What makes a good umpire?

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by robbie

I think you all tried to be too un-clinical (un-clinical.......... is that a word??)
Bottom line - Get the calls correct. We are paid (or volunteer??) to do a job. That job is to make judgement calls and to apply appropriate rules for the given situation. Our job is to do these 2 things with the highest level of accuracy that is possible.

Perhaps, but just because an umpire gets the calls right doesn't mean they're doing their job right. I'm sure we all know umpires who have great mechanics, judgment and rule knowledge, but screw everything else up on the field.

I think the heart of this conversation is finding out what separates the wheat from the chaff.