best way to call the game from behind pitcher?

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by Dakota

Fastpitch rec game, umpire doesn't show up, the OP is in the stands, is an umpire, but doesn't have his gear. Team asks him to umpire anyway, even if he stands behind the pitcher.

I can't imagine being in that situation.

There is never a time that my uniforms and equipment aren't in my vehicle. There just isn't any reason NOT to have them with me.

[IN ASA BLUE]

I wish I had an answer for you. I have only done this one time. Our local league was trying to get more umpires involved in the lower levels of instructional ball. i.e. getting SP to make the move. So the league initiated this policy that U10 Inst. games could be called behind the pitcher. A friend said I should try it, said "you will love it." Now I do both FP & SP, and it was a really hot day, so I thought I would try it.
Did the 1st half inning and hated it. I went to both coaches and said I would do the bottom of the inning to be fair but then I was going to go grab my mask and CP and call the rest of the game behind the plate.
I will never do that again, hot or not.

BTW, I think they did away with this anyway. Sorry I couldn't help though.

[Dutch Alex]

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

I can't imagine being in that situation.

There is never a time that my uniforms and equipment aren't in my vehicle. There just isn't any reason NOT to have them with me.

That must be a smelly car by now. Don't your uniforms leave the car to wash them? My bag is only in my car when it's getting transported from or to a diamond. otherwise it's at home (drying up and washing) or in the locker room (empty 'cause I wear the stuff).

[MD Longhorn]

I would have said, "it should never happen..." or "I can't imagine this" ... until it did.

Had to switch cars, so I am driving my wife's car. My stuff is in my car's trunk. Was asked to call a single game, 14U... told them I wouldn't be my normal 45min to an hour early and might even start a second late, as my wife had to meet me there with my stuff.

As it turned out, kid had an emergency and my wife couldn't come out there...

So I'm at the park, gearless. I tried 1 inning behind the pitcher and it sucked. Bad zone, bad view of action going on around me - no view of runners leaving, etc.

I actually had a much better time umpiring the game as BU - moving from A to B to C as appropriate. Told both coaches the zone was going to be big and they completely understood. Not a complete disaster and luckily both teams swung the bats - not too many semi-controversial un-swung-at pitchers. Recommend this as FAR superior to behind the pitcher (except perhaps at ages with closed bases).

[AtlUmpSteve]

Originally Posted by Dutch Alex

That must be a smelly car by now. Don't your uniforms leave the car to wash them? My bag is only in my car when it's getting transported from or to a diamond. otherwise it's at home (drying up and washing) or in the locker room (empty 'cause I wear the stuff).

Can't speak for you, Alex, or the ESA norm, but I have more than several sets of uniforms. Whatever is in the laundry has several replacements available. And the equipment bag is always there.

[BretMan]

Having an umpire behind the pitcher would have been a step up in my game last night!

In the men's fastpitch league where I play, for some reason no umpire showed up at our field. We had the catcher's call balls and strikes, with surprisingly few grumbles. As it turned out, there weren't really any banger plays on the bases or any other weird situations where you'd need an umpire to step in and sort it out.

It was actually one of the smoothest games we've had all year.

[HugoTafurst]

Originally Posted by BretMan

Having an umpire behind the pitcher would have been a step up in my game last night!

In the men's fastpitch league where I play, for some reason no umpire showed up at our field. We had the catcher's call balls and strikes, with surprisingly few grumbles. As it turned out, there weren't really any banger plays on the bases or any other weird situations where you'd need an umpire to step in and sort it out.

It was actually one of the smoothest games we've had all year.

Kind of reminds me of games we played in the empty lots when I was around 10 or 12 yrs old.

Do you play RF out if you are short players?
And of course ALL TIES GO TO THE RUNNER (as they should)

[BBUMP99]

The best way to umpire from behind the pitcher is, IMO, to be the base umpire in a baseball game in B or C position.

Now, if we're talking calling balls and strikes from behind the pitcher, thats a different story entirely....

[Dutch Alex]

Originally Posted by AtlUmpSteve

Can't speak for you, Alex, or the ESA norm, but I have more than several sets of uniforms. Whatever is in the laundry has several replacements available. And the equipment bag is always there.

I only work my games on Saturday, or sometimes on Sunday. Little country, not many playing the sport >> TOP-leagues only in the weekends and holidays. So I can have an empty car through the week... I do have multiple uniforms, however in every color only two shirts (1 plate & 1 base)
I do understand you have many more games in a week, and therefor have always a loaded car.

[bkbjones]

Mike and Tony were both close to the correct answer this question.

The best place is in the next to the top row of the bleachers with at least one post solidly between you and everyone at the plate. Be sure and make every call with the whiniest possible voice, be obnoxious as hell and as sympathetic as possible.

Occasionally, yell at the catcher to clean the *$*%^&^# plate. Of course every runner of one of the teams leaves early on every dam pitch.