Big Al

Harry's school is very intensive. It is more about live calling and knowing the rules "right now", than thinking about it. I feel his school emphasizes mechanics more than anything else which is great because proper mechanics makes all the difference in the ability to make a call. They are very tough and you better be in good shape and have a thick skin..... You will come out of there being amazingly better that you entered. I would like for them to spend more time on judging the strike zone from 90+ pitching with all types of pitches. This seems to be a weakness of all umpire schools. Judging a strike on a moving pitch is probably the hardest thing to do in baseball. The catcher knows what is coming, but we have no idea until it starts to move and sometimes that's too late to judge if you are not properly prepared. I have only seen Harry's school, but from what I have seen, you could not be trained better by any other organization.

Hi, My name is Allen 30 years experience in coaching/umpiring Baseball. Schools Attended : Wendelstedt American Coaching Academy Baseball Certifications: Pitching Coach-Mike Marshall Pitching Training School It is surprising how many people that play this sport professionally do not know the rules. It is even more surprising how many pro managers and announcers do not know the rules. It took me 40 years to learn and I am still learning this simple game of hitting, throwing and catching....

Ok, you all saw it on reply a hundred times......Holliday gets picked off by Napoli at 3rd. The 3rd baseman's foot on the path to 3rd. If he is in posession of the ball then it is NOT obstruction.....If he does not have the ball, then it IS obstruction. So did he have the ball at the time the runner was obstructed from the base? I say no....the 3rd base ump did not consider obstruction.....Holliday should have been given home. please present your arguments.....