For your viewing pleasure, redux...
 

Guys,

Posted a video of myself working a game here a couple of years ago, and got some very helpful feed back, so I thought I'd do it again.

The game is from this past Sunday and is from an MABL wood bat game.

Any and all critique is welcome, from the general to the nit-picky.

Have at it. Thanks in advance to any who choose to comment.

http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m...hnsburg3JM.jpg

and

http://i332.photobucket.com/albums/m...hnsburg5JM.jpg

JM

I love how fast they change out. Wish all teams switched that fast.

I just watched one of them so far
 

Pretty good overall.

On some pitches, not all, seems like you were rising early. Otherwise, the mechanics are pretty crisp, clean.

I don't know if being that close to the catcher was the cause of the minor bump I saw or if he just turned back on you and caught you by surprise a bit.

A two minute half inning is a sign of pretty good umpiring, take it every time.

I applaude you for posting a vid of yourself...and asking for feedback. I know that there are people that post here that would never put a vid of themselves on the web for people to see. Anyway, I watched most of the first inning. Here is what I got:

Timing is ok..... Might slow it down just a tad. On a swinging strike 3, you dont have to hurry your mechanic.

foul pop up on 3rd base side.... no need for a mechanic on a "can of corn".. that ball looked oviously foul...IMO pointing foul is not needed on this play.

You put the ball back in play after every foul ball with no runners on base.
That is ok..but with nobody on base, not really needed.

Head height was good...maybe a inch higher.

Overall, I would work with ya...I dont know your experience, but I have seen MUCH...MUCH WORSE. You do not fall into that catagory. Now do you have any video of handling a pist off coach?? That's what I want to see. Keep working hard and good luck to you.

Watched video clip two. Seems like you're a little fast (timing) on your decision. Do you feel like you sometimes miss close pitches, sharp breaking balls, or fast balls that miss their target but are strikes (F2 set up outside and pitch hits the inside corner)?

JM, I noticed the same things as Chris, with the same reaction. On the foul ball I signal foul but not the catch if it's above the waist, and I don't put the ball back in play unless runners are on base.

The CABA world series is around here this weekend. Wanna work some games? ;)

You are not as low as you were in the last videos but I still think you should be up in your stance a bit more. You're chin still seems a bit below F2's head.

And I still think you're an old fart! :D:D:D
(one old fart to another!)

As Jimmy teaches, there are there components to establishing your the height: Width of stance, crouch and lean. It appears you are depending too much on the crouch.

First video at the 2:00 mark, you and F2 have a bump on a foul ball. Your instinct was to clear to his left, and you did so before he made a move, which also happened to be to his left. I've learned to stay put and turn with him -- if he turns left, I clear right; if he turns right, I clear left. You did a lot better on the next one (2:30-ish).

Other than that, everything looked good to me. I saw signaling with your partner, and you moved around as needed. Great job.

There is a band of sweat underneath your hat, your ball bag is 3/4 of an inch too far back, you are using an old indicator, the back of your shirt is wrinkled , and you need a new pair of socks. Despite all of these obvious flaws, I would work with you anytime.

My first reaction is usually one step back and look at F2. See where he is going. The one step back gives me enough distance that even if I misread it, I am still able to stay out of the way. I haven't misread one in a very long time and I think the one step has helped that. It gives me just a little longer to read where F2 is going before he gets to my position. Especially if it is one that is straight back and I don't know which way he may go.

Your video
 

;)If you are in the "slot", it looks as though your head ht. is at the top of the strike zone. Our umps who have been to PRO-school, tell us that is what they are teaching, not the ht. of F-2. I think your head ht. looks good. Around 5+ min. you called a ball and said "a little high or some description". I do not think you should describe where the pitch was. Your hustle to follow to 1st base was good, Mask off with the rt. hand, good. I would work with you from what I saw.

The real test comes when we have confrontations. Experience is the best teacher when problems occur. Learn from your mistakes.

Over all, nice work.:D

Do you mean "correct" hand?

Left hand
 

:o I meant to say with the correct hand (left hand of course). Thank you for correcting my "DUH" brain fart by an old fart.:D

That's what I figured, but some newer umpires might have been confused.

Look sharp back there. As others have said, slow down. I know I need to and you probably already know it.

And my comment from the last video you posted still applies: nice shin guards!! ;)

Gentlemen,

Thanks to all for your comments. A couple of specifics I wanted to reply to...

