How to "cover" for a weak partner
ok a volleyball thread made me think about this and it's off season for most of us softball folk so why not think about it;) What do you do to try and cover for a weak partner? Pregame is important but if you are out there with someone that is not that good, just ok, or flat out doesnt have a clue what do you personally do to try and make sure your crew has an acceptable game?
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of course you do.... he/she is your "teammate" ... me personally, I hustle even more.. watch them and cover any holes they leave. talk them up between innings if needed. keep things positive (even if i have to lie to them and tell them they are doing a great job)... getting them through the game and hopefully they will learn from your example is important.
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CYA......you can only do so much!
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You working with us this Sunday in Beaumont? 30 teams on 8 fields. |
Weak partner
First of all, why are they weak? Are they a brand new umpire - a newbie who is very teachable and soaks things up like a sponge? Or are they a broken down horse -- a 30 year veteran who hit their ceiling 25 years ago and does things a certain way "because that's the way I've always done it"?
A weak partner who is teachable is fun -- in non-high stakes situations like the rec ball grind -- because you can help them improve their game immediately in many cases and see instant, tangible results. On the other hand, the latter situation if really bad -- you do what you have to do to survive and hope the partner doesn't do something embarrassing or that the game doesn't implode on you |
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LOL... no wasnt talking about WG....shoot, most guys (good umpires like you) do that for me, and i appreciate it..lol Yes, will be in Beaumont Sunday. haven't called a game in over 3 weeks, hope i remember how ;) |
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Will say it again... ALWAYS cover for your partner.
If you let him get hung out to dry and then gets reamed by the coach it hurts you BOTH as a team. If its someone you don't like and have requested not to work with them, but still get assigned with that person. COVER for them anyways. Having trolled this forum for a while I have seen some people say some silly *** stuff (myself included..lol) but, I make a mental note for some of the people who say things like "screw my partner this and screw my partner that" or something to that effect, and I NEVER EVER want to work with them. For 6-7 innings you are married to that person "for better or worse" ... get divorced AFTER the game.:) |
Cajun,
I agree you cover for them, what I want to know, admittedly it is difficult to give an idea as there are several situations that might occur in a 7 inning game....but is HOW do you cover for them? Do you just keep an extra eye on their area of the diamond? Do you talk more to "remind" them what they should be doing? Again what do you actually do to "cover" for them? Some past ways you have or things you can think of that might happen that would allow you to help them out. |
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ahhh now i understand.... you want specific's. D#amn picky umpires... lol :D |
In regards to your 1BU blown coverage at home... unless you know they are going to blow it in advance (dont ask me how you would know this) you can only do what you did... Cover his @ss... If someone see's you turning and point him to home, all hell is gonna break loose (now everyone knows that the blue team doesn't know what they are doing) Now that being said... your 3BU should have seen this and should meet up with him in center field 'tween innings and give him the good word. and of course,there is the post-game meeting to rehash this. ;)
Disclaimer: These are just my opinions are not to be confused with actual umpire mechanics, at any time. |
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watching when not calling and asking questions when with, for lack of better word, more experience. I have seen and worked with you enough to know that you are not one to "hang his partner out." Even with more experienced umpires, I have seen and heard you give them advice, and usually good stuff. Now that I have sucked up, see you Sunday. Maybe we are on the same field. Hope so. |
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on the plate.:D |
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Of the 5 games I did do, 4 ended up plate games. |
yeah, I heard your partner had some muscle spasm problems... or some such thing.
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teams showed up, especially with all the hurricane problems that have been in the area, and continue to develope. Have a two day thing "scheduled" for next weekend, but looks like IKE will take care of this one. |
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back problems. From what, not sure. :D How did it go on your end? Learned a new rule, or actually the questioning of an established rule. R1 on 2B, batter gets on when F3 bobbles throw from pitcher, with R1 advancing to 3B. For some reason the infielders decide to gather at the circle, 2B being vacated by infielders. Coach on offensive team sees this and yells "There is no one covering 2B, no one covering 2B." F1 has ball, clearly in the circle. Coaches first attempt at getting runners attention failed, so he shouts again. Well, naturally the runner reacts and starts for 2B. BU, says nothing, so I kill it and call R2 out on LBR. Offensive coach's first words to me are, "Blue, no one is covering 2nd." Me, "your point coach?" Him, "No one is at 2B." Me, "Thanks for the out coach" [it has been a long inning} Him, "But no one is at 2B." Me, "Your are correct coach, no defensive player, and now no runner." Took several attempts to get across to him that one had nothing to do with the other. Even in a regular travel tournament, he would have probably been tossed, but this being a "Sunday In The Park", I let it ride. We also had a triple play, of sorts. Explain that later. |
Speaking of covering for weak partners, I worked with one the better part of this weekend who believed every softball myth that is out there, and a few that I had never heard of. Made for a challenging time!
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Are you two deliberately creating suspense or just trying to see who will guess at your next post? :confused: :p
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ROFL... I wish I was there for that. |
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