Hey Ump are you blind?

[bellnier]

I'm sittin' on the fence re: getting Lasik surgery; however, a friend (who's an ump) has had his done and corrected only for distance...he wears bifocal sunglasses when he's working a game, where the top of the glasses are not corrected and the bottoms have correction for reading and close work.

[argodad]

Originally Posted by Andy

I have been told by several veterans (whose opinions I respect) in my area that one of the "little" things that makes you appear to be a better umpire is not constantly looking at your indicator for the count, outs, or clearing it after a play. Several of these umpires have taken a file and carved a notch in the wheels at the zero point so that they can clear their indicator without looking at it.

I take it a step further. I buy the three ball, two strike, two out indicators and doctor them. I smooth the wheel at each zero, and notch each two. Now I can tell everything by feel -- except ball one versus ball three (and I sure hope I know that one without looking ). I can clear it by feel -- and read it by feel.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by argodad

I take it a step further. I buy the three ball, two strike, two out indicators and doctor them. I smooth the wheel at each zero, and notch each two. Now I can tell everything by feel -- except ball one versus ball three (and I sure hope I know that one without looking ). I can clear it by feel -- and read it by feel.

Geez....if you guys would use all of this energy on staying focused during the game, you wouldn't even need an indicator.

[wadeintothem]

My technique is slight different.


I look at my indicated when I need / want to.

[azbigdawg]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

My technique is slight different.


I look at my indicated when I need / want to.

Sinner!!

[argodad]

Originally Posted by Skahtboi

Geez....if you guys would use all of this energy on staying focused during the game, you wouldn't even need an indicator.

And once or twice a year I will put the indicator in my pocket during a JV game just to prove to myself that I can do without it. Really improves concentration!

[tcblue13]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

My technique is slight different.


I look at my indicated when I need / want to.

Next time you do a beer and ball tourney (see other thread) get your wife to proofread your post

[tcannizzo]

Originally Posted by argodad

And once or twice a year I will put the indicator in my pocket during a JV game just to prove to myself that I can do without it. Really improves concentration!

WOW! A single game and no strikes thrown. You da man!

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by tcannizzo

WOW! A single game and no strikes thrown. You da man!

Actually, JV games here are a full 7 innings, no run rule. They do being to grow hair sometimes. They are a much bigger concentration challenge that any well-played game.

[Skahtboi]

Originally Posted by Dakota

They are a much bigger concentration challenge than any well-played game.

Even with a time limit, this is true!

[Steve M]

Originally Posted by Dakota

Actually, JV games here are a full 7 innings, no run rule. They do being to grow hair sometimes. They are a much bigger concentration challenge that any well-played game.

AMEN to that. I'll do 2-3 JV games each year, to work with some newer folks. I try real hard to make sure I don't have the plate on any of them. They're not necessarily a full 7 innings here, but 2 - 3 innings of JV ball can take longer than extra inning varsity games.

[WestMichBlue]

Sometimes I don't think that we live in the same world. I call plenty of JV games that run 65 to 75 minutes, 7 innings. Quality games that look like what you expect varsity to look like.

Of course there are some stinkers in there. There are a few schools that don't have freshman teams, or good feeder programs (L.L., rec league); but the majority play pretty good ball.

Our freshmen games are usually 5 inning DH. Two hours and we are outa there. (Yes, once in awhile you are going to be there 3 1/2 hours!) I had one freshmen game last year where one pitcher already had played 16U travel ball. She and her opponent battled to a 2-1 game with lots of strikes and few walks.)

WMB

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by WestMichBlue

Sometimes I don't think that we live in the same world. I call plenty of JV games that run 65 to 75 minutes, 7 innings. Quality games that look like what you expect varsity to look like.

Of course there are some stinkers in there. There are a few schools that don't have freshman teams, or good feeder programs (L.L., rec league); but the majority play pretty good ball.

Our freshmen games are usually 5 inning DH. Two hours and we are outa there. (Yes, once in awhile you are going to be there 3 1/2 hours!) I had one freshmen game last year where one pitcher already had played 16U travel ball. She and her opponent battled to a 2-1 game with lots of strikes and few walks.)

WMB

Sure, it varies. There are several top softball schools (big schools, natch), where their JV teams would likely compete for the state championship one class level down.

However, since they all play by the same rules, the games for the rec-level (or worse) JV teams at the smaller schools can be a chore.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not complaining; just observing that those games are a big concentration challenge.

[JefferMC]

This thread puts me in mind of a talk show I heard the other night where they were talking about a proposal in Texas to allow laser sights on rifles for blind hunters (with a spotter to tell them the dot was on the target).

I just wondered if they considered the impact on the sports of baseball and softball during hunting season. If all the umpires can suddenly go hunting, who's going to call the games?

[Rachel]

I know several DI CWS and regional umpires that do not use an indicator. They say it forces them to maintain focus.

I know that I could not do that yet. But I try to not look at my indicator much.