Things I Learned....

[scrounge]

Today was quite an educational day today for me, I learned a quite a few techniques from my partner in a JV doubleheader. For example:

 

• When wearing a jacket as base ump, it's ok to to leave it unzipped halfway
• Go ahead and keep your hands in your pockets while in B/C, it shows you're relaxed
• Brush off the pitchers plate at every half inning (you DID bring your brush, right?)
• It's important to chat with the 1B coach and develop a joking, friendly relationship
• There's no need to pivot on hits to the outfield....ever. Just stay outside and follow the runner.
• If in B/C and there's a trouble ball in the vee, by all means go out and cross the basepath - even if you get in the way of a runner

 

From the 2nd half of the double header, I learned other important tips:

 

• The ball is dead on a 4 ball walk. Unless it's a passed ball, in which case it's live. (Luckily, this one was learned in pre-game 'discussion', not the hard way)
• Make sure to carry your rule book in your ball bag (and not just the little regular one, the larger 4x6 Rules By Topic book)
• No need to take your mask off between inning, it projects an image of seriousness
• On those rare occasions in which you must take your mask off, remember - the hat and mask are one unit and are always removed together
• If the catcher has a passed ball to the deep backstop with no one on, no need to give him a ball  - make that kid chase it
• The strike zone is a wide isoceles triangle - that shin high outside pitch is a strike but that belt high pitch on the corner? Meh...
• It's best to call the strike just an instant before the ball hits the catchers' glove - it projects decisiveness

Ah, good times.

[PonyUmpire]

Was this a rookie?  I hope you constructively critiqued him after the game.

[BigUmpire]

My 2 year HS senior and junior umpires would not do ANY of this.

LOTS of training and lots of between innings talks with veteran umps.

I email out 2-3 rules questions every week.

One of my guys said that he has watched the umpires in his HS school games the last 2 years more than the plays.

It takes effort on both the trainer and trainee.

It’s more about attitude that ability.

BUT how do you get them to shine their shoes?

[WES2006AG]

That guy had to be kidding!

[carolinablue]

Today was quite an educational day today for me, I learned a quite a few techniques from my partner in a JV doubleheader. For example:

 

• When wearing a jacket as base ump, it's ok to to leave it unzipped halfway
• Go ahead and keep your hands in your pockets while in B/C, it shows you're relaxed
• Brush off the pitchers plate at every half inning (you DID bring your brush, right?)
• It's important to chat with the 1B coach and develop a joking, friendly relationship
• There's no need to pivot on hits to the outfield....ever. Just stay outside and follow the runner.
• If in B/C and there's a trouble ball in the vee, by all means go out and cross the basepath - even if you get in the way of a runner

 

From the 2nd half of the double header, I learned other important tips:

 

• The ball is dead on a 4 ball walk. Unless it's a passed ball, in which case it's live. (Luckily, this one was learned in pre-game 'discussion', not the hard way)
• Make sure to carry your rule book in your ball bag (and not just the little regular one, the larger 4x6 Rules By Topic book)
• No need to take your mask off between inning, it projects an image of seriousness
• On those rare occasions in which you must take your mask off, remember - the hat and mask are one unit and are always removed together
• If the catcher has a passed ball to the deep backstop with no one on, no need to give him a ball  - make that kid chase it
• The strike zone is a wide isoceles triangle - that shin high outside pitch is a strike but that belt high pitch on the corner? Meh...
• It's best to call the strike just an instant before the ball hits the catchers' glove - it projects decisiveness

Ah, good times.

 

 

Geez, I've been doing it all wrong. I'm such a Smitty.

[JHSump]

Today was quite an educational day today for me, I learned a quite a few techniques from my partner in a JV doubleheader. For example:

 

• When wearing a jacket as base ump, it's ok to to leave it unzipped halfway
• Go ahead and keep your hands in your pockets while in B/C, it shows you're relaxed
• Brush off the pitchers plate at every half inning (you DID bring your brush, right?)
• It's important to chat with the 1B coach and develop a joking, friendly relationship
• There's no need to pivot on hits to the outfield....ever. Just stay outside and follow the runner.
• If in B/C and there's a trouble ball in the vee, by all means go out and cross the basepath - even if you get in the way of a runner

 

From the 2nd half of the double header, I learned other important tips:

 

• The ball is dead on a 4 ball walk. Unless it's a passed ball, in which case it's live. (Luckily, this one was learned in pre-game 'discussion', not the hard way)
• Make sure to carry your rule book in your ball bag (and not just the little regular one, the larger 4x6 Rules By Topic book)
• No need to take your mask off between inning, it projects an image of seriousness
• On those rare occasions in which you must take your mask off, remember - the hat and mask are one unit and are always removed together
• If the catcher has a passed ball to the deep backstop with no one on, no need to give him a ball  - make that kid chase it
• The strike zone is a wide isoceles triangle - that shin high outside pitch is a strike but that belt high pitch on the corner? Meh...
• It's best to call the strike just an instant before the ball hits the catchers' glove - it projects decisiveness

Ah, good times.

