not mentioned here is that on one occassion players tossed balls to you from 20' or more. They should bring them to you or if tossed, a much shorter distance, like 5'.

Get the catcher to catch them for you. That's why he's the CATCHer.

[johnnyg08]

Originally Posted by DG

Very nice and great courage to post. I don't have a problem putting the ball in play every time it is dead. It is a good habit. Do it rather nonchalantly and no voice with no runners, emphatically and with voice with runners.

The only thing I noted not mentioned here is that on one occassion players tossed balls to you from 20' or more. They should bring them to you or if tossed, a much shorter distance, like 5'. I especially despise a batter coming to the plate with a ball and he tosses it 20' before he reaches the plate. He is coming to the plate, why not hand it to me when he gets there.

I do both of these...yes, I've grown to despise the on deck hitter tossing me a baseball when he's coming up to the plate anyway. I also strongly dislike the baseball used as long bowling balls. Run them out or throw them to the catcher. I try to bring it up at my plate meetings. Sometimes I forget though.

[Kevin Finnerty]

When a ball is rolled to me--like they're helping--I stand there with my hands on my hips and look down at it for a moment. And then I slowly reach down and pick it up and look at the one who rolled it. Then, they don't roll any more.

And don't cover it in the pre-game. Less is more. Cover it when/if it happens.

[johnnyg08]

Yeah, it's one sentence, one request.

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

Yeah, it's one sentence, one request.

Usually they understand after you get the catcher to get the first one.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by johnnyg08

Yeah, it's one sentence, one request.

But, Johnny, veteran coaches will roll their eyes at you right from the plate meeting when you get too officious right from the start. It is not the tone you want to set. Cover only the stuff that is necessary and be brief.

[UmpJM]

Originally Posted by Chris_Hickman

So the players tell us how to umpire now? GREAT!!! ....

The players do not tell us how to umpire. ...

Not "raggin" on you coach..but don't let the rats run your game.

Originally Posted by rookieblue

UmpJM,

....

As for giving the players in a given league what they expect, why is that a problem? They - and the game - are the "clients," so to speak. ...
Bob James

Chris,

I think, in some respects, the leagues (not the players) DO tell us "how to umpire" - though I would phrase it differently.

The only reason not to give a mechanic on a routine catch is because it's a "DUH!" call. It makes the umpire appear to be a novice or inexperienced, and would be perceived as an indicaor of umpire incompetence at higher levels of play. That's not the case here, so I do it on occasion.

In the general case, I'm of like mind with rookieblue. There are SOME aspects of my officiating that are influenced by the level/league I am calling.

For example, a number of posters mentioned the players throwing baseballs to me rather than handing or 'short tossing" them to me.

Again, in this league only, I ENCOURAGE them to do so; it is a "pace of play" management technique, which I find a challenging aspect of these games. Other leagues, I don't.

A couple of folks commented on my integrity and courage for posting the video; while I appreciate the compliments, I guess I don't lokk at it that way.

Every game you work, people are watching you and, typically, offering you all kinds of helpful commentary about the quality of your officiating. Sometimes, it's hard to keep track of it all.

Here, I can get cogent feedback from people who I have some sense of their expertise from reading their aggregate posts here. I WANT to know what I'm doing wrong - so I can fix it. Other things, I think I'm doing right, but see I'm not when watching the video.

So, I'm really just being selfish! Seriously, I've gotten some very useful feedback when I've posted these things here, and if others can learn from my flaws as well, so much the better.

To wit.....

I was wondering if anyone had any comments or observations regarding my mechanics on the last play shown in the 2nd video linked in my OP. I know why I did what I did, but I'm not sure it was "correct".

JM

[DG]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

To wit.....

I was wondering if anyone had any comments or observations regarding my mechanics on the last play shown in the 2nd video linked in my OP. I know why I did what I did, but I'm not sure it was "correct".

You mean pointing fair when batted ball went off the plate? If so, I don't see anything wrong with that.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

I was wondering if anyone had any comments or observations regarding my mechanics on the last play shown in the 2nd video linked in my OP. I know why I did what I did, but I'm not sure it was "correct".

I have one comment: how the heck did you post a video of a game that will take place nearly 3 weeks from now?!?

Seriously, though, I saw a swinging bunt, which you signaled fair. What's the worry? The only thing I could think is that the ball seemed to go down the 1B line and you came out toward the 3B line.

I'd guess you did that to get an angle for running lane INT, since fair/foul was determined before you got out from behind the plate. Makes sense to me if that was it.

[UmpJM]

Michael,

Originally Posted by mbyron

I have one comment: how the heck did you post a video of a game that will take place nearly 3 weeks from now?!?

I'm bulimic. Lame "Zoolander" reference. Sorry.

Seriously, though, I saw a swinging bunt, which you signaled fair. What's the worry? ...

..., since fair/foul was determined before you got out from behind the plate. Makes sense to me if that was it.

See, that's the thing. Technically, the fair/foul status had not yet been determined when I pointed it fair.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

See, that's the thing. Technically, the fair/foul status had not yet been determined when I pointed it fair.

Ah, that happened out of the frame, and I gave you the benefit of the doubt. Now you got some 'splainin' to do.

[justanotherblue]

Since most comments have covered enough, I'll simply add, you have significantly improved since your first post.