The Umpire's List of Lists

[Carl Childress]

Originally Posted by Tim C

As a member of the NFHS publication committee:

Printed media is dead.

See Marshall McClune;

"The media is the message."

T

Gosh, Tee: I didn't know the National Federation had stopped publishing rule books. I must have missed their announcement. Uh, I guess I also missed the notice from the Giddeons International society.

And don't brag about your post to anybody at the NFHS. They might wonder why one of their "consultants" didn't know who wrote The Medium is the Massage, which I was teaching at the college level at three deifferent universities in the 60's and 70s. The author was Marshall McLuhan.

Amazing! You're back at your old stand. And I was telling everybody your were cured of this bad habit.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Carl Childress

Gosh, Tee: I didn't know the National Federation had stopped publishing rule book. I must have missed their announcement.

And don't brag about your post to anybody at the NFHS. They might wonder why one of their "consultants" didn't know wrote The Medium is the Massage, which I was teaching at the college level at three deifferent universities in the 60's and 70s. The author was Marshall McLuhan.

Reminds me of one of the categories on the MTV game show Remote Control that was on the air when I was in college. It was called "Dead or Canadian."

McLuhan is both.

The host of the series, Ken Ober, is merely dead.

I have read things by Carl in print form and in electronic form. The BRD, for example, I want in *both* forms -- electronic mainly for searching purposes, although it's great to have on a phone to settle a bet in a bar.

But for a nice read, I want the print version.

[ODJ]

Originally Posted by Rich

Reminds me of one of the categories on the MTV game show Remote Control that was on the air when I was in college. It was called "Dead or Canadian."

McLuhan is both.

The host of the series, Ken Ober, is merely dead.

Kari Wurher is still alive and that's all that matters.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by ODJ

Kari Wurher is still alive and that's all that matters.

I preferred Marisol.

[ODJ]

Originally Posted by Rich

I preferred Marisol.

Wow, I forgot her. I think you correct.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by ODJ

Wow, I forgot her. I think you correct.

Not sure. I just looked at some old pictures and Kari may have been the one. But Marisol was first.

[JJ]

Here's my list. I've handed it out at clinics for years. Feel free -

BASEBALL THOUGHTS
1. Head out to home plate and the mound with head up and with determination.
2. If a catcher asks for help on a check swing, NEVER refuse.
3. When a relief pitcher comes in and is warming up, and you are the base umpire, walk behind first base to see where that free leg and foot are in relation to the plane of the rubber. It won't change when you're in the middle of the infield and you'll know when he does something differently.
4. If the team in the first base dugout is giving you static after a play, stand on the third base line between innings for a while.
5. If you are the base umpire, don't talk much to any players or coaches, even when a relief pitcher is warming up, unless you have something to say relative to the game.
6. Record all changes on your lineup card, even in a blowout.
7. Count warm-up pitches and don't allow excess ones unless the situation merits it.
8. Notice which foot a pitcher steps off the rubber with when nobody is on base - chances are he'll do it with the same foot when runners are on.
9. Clean your shoes. Polish them, too.
10. Get clean matching ball bags and pants that fit.
11. Buy a new fitted hat at least every two years. Shirts, too. Look the part.
12. Make frequent eye contact with your partner, especially when runners are on base, and acknowledge hand signs.
13. Someone else keep an indicator and use it with runners on base.
14. As the plate umpire, flash the count regularly with runners on base.
15. Ask other umpires why they do the things they do, and ask for critique of your own work from umpires you respect.
16. Discuss odd plays every chance you get, and dig for the answers in as many sources as you can - don't quit looking for an answer just because you find one.
17. Never stop learning how to umpire. Don't be satisfied with your performance.
18. Take a lawn chair and a carpet square in your trunk, and a water jug will save your life.
19. Take the appropriate rulebook to the game site, but leave it in the car or locker room.
20. Always volunteer to do the plate when you work with someone for the first time - you have more control there.
21. Join some professional organizations. Attend their meetings and read their literature.
22. Go to a school or camp. More than once. Learn one thing at each camp, and work on it until you’re comfortable with it.
23. In the last inning, if the catchers have been working hard, tell them, “You’ve done a nice job today”. They appreciate the compliment. Don’t carry on a running conversation throughout the game.
24. Don’t be afraid to admit you missed a pitch. We all miss pitches.
25. Work hard to keep people IN the game. Be a good listener.
26. Don’t get caught up in the game – you have a job to do that does not involve emotion. Coaches argue – we don’t.
27. When a hitter steps up to the plate, look at his hands. If his fingers extend off the end of the knob, odds are you’ll have a better chance of knowing if that “up and in” pitch hit the knob of the bat or his hand. If it hit the hand, he’ll be in pain. If his fingers extend off the knob it can’t hit the knob.
28. If your partner gets in an argument with a coach, keep other coaches and players away from him, and be close enough to your partner to hear what’s being said. If your partner ejects someone, he’s done talking – get in between him and the ejected party and get the ejected party off the field (“You have to leave…You gotta go….You’re done, you have to leave”….etc.).
29. Consider the source. When a player or coach has “words” with you, consider who it is and what the situation is before you react to them. Some coaches are very animated all the time, and some are very animated only when they are really upset. Same for players.

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by JJ

Here's my list. I've handed it out at clinics for years. Feel free -

BASEBALL THOUGHTS

3. When a relief pitcher comes in and is warming up, and you are the base umpire, walk behind first base to see where that free leg and foot are in relation to the plane of the rubber. It won't change when you're in the middle of the infield and you'll know when he does something differently.
.

A lot of good ideas however, when a relief pitcher comes in, I think the game is better served by having the BU in the infield and assisting with the number of warm-up pitches as your partner is adjusting the lineup cards. Not that there is anything wrong with your idea, however, I have never ever, in close to 30 years had to call that type of violation.

[JJ]

I count the pitches as well - I don't have to be in any specific place on the field to do that.

JJ

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by ODJ

Kari Wurher is still alive and that's all that matters.

I'm pretty sure she is more like last year's Halloween candy, and past her prime.

[maven]

Originally Posted by Carl Childress

They might wonder why one of their "consultants" didn't know who wrote The Medium is the Massage...

Must be the reality TV version...

[Publius]

Originally Posted by maven

Must be the reality TV version...

Your inexperience is showing. McLuhan's treatise likely sheds some insight on why you learned it the way you did.

[maven]

Originally Posted by Publius

Your inexperience is showing. McLuhan's treatise likely sheds some insight on why you learned it the way you did.

I'm familiar with it. I was commenting wryly on Carl's typo in the post where he chastens Tee for his typo.

[Publius]

Originally Posted by Carl Childress

Gosh, Tee: I didn't know the National Federation had stopped publishing rule books. I must have missed their announcement. Uh, I guess I also missed the notice from the Giddeons International society.

And don't brag about your post to anybody at the NFHS. They might wonder why one of their "consultants" didn't know who wrote The Medium is the Massage, which I was teaching at the college level at three deifferent universities in the 60's and 70s. The author was Marshall McLuhan.

Amazing! You're back at your old stand. And I was telling everybody your were cured of this bad habit.

Yeah, Tee. It's a bad habit that's acceptable, though, if you're hawking a product. Come back then.