These are such good lessons!  I especially liked the explanations of why one must keep the mask on between innings and why it is best to call a strike just before the ball hits the catcher's mitt.  I wish these things had been explained to me long ago.  

 

So, what plate stance did your partner use?  I suspect I have much more to learn.

 

I do have a serious question:  What do you guys do --- during a game --- if there are some things that our partner is totally wrong in doing?  (Haha "some things" isn't right in you case.)  Do you wait till after the game to discuss it?  Talk between innings?  Make suggestions?  Outright say, "Don't do that."?  Ignore some things, address the worst issues?  Address only the issues directly affecting the game (e.g., coverage).  Ignore just about all of it, and hope to never see him again?  haha

 

I myself learned yesterday from my partner that between innings, the PU should take his mask off and place it on the dirt behind the catcher, near the backstop.  Then take up where you left off with a continuing and apparently hilarious conversation with the moms sitting behind the backstop.  When the pitcher is done warming up, pick up your mask and blow the dirt off it.

[pnewton]

Today I learned to point a batter to first base with your right hand on ball four and make it look as much like your strike mechanic as possible!

[maineump]

Learned last year from an 'experienced ump' that I had NEVER even heard of -

- Always remove your mask with your right hand (avoids messing up your 'clicker')

- When a play is coming to the plate - immediately throw (not toss) said mask away from the plate area

- It is fashionable and smart to wear plate shoes on the bases - you never know when a worm-burner will take you out!

- Always wear a ball bag on the bases. It makes a great place to keep keys and cell phone

- When answering that cell phone, make sure to tell the caller that you are busy and will call them back

- I was also reminded, like above, a dirty base or pitchers rubber - is a sad and feeling neglected base.

 

This guy was a trainer too!!

 

BTW - he can't understand why he was never invited back to our area to work more games after that day - who'd a thunk it?

[carolinablue]

I learned a neat preventative umpiring tecnique for base umpires this season. If you will yell at F3 to move and get out of the way when there is a possible double it will keep you from having to make a messy obstruction call.

[Daniel]

I was once told after working a baseball game (4 man crew BTW) that U1 should brush off the rubber between innings. (To which I told this "partner" that we don't do that in baseball)

I've learned that if you're the BU, "over ruling" your partner on the dish is an OK to do. (Yes I had my BU do THAT to me once!)

There is no need to wear a hat as PU, and if your partner gives you one of his, turn it backwards.

Bring your tourney rule sheet to the plate meeting, it shows the coaches you understand the rules well.

As PU, you can call runners out for stealing too soon at second base, because you can "see them".

An "Infield fly" can be called if the fly ball can be caught by ordinary effort by an outfielder.

An IFF can be called on a bunt which goes straight up in the air, because its a "failed bunt attempt" and the rule only excludes "bunt attempts"

As PU, you can make the call on a second play at 2B if he forgets that the rotation is on and makes the call at 3B anyways.

PU ALWAYS has ALL plays at 3rd base, even on a steal. You just worry about 1st and 2nd.

The above, but with a twist. You have to rotate home to cover it for PU.

Steal a spectators chair outside dugout while waiting for the ground crew to finish, because you're a fat lazy a$$.

PU should yell out "sometime today!" when a mound conference is taking too long.

[th3]

Back to shocking myself at the things i do not know  - it seems as a defensive player can be called for "defensive interference"  if he fields a batted ball in the runners basepath!

[scrounge]

This must be the week of weird partners for me. Against my better judgement, I picked up an allegedly 'varsity' game in our city league earlier in the week. It's horrible baseball, but what can you do? Many of these kids never played before high school, I feel for them...but not enough to do a lot of those games. They generally don't get the best umps and have a hard time filling their games.

 

Anyway, me and my partner walk on the field and a couple of the players say "finally we get some young umps". I'm 44 and my partner was probably about the same. Apparently they've been getting the 70 yr and up crowd. My partner started chatting with the head coach about war stories of previous umps. I guess the last guy worked from his knee...and never moved. At all. The entire game. I got a little uncomfortable about how long they went on and on about previous umps and tried to change the subject, but they kept at it for a while. Finally we got the game going. It was horrid but the kids were trying.

So, back to the topic, between innings my partner would go sit with the coaches on one of their spare buckets in their extended dugout. How courteous of them to provide an extra! But that really wasn't too bad I guess. The thing that really tripped me out was he would break out a bag of sunflower seeds and pop some in his mouth.

