Best piece of umpiring advice ever given

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by MichaelVA2000

... Why not just bait a coach or player early in the game ...

Look out... I don't think it was the coach that was baited!

[MichaelVA2000]

Originally Posted by Dakota

Look out... I don't think it was the coach that was baited!

I know, I'm looking for the bait and switcherooooo.

[wadeintothem]

Always remember, you get paid by the out and never, ever forget, tie base goes to the umpire.

*awaits response by MichaelVA2000*

[MichaelVA2000]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

Always remember, you get paid by the out and never, ever forget, tie base goes to the umpire.

*awaits response by MichaelVA2000*

Excellent switcherooooo.

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by MichaelVA2000

Excellent switcherooooo.

THANKS!!

I mean I've never been a MiLB scab or anything, but I do my best to keep up with you pros.

[MichaelVA2000]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

THANKS!!

I mean I've never been a MiLB scab or anything, but I do my best to keep up with you pros.

You're welcome!!

Do what you need to do.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

but I do my best to keep up with you pros.

You donate your time to umpiring?

[SWFLguy]

I agree whole heartedly on the timing of your calls. When I began doing this as a college kid in 1957, calling intramural ball, I thought you had to be quick and decisive. After a few "out/safe" calls and other messes I got myself in--I began to learn slow it down.

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

You donate your time to umpiring?

well actually.. much time is in fact donated (although no I dont work games for free).. umpiring is like the Army jody... "give you a 100 dollars and take back 99"

[MichaelVA2000]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

well actually.. much time is in fact donated (although no I dont work games for free).. umpiring is like the Army jody... "give you a 100 dollars and take back 99"

Jody Calls (http://www.geocities.com/mcleanjrotc...20The%20Mornin)

When I Get To Heaven
When I get to heaven,
Saint Peter's gonna say,
How'd you earn your money,
How'd you earn your way?
How'd you get to heaven,
How'd you get your wings?
With a little bit of anger,
This is what I'll say.
Earned my way as an
Airborne Ranger.
Livin' a life of Guts and Danger,
Blood, Sweat, Guts, and Danger.
That's the way, of an
Airborne Ranger.

[greymule]

When I began doing this as a college kid in 1957, calling intramural ball, I thought you had to be quick and decisive.

I did too, but we didn't simply make up such mechanics. Before some point in mid/late-1960s, MLB umpires called strikes before they hit the mitt, and made out calls practically instantaneously. Films from those days show umpire mechanics quite different from today's. They made many calls at 1B, for example, from just on the foul side of the running lane, a foot or two past the bag.

After many years and zillions of games, I still have to remind myself to wait.

[ASA/NYSSOBLUE]

Originally Posted by greymule

When I began doing this as a college kid in 1957, calling intramural ball, I thought you had to be quick and decisive.

I did too, but we didn't simply make up such mechanics. Before some point in mid/late-1960s, MLB umpires called strikes before they hit the mitt, and made out calls practically instantaneously. Films from those days show umpire mechanics quite different from today's. They made many calls at 1B, for example, from just on the foul side of the running lane, a foot or two past the bag.

After many years and zillions of games, I still have to remind myself to wait.

The whole business of actually S-L-O-W-I-N-G D-O-W-N your calls can be directly traced to Doug Harvey sometime in the mid 60's - a fact most of the idiots on the baseball HOF Vets Committee do NOT understand...I seriously think a letter writing campaign by ALL sports officials is necessary...

[greymule]

On what would have been the last out of the 1963 World Series, with the Yankees trailing the Dodgers 2-1 in the 9th, Tom Gorman, with one of those immediate calls, banged Bobby Richardson out on a force at 2B, even though Richardson's slide had beaten Maury Wills's in-the-dirt throw and Dick Tracewski had never come up with the ball in the first place.

After Gorman saw the ball rolling away from 2B, he reversed his call to safe.

Though the highlight narrator ignored the issue, it's interesting to see Richardson clearly hold his palms out toward Gorman as if to say, "What in the world are you calling?"