Black and Blue

[GarthB]

I have been told by my evaluators that my zone is consistent.

Excellent. Your stance sounds comfortable, which I believe is another key.

Years ago, in my petulant youth, I tried copying this ump and that ump. I tried scissors and the knee. Nothing felt comfortable. I always felt like I was working harder than I should be.

After a camp I went to about five years ago, I began using a double wide stance. (Even before the current "Gerry Davis" stance craze). I experimented with different head heights, arm/hand positions and various degrees of being "in the slot".

Three years ago as I began a new season, I settled on keeping the double wide stance, standing a little higher than "usual" and placing my hands on my thighs slightly above the knees. If I get a shot to the hands, they are not between the ball and a hard spot and are protected better from injury.

I pull my elbows towards my body slightly which turns my arms so that the fleshy side is forward and any shot to the elbows would a glancing shot and no bony structure is exposed to a direct hit.

I find being slightly higher and back from the catcher a bit, but still in the slot, the outside courner and the low pitch are more easily definable. My superiors have told me that the I have become very consistent at the knee, and I have notice a marked absence of moans from the dugout when I call strikes at the knee over the outside.

The most important difference I have noted is that I feel comfortable in my stance. I do not feel like I have to work to see the pitches. I can more accurately report where the pitch was, instead of tyring to decide where the pitch was. Ya know what I mean?

I realize I still miss some pitches. I think I have a realistic view of that. I believe ANYBODY who walks away from a game and says, "I didn't miss a pitch" or I missed one" is fooling only himself, or has a huge strike zone.


Glad to hear you're doing well. C'mon up to Spokane in August. I can still use some more umpires at the tournament.