2004 My Bad

[Rachel]

To make new years' resolutions I think that we should admit to some of our mess ups in '04 so that we and others don't make the same mistakes. I have many but I can start with this one. For those of you who didn't make any mistakes this year, tell about anothers' mistake.

I had one of those fluff off the bat foul tip's in a high school game. The catcher goes for the ball and I called the out (thinking about the NCAA rule). Unfortunately, the runner at first who was stealing got picked off on the throw back to first. This is a good call in college and will be a good call this year in High school and ASA but not so good last spring.

The coach from the offensive team asked for time and as soon as that happened I knew my mistake. What I did was put a strike on the batter and since I was the one who put the runner in jeapordy, I placed her back on 1st.

What else could I have done? Is this what I should have done?

[Andy]

Rachel, I'm confused.....

You said "the catcher goes for the ball". To me, this sounds like the catcher had to make a play on a ball off the bat of the batter. If the catcher had to move to the ball, it's not a foul tip, it's a caught fly ball and the runner at first is required to tag up.

Unless I'm missing something, it sounds like you made the right call in the first place.

[Rachel]

The catcher moved her glove about 6-12" to the right and the ball had about a 6" arch to it. The definition of foul tip was different between high school and college last year. I am glad they removed the "no higher than the head" thing this year in Fed.

The definition of a foul tip is better in the NCAA book. That is what Fed. has changed for this year. I don't see the change in the ASA book though, so "not higher than the batters head" will still be an issue.

I will welcome any comments concerning this. What is considered the catcher going for the ball? Does the catcher have to come out of her stance?

Andy- I like your signature, that's why it's good to lurk in here.

[whiskers_ump]

Rachel,

Since no one else has posted an 04 mess up, guess you are
in a class of your own.

You know I am kidding since I have seen you call.

Have a Great New Year and see you in Beaumont.

[SC Ump]

When I make bad ones, I find that concentrating on good positioning helps me to be more consistant, whether at the bases or when working the slot. I think I will eliminate some of those 2004 mistakes by trying to do that the best I can.

As for a specific 2004 incident, the one that pops to mind is allowing the a coach to get under my skin. My judgment is negatively affected when this happens. ("Negatively affected" sounds a lot better than "I !%#& up.")

Remembering the basics and concentrating on the game and on my skills, as opposed to focusing on comments from coaches, players or fan, allows me to be a better official. If there are "personnel issues", I need to deal with those and then get my head back in the game. Sometimes that requires me to consciously state the basics to myself, "Okay, set up on the inside corner, eyes at proper level, feet square. Make sure you are set in your position when the pitch is delivered." If I concentrate on my techniques, the other things will fall in place.

Excellent thread!

[whiskers_ump]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Rachel
To make new years' resolutions I think that we should admit to some of our mess ups in '04 so that we and others don't make the same mistakes. I have many but I can start with this one. For those of you who didn't make any mistakes this year, tell about anothers' mistake.[QUOTE]

Rachel, since I had already posted this mistake, go here
to review. Told you I would find one.http://www.officialforum.com/thread/16552

Oh almost forgot this one:
http://www.officialforum.com/thread/16325

Reason for editing.



[Edited by whiskers_ump on Jan 2nd, 2005 at 09:04 AM]

[Roger Bridges]

Ok ill own up to it.........play at the plate,10u,im in perfect position,see the tag,in plenty of time,i ring the runner up! Runner looks up at me and very sweetly says,blue she dropped the ball! Then stands up and hands me the ball! I immediately reverse the call,and look for a hole to hide in! No one said anything at all,but from that moment on i learned to say,catcher show me the ball please.

[whiskers_ump]

Roger,

Just a helpful hint. Utilize caps other than just when
starting a sentence. Helps the readers. I noticed that
everytime you say "I" unless it is at the beginning of
a sentence, it is in lower case. Not picking - just want
you to know it does help.

[Roger Bridges]

O.K. Glen and thank you.