Partner Evaluations

[JJ]

There's a great thread going that Tim C started about whether or not coaches should evaluate umpires.
My question is related - do you solicit comments/criticisms/evaluations from your partner
A) After EVERY game?
B) Sometimes, depending on the partner?
C) Sometimes, depending on how the game went?
D) Never.

I'll post my 2 cents worth later. Thanks.

JJ

[umpduck11]

Originally Posted by JJ

There's a great thread going that Tim C started about whether or not coaches should evaluate umpires.
My question is related - do you solicit comments/criticisms/evaluations from your partner
A) After EVERY game?
B) Sometimes, depending on the partner?
C) Sometimes, depending on how the game went?
D) Never.

I'll post my 2 cents worth later. Thanks.

JJ

B) Whenever I am working with someone whose opinion I value. Someone who has proven himself to be a quality umpire and have good judgment on the abilities of others. Case in point: After working a tough area game with one of our best guys, I asked his opinion of my plate work that day. His answer was: " Not a perfect game, but there are no more than five guys in our assc. who could have called that game as well as you did today". In walks another of our umpires, whose son happens to play on the home team. Unsolicited he tells me "That was nowhere near the best game I've ever seen you call. You missed a bunch of pitches, IMO". This guy comes nowhere near meeting the parameters I set forth early in this reply, so I would never ask him his opinion of my game.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by JJ

There's a great thread going that Tim C started about whether or not coaches should evaluate umpires.
My question is related - do you solicit comments/criticisms/evaluations from your partner
A) After EVERY game?
B) Sometimes, depending on the partner?
C) Sometimes, depending on how the game went?
D) Never.

I'll post my 2 cents worth later. Thanks.

JJ

I found that I went through a progression as I advanced. When I first started varsity, I was put with good partners on good games. I always asked for input in those games.

For a couple years, I was put on medium and bad games with bad partners. I'd guess I got those games because (a) my assignor needed to use the bad guys to cover games, and (b) I was supposed to keep them out of trouble. I usually did not seek input from those partners.

Now I seem to get mainly good games with good partners again. We talk after every game about any miscommunication, strange plays, or other issues.

The tone of my current postgame is more "what could we as a crew have done better?" Earlier in my career the tone would have been "what could I as a novice have done better?" Except for games where I'm 2/3 of the 1.5 umpire crew, I always do a postgame.

[bob jenkins]

I ask every time. How well I listen depends on who the person is.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

I ask every time. How well I listen depends on who the person is.

Is that why you asked me as you were pulling away in your car?

[IowaMike]

I have one guy who I work a lot of games with. We have always agreed to be brutally honest with each other in an attempt to make ourselves better both individually, and as a crew. I will always listen to what he has to say. We do a post game after every assignment together.

When I work other games it depends on who I am working with. If it's an inexperienced guy I don't ask for feedback, though I will gladly listen to any they offer. When I work varsity games with well respected, very experienced guys I always ask for feedback on how they felt we worked together. Likewise, there are newer guys who will ask me for feedback and many other experienced guys who never would ask for my opinion because they view me as newer and far less experienced.

I like getting feedback from other umpires and don't really have much of an ego about it. Not everything I get is of value, but I want to get better and sometimes a guy you don't work with that much will see something that your more regular partner does not.

[UmpJM]

JJ,

I'll ask pretty much every time, regardless of my perception of my partner's ability relative to mine.

JM

[johnnyg08]

I ask every time...I rarely get feedback that I can use...but I've been surprised before...

When asked to give feedback, I do, but the guys never seem too receptive...

It's tough sometimes to make the most out of your post games. I'm so focused on my job on the diamond that it's tough for me to give a thorough evaluation...I've written notes on the back of the lineup card between innings when I'm working with a new official who has specifically told me that they want feedback. Then I tend to forget less if I write it down between 1/2 innings.

[briancurtin]

I usually work with a small group of partners who I know pretty well, and we tend to just go right into discussion when necessary. If it's a newer partner I'll ask and see how far they want to go and what they have to offer.

I'm working with Bob Jenkins next weekend so surely I will listen closely.

[David B]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

I ask every time. How well I listen depends on who the person is.

I like that! And is true for me also ...

Thanks
David