Rookie Question

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by hawk65

My bad... I didn't realize this difference in a live-ball or dead-ball appeal. Better to learn now by this mistake than look foolish on a field.....

Nah.. the best learning comes with screwing up on the field....

[Umpteenth]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

Nah.. the best learning comes with screwing up on the field....

I have to agree. I'm glad it's only wreck league, but I try to approach each and every game as if it mattered a whole lot more. After all, it's my integrity on the line.

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by Umpteenth

I have to agree. I'm glad it's only wreck league, but I try to approach each and every game as if it mattered a whole lot more. After all, it's my integrity on the line.

Forget the level of ball - work on your game. They just happen to be there. I do some of my best fine tuning/tweeking of aspects of my game on lower level ball.

Every single game you work someone should be able to ask you "What are you working on?"

And you should have an immediate answer as to some aspect of your game you are consciously working on improving.

Thats my opinion anyway - I am ALWAYS working on improving something.

In fact, it is smoothness. Sometimes I over hustle and look a little less fine tuned. I was evaluated in JO ball last week by a NCAA evaluator, the same one who will be evaluating me in college ball next year, and that was my "ding".

Gotta figure out how to be coolbreeze like yall.

[Chess Ref]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

Forget the level of ball - work on your game. They just happen to be there. I do some of my best fine tuning/tweeking of aspects of my game on lower level ball.

Every single game you work someone should be able to ask you "What are you working on?"

And you should have an immediate answer as to some aspect of your game you are consciously working on improving.

Thats my opinion anyway - I am ALWAYS working on improving something.

In fact, it is smoothness. Sometimes I over hustle and look a little less fine tuned. I was evaluated in JO ball last week by a NCAA evaluator, the same one who will be evaluating me in college ball next year, and that was my "ding".

Gotta figure out how to be coolbreeze like yall.

That is pretty much how I approach my games.

I also got dinged at my National for overhustle...
So I've been working on my inner Cool Hand Luke.

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by Chess Ref

That is pretty much how I approach my games.

I also got dinged at my National for overhustle...
So I've been working on my inner Cool Hand Luke.

Yes - we must find out inner cool Hand Luke

My bads:

On bases on a dead ball - batted ball off the foot - too quick making the DB call - wait and see if partner makes it. My parnter was reacting to the play so I knew wouldnt call it.. still... wait. I concede I'm to quick to make the DB call on that.

On a shallow bunt I move too much following the play too close.. instead of just essentially standing on the appropriate line extended and watching it. I think thats the old catcher in me...

I was good on my timing for pitches and calls, stances, slot, game managment, etc etc though and got an overall "excellent" - I'll take that anyday!

Hey I'd like to see if I can find a way to put a word for you to come work the 18G NQ 6-26-28 if you are interested. A few of them you guys sent last year..... I can definately put your name in to our assigner. Not sure how all that works though- Send me a pm... maybe we'll working on our inner cool hand luke getting ready for that!

[Umpteenth]

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

Forget the level of ball - work on your game. They just happen to be there. I do some of my best fine tuning/tweeking of aspects of my game on lower level ball.

It's the only level I'm working right now, but that reminded me of a sitch last week. We were working a Co-Ed SP game, I was PU. I made 2 calls that my partner later said he would not have made, because this was like "4th of July Family Reunion" games. I disagreed, because if I'm being paid to call by a set of rules (in this case ASA), then I will call by that set of rules. Again, it's my integrity at stake, and I won't sell that out to anyone.

Originally Posted by wadeintothem

Every single game you work someone should be able to ask you "What are you working on?" And you should have an immediate answer as to some aspect of your game you are consciously working on improving.

Thanks. This is probably the best bit of advice I've seen/heard so far. It's more for me to think about in preparation for a game, but will pay dividends throughout my career.

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by Umpteenth

Thanks. This is probably the best bit of advice I've seen/heard so far. It's more for me to think about in preparation for a game, but will pay dividends throughout my career.

Part of your mental pregame preparations should be deciding something to be working on.. stance, timing, Trailing, or anything. There is ALWAYS something to work on and improve. Good luck!

[ronald]

ChessRef and Wadeintothem or anyone else,

Would you guys mind sharing what the evaluators mean by overhustle? How did they explain this concept?

Thanks, Ron

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by ronald

ChessRef and Wadeintothem or anyone else,

Would you guys mind sharing what the evaluators mean by overhustle? How did they explain this concept?

Thanks, Ron

I cannot speak for the UIC who issued this for ChessRef. For me, it is an umpire who "races" as if they are trying to beat the runner or throw. In some cases, it places the umpire in a position which makes it difficult to adjust to a problem which could be caused by a number of things including an errant throw.

Getting to the right spot with the ability to deviate in any manner necessary to make the correct call is what I want to see from an umpire.

[wadeintothem]

Originally Posted by ronald

ChessRef and Wadeintothem or anyone else,

Would you guys mind sharing what the evaluators mean by overhustle? How did they explain this concept?

Thanks, Ron

Essentially its hustling yourself out of position. In mine for example, I paralelled (sp) the developing bunt and defensive crash instead of maintaining on the line and as a result I did not have my "cool" - he said I looked like I was fielding the bunt (I bet I woulda got em out too). You can't be seen as running around like a chicken with your head cut off - an umpire must always be cool and in complete control. Hustle - dont over hustle. You dont need to be speedy gonzalez, you need to be smart.

If you run like Speedy Gonazalez and get 4 feet from a tag play when you should be at 8-12 feet from a tag play - you over hustled.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by ronald

ChessRef and Wadeintothem or anyone else,

Would you guys mind sharing what the evaluators mean by overhustle? How did they explain this concept?

Thanks, Ron

Another example of overhustle is if a runner starts for a base, and the umpire hauls butt to get to that base, stops, plants, ready to make the call, only to turn around and see the runner had decided to hang back on the previous base.

I'm sure at some point in time, we've all done that one.