 

That's no big deal, right? Oh yea, it was BETWEEN BATTERS while he was in B/C position! He was a friendly guy and mechanically was fairly sound. But I admit I hadn't seen this one before.

[guyinaredhat]

I've been coaching a very bad middle school baseball team this season.   We've had the same umpire for all our home games.  I've learned I've been doing things all wrong ...

 

 

Slip on Vans are the perfect umpire shoe, comfortable, affordable and oh so stylish ,  bonus points for the oldest greyest model you can find, 

 

Softball powder blue is the perfect color to show off that you're up on the latest in umpire fashion. 

 

Don't point , and barely verbalize strikes. Who cares if the players and coaches don't know what the pitch was or the count , too bad for them.     

 

Emphatically point all around when it's a ball .   This shows off your keen knowledge of the zone  and helps the coaches know where the pitch missed .  

 

 

 

oh and of course 

Call em from behind the mound .  

[Aging_Arbiter]

Learned last year from an 'experienced ump' that I had NEVER even heard of -

- Always remove your mask with your right hand (avoids messing up your 'clicker')

- When a play is coming to the plate - immediately throw (not toss) said mask away from the plate area

- It is fashionable and smart to wear plate shoes on the bases - you never know when a worm-burner will take you out!

- Always wear a ball bag on the bases. It makes a great place to keep keys and cell phone

- When answering that cell phone, make sure to tell the caller that you are busy and will call them back

- I was also reminded, like above, a dirty base or pitchers rubber - is a sad and feeling neglected base.

 

This guy was a trainer too!!

 

BTW - he can't understand why he was never invited back to our area to work more games after that day - who'd a thunk it?

 

You forgot that holding your hands up near the side of your head to resemble moose antlers is the infield fly signal.

[Kevin_K]

I have recently learned that…..

 

as PU you should wear Big Ben on your wrist to make sure the time between inning does not exceed one minute; in addition, the expected color scheme of your mask should be all red so as to not clash with the pink heather grays you are wearing.

 

it is perfectly acceptable to carry all your plate gear in a duffel bag into the HT dugout so you can gear up at the field rather than in the parking lot; further, it is expected that your partner should rush to get dressed at his car in order to accompany you to the dugout so that the game does not start late

 

that if it gets to warm during the game it is perfectly acceptable to go to your duffel bag in the HT dugout, remove your jacket, and put on a wrinkled short sleeve faded blue shirt over your 1970s porn star long sleeve grey turtle neck.

 

in baseball, time is signaled by reaching up to the clouds with your right hand open and yelling “Dead Ball!â€

 

 

[JHSump]

Wow!  This whole thread could be adapted into a training manual for new umpires!

 

Better yet, a re-training manual for veteran umpires who never absorbed these important lessons.

 

I await the next gem...

[BuckeyeMike]

I learned that it's perfectly acceptable (and common sense really) for the PU to call the out at first on a bunt when the BU is in the "C" position.

 

I learned the PU should most definitely engage fans who are chirping about calls in an effort to educate them.

 

And what's all this 1BLX and 3BLX crap??  You can get just as good a look if you position yourself on the fair side of home plate,

[KLAH316]

• Sitting on the railing along the fenceline (or the folding chair you brought to the field), between innings shows that you are relaxed and require all those around to wait until you are good and rested!!
• If there is no railing or chair, just sit in the grass between innings.....
• If a wild pitch hits you as the PU, it's an automatic Dead Ball and send the runners back

[DP26]

From B, partner made two calls at 1B to end a game (may have missed from my vantage point, he did not have much mobility).  Partner bailed off field (exit is by 1B, where he was chatting up spectators between innings) as I was heading to meet.  A player was saying "you suck", and "get off my field", towards partner.

 

Just because partner drops a load does not always require me to bag the mess... especially when partner has already left field to avoid the smell.

[Daniel]

. double post

[Daniel]

After getting together on a pulled foot/swipe tag/etc, the proper way to change your call is by pointing at the base and says "He's there!"

If your partner shuts down a barking coach, call "TIME" and talk to your partner about it. After all, we should be more professional and let the coach keep talking as much as he wants.

All plays that happen during the first 59.999999 or 89.99999 feet of the first baseline really belong to the PU. Make sure you rule the opposite of your partner because he didn't see the play right from "C".

Every time you "don't see something", be sure to explain to the HC that its a limitation of the two man system.

Don't bother putting out that cigarette you were smoking in the parking lot until you reach the dugout.

Put on a pitching clinic every time a pitcher commits an infraction. Do this every time for Saturday pool play, and only on Sunday should you actually penalize the kid with an illegal pitch. You don't want them crying.

Never eject any player or coach during a tournament in which teams have to "pay big bucks" to enter, or else they won't come back and there won't be games.

Conducting a prayer during the plate conference of every Sunday morning game seems fitting. Instruct your umpires on other fields to do the same if you're the UIC.

You might like wearing adjustable beanies "So you they don't interfere with your mask".

If you have a job to go to in the morning, tell the teams playing that their game needs to get over with or you're leaving.

If you as PU call "foul" on a ball that stops on home plate, call a "do-over". No biggie right?

If your partner tells you that "hands are NOT part of the bat", argue with him that they are and it should be a foul ball because the DHC is right. Delay the game by calling up the UIC to find out for sure.

Wear a SECOND belt to put your two 3-loop nylon ball bags on. Be sure to wear it below your hips like a true cowboy.

As a retired cop, your bullet proof vest will make an excellent chest protector for baseball.

A variation of the crossed closed fists is an acceptable mechanic as PU for full count, if you hold them up without your arms being crossed.

Since you just bought your first pair of plate pants ever, wear them on the bases too like bell-bottoms.

If its hot out and you're tired, you can start in B and don't ever have to move for that play at 1st base.

Roll up your shirt sleeves to show off your manly muscles.

Plate pants too expensive? Get some shiny gray dress pants with tares down the side to allow for the shin guards.

When a coach thinks that your partner (in the correct position) is "too close" to his fielders, call TIME and tell him to move.

Immediately grant time to EVERY runner who slides into a base.

If a coach wants to "appeal" your partner's call at first, immediately change your partner's call if you had something different.

If a coach comes to you and says "I'm not arguing judgement calls" and wants to "appeal" that his runner got there before the ball, go ahead and ask your partner on the plate that exact question.

[Mike Prince]

I have a few which I will post against my better judgement:

 

• Handing F2 a new ball on a WP/PB with runners on is a perfectly acceptable thing to do.
• Going out to F1 on a balk to not only show him what he did wrong but also showing him how to correct it gets you points with the DM
• When a coach correctly asks your partner to get help on a call, save some time and just signal the out or safe without conferring with your partner
• If you have R2 and you are the BU, him taking a big lead should get 100% of your attention over all of your other responsibilities.  When questioned by a coach if you had a balk, replying "I had the runner" is a great response
• On a foul straight back, signaling a foul tip and allowing runners to advance is a good game management strategy.
• Having a 3 year old blue adjustable cap which has turned 3 different colors makes it easy for your partner to match you
• When your one pair of gray slacks from Goodwill gets a hole in the knee (from taking a knee between innings), it is very practical to repair them with a 2'X3" rectangular denim iron-on patch
• Yelling "Oh S#it" when you take a foul ball to your ribbed catcher's CP is not only perfectly appropriate in a 10U rec game, it is great entertainment for your partner (and the crowd) when this happens almost every game and you go to your knees like a bullet just hit you.  But during the changeover you walk the 1B and 3B fence lines to let everyone know you are OK because you are "wearing gear"
• When the PU calls foul on a dribbler down the 1B line and you are in "C", it's OK to tell the 3B coach you thought it was fair.
• When you have the bases, it's OK to watch the runners already on base instead of the ball - that's what your partner is for (why is he calling me Jimmy Hughes now?)

[bam]

Today was quite an educational day today for me, I learned a quite a few techniques from my partner in a JV doubleheader. For example:

 

The strike zone is a wide isoceles triangle - that shin high outside pitch is a strike but that belt high pitch on the corner? Meh...

 

I LOVE the shin high outside pitch.  I'll call that all day long.  I get the belt high ones, too.... 

[PonyUmpire]

Here's a few:

 

- As BU, make sure to project a sense of authority by interjecting during the plate meeting.  Once the plate meeting is over, proceed to loudly criticize your partner's game management.

 

- When in the A position, make sure to go out on every fly ball.

 

- Like scrounge said, it is important to display decisiveness by calling pitches as they cross the plate.  Besides, if you make the wrong call, you can just change it afterwards.  Be sure to do this at least 6 times per game.

 

- As UIC, make sure to publicly ream umpires during games.  This insures that they stay composed and focused.  For example, it is appropriate to call an umpire (who is working 1 man) over to the fence, and loudly tell him that he missed 2 "interferences", because F5 was standing on 3rd when the runner passed.

 

- As UIC, it is important to have a lack of fundamental rules knowledge.  When coaches call you to question an umpire's rule interpretation, don't look up the rule, just respond with what you think is correct.  Make sure to throw the umpire under the bus in the process.

 

- Instead of having evaluations, just use coach feedback when making assignments.  This is the best way to get an impartial assessment of umpire performance.

 

(As you all can tell, I'm a really big fan of my assigner)

[plateumpire]

Today I learned to point a batter to first base with your right hand on ball four and make it look as much like your strike mechanic as possible!

That is what my partner did yesterday. I thought he was calling a strike.