The Slav,

He completely surprised me by coming out to his left. It was obvious to me that the ball had been fouled out of play to the right, and it seems that catchers usually never initially turn to the side of the batter on these. I was ready for him on the next pitch.

Chris & Michael,

I noticed the same things about occasionally a little quick on the timing and a tad low with the head height. That's one of the reasons I like to get video of myself because I find it nearly impossible to evaluate myself on these things without seeing it.

With regard to putting the ball back in play, just something that was drilled into me when I started, so I do it whether there are runners or not; agree that it's unnecessary with no runners on.

On the foul, the players in this league WANT a call on a routine catch. Once had a routine catch on a "can of corn" to F8 and didn't make a signal. Got a few "That's a catch, isn't it blue?" comments, so now I just give them a mechanic.

Didn't have any "discussions" during this game but my videographer was under instructions to be sure to get it on tape if I did.

Michael, you should be careful throwing out invitations like that. If I hadn't been working the 18U/16U Northwestern Invitational this weekend, I just might have shown up!

Ozzy,

No, now I'm an OLDER fart - I'm certainly not getting any younger. Agreed - head height better, still needs a little work.

MrUmpire,

Very helpful observation. I've worked 5 plate games since you posted your comment, and I tried going "wider" with my stance, with less "squat". Felt comfortable and I "believe" I've got my head at a better height doing so. Have to see a pic/video to be sure.

NJump,

That's amazing. When I was dressing for the game, I popped my right big toe through a worn spot on the toe of the sock. I can't believe you picked that up from the video!

I'm not sure which pitch you're referring to - I NEVER give location on a ball (other than to the catcher early in the game). There's one pitch in the dirt just past the 5:00 min. mark on one of the videos where I said "no offer" - might be the one you're referring to.

Tanner,

I regularly receive compliments on my
shinguards! :rolleyes:

Again, thanks to all for your comments.

JM

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

Yeah, it's one sentence, one request.

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

Different expectations in different leagues / levels. You don't (imo) want to be the "******* umpire who makes us carry the balls out to him on an effin silver platter", nor do you want to be the "effin LL umpire who doesn't understand the protocol at this level."

And, you do sometimes have to spend some time "training" the participants what is expected / allowed. It's (occasionally) a fine line to walk.

I don't make a big deal of it. I mention it one time casually and in good fun. If they don't do it, I don't remind them that we talked about it at the plate meeting. If they do it, I thank them each time they walk them out to me or a short toss, or if F2 helps...as a method of positive reinforcement.

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.

Kevin,

I agree with you. Typically the veteran coaches know that's it's a courteous thing to do.

You'll overhear them sometimes, after a ball has been flipped to you: "Next time, hand it to the umpire."

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. :rolleyes:

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

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

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

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.

Michael,

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

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.

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

Michael,

Nothing happened out of the frame that you need to see.

The reason I pointed fair was that I started getting some "...It HIT him..." noise from the defense, the ball had come out "funny" with a "funny" sound, and I had clearly seen it hit the front edge of the plate without ever touching the batter as it bounced toward fair territory.

I just wanted to clarify my jusdgement in regard to those particulars, so I am emphatically pointed it fair - even though it really wasn't yet.

Good idea? Bad idea? Better way to do it? Just stand there & watch? What do you guys think? To me, it seems kind of "incorrect", yet it also seemed like a good thing to do in that particular sitch.

justanother,

Why thank you. :o I hope so...

OK, one more clip. This one starts with the last play of the half inning (which you will see again at the end of the clip). This was one of three "controversial" calls in the game and I'd be interested in your guys' take on the play, the players' reactions (audible on the soundtrack), and what you can tell about the umpiring.

UmpVideo :: MABL, 6/272010 #3 video by CoachJM - Photobucket

Play starts with an R2, grounder to the left side, fielder checks the runner back towards 2B & fires to 1B - and the R2 takes off for 3B as soon as the fielder commits to the throw to 1B. What you see is the back end as the F3 threw to F5 attempting to retire R2.

My partner and I had pregamed that BU would have the "2nd play in the infield".

Only other thing different is the catcher getting "dinged" on a pitch and me cleaning the plate to give him a minute.

JM

Good pregame topic. I too, prefer this mechanic. When I'm on the bases I'd rather have help from PU if I need it at 1B, I can get an angle for the call at 3B, then I have PU already at home on an overthrow.