In the zone...and then............

[Stu Clary]

Randy Goudy is an excellent umpire and fun to work with. There's no question that I am better at our craft for having been around him a bit.

[Steve M]

Steve just gave you a great check list. Follow that.

I usually find that when I lose it, I'm too fast. I'll then go back to the fundamentals - much as Steve suggests. To slow myself down, I'll also remind myself that my priority is not calling the pitch, it's watching the catcher catch the ball. If I concentrate on watching the catcher catch the pitch and then make my call - I've slowed myself down to when I ought to be.

[drh898]

Originally Posted by Steve M

Steve just gave you a great check list. Follow that.

I usually find that when I lose it, I'm too fast. I'll then go back to the fundamentals - much as Steve suggests. To slow myself down, I'll also remind myself that my priority is not calling the pitch, it's watching the catcher catch the ball. If I concentrate on watching the catcher catch the pitch and then make my call - I've slowed myself down to when I ought to be.

I love that, "watch the catcher catch the ball". I'll use that. Thanks

[drh898]

Originally Posted by Stu Clary

Randy Goudy is an excellent umpire and fun to work with. There's no question that I am better at our craft for having been around him a bit.

What I loved about Randy was that he asked me first if I was open to some advice before giving it to me. When I said "yes", that was the best thing I ever did as an umpire. I learned so much about umpiring that day. I hope to have the privilege again.

[SRW]

Just a thought...

What happened between your "in-the-zone" game and your "not-in-the-zone" game that may have changed your focus?

Did you drink Saturday night?
Were the games relatively the same matchups, or was one a blowout?
Did you sleep better Friday night than you did Saturday night?
Any fight with the better half?
Meal routine different?

Just some things to ponder.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by SRW

Just a thought...

What happened between your "in-the-zone" game and your "not-in-the-zone" game that may have changed your focus?

Did you drink Saturday night?

What are you saying here?

Did you sleep better Friday night than you did Saturday night?

Ignore this question if you stayed at a Holiday Inn Express

[SRW]

Originally Posted by irishmafia

what are you saying here?



Ignore this question if you stayed at a holiday inn express :d

:d

[drh898]

Originally Posted by SRW

Just a thought...

What happened between your "in-the-zone" game and your "not-in-the-zone" game that may have changed your focus?

Did you drink Saturday night?
Were the games relatively the same matchups, or was one a blowout?
Did you sleep better Friday night than you did Saturday night?
Any fight with the better half?
Meal routine different?

Just some things to ponder.

I didn't sleep well Sat. night. I have restless legs and after working 6 games on Sat. the legs really act up at night. I just think I was mentally more prepared Sat. then I was Sun., probably because I was tired on Sunday.

Next time I'll stay at the Holiday Inn Express.

[Steve M]

Originally Posted by drh898

I didn't sleep well Sat. night. I have restless legs and after working 6 games on Sat. the legs really act up at night. I just think I was mentally more prepared Sat. then I was Sun., probably because I was tired on Sunday.

Next time I'll stay at the Holiday Inn Express.

6 games Saturday is more than I want to do. And I'm almost 10 yrs from age 65. Over the past several years, I've become convinced that when uic's have umpires working 2 on, 1 off, and they are doing more than 4 games in a day - they really don't care if the umpiring is good. It may well be a numbers game - too many games & not enough umpires - and much of the fault there is the TD, not necesasarily the uic.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Steve M

It may well be a numbers game - too many games & not enough umpires - and much of the fault there is the TD, not necesasarily the uic.

This, at least in my area, is usually the reason. Sometimes, it is unpredictable if an umpire or two go down or call off after accepting an assignment.

OTOH, there are some umpiring whores out there that don't want to hear "one and one" and will not take an assignment if they know the format in advance.

To each their own, but I'm with Steve on this one.

[Steve M]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

This, at least in my area, is usually the reason. Sometimes, it is unpredictable if an umpire or two go down or call off after accepting an assignment.

OTOH, there are some umpiring whores out there that don't want to hear "one and one" and will not take an assignment if they know the format in advance.

To each their own, but I'm with Steve on this one.

And we all know some of those whores. The ones who'll tell you they are just as good in game 5-6-7-? as they are in game 1. Maybe they are - but that just means they are pacing themselves in every game and not giving any game the intensity it (players, partners, and the game itself) deserves.

Like Mike said, stuff happens - and then somebody else steps up and does more. In well run groups - Mike and Big Slick and some others I know are in this group - that's the exception, not the initial expectation.