coach_ump4

Worked a 16 and under Junior League game last night and had a really good experience other than taking 4 different shots behind the plate. All coaches and players was wonderful, partner was great (BU), fans were wonderful and weather was wonderful. Was really zoned in entire night really feeling like I only missed one pitch which was pretty obvious. Told the pitcher nothing personal just missed it and he laughed about it and was perfectly fine. Too many times we get on here and post about what went wrong, what we could or should had done differently, and a lot of second guessing ourselves. Just like to add something a little different to the mix for a change. And a little side note as me and my wife and daughter are going today for and ultrasound to hopefully find out if we are having a boy or girl and to make sure everything is fine. Please keep us in your prayers. Just a great night and wonderful day today that I just wanted to share with my fellow Umpires.

Rule 7.08 The runner on 1st is out for leaving the base path. The ball is still in play for the other runners. Rule of thumb I learned from another long time Ump "screw the team that screws up".

Had to eject a coach tonight. He had questioned calls on and off about the placement of some pitches and then made comments. This happend 3 or 4 times at which point he started again in the bottom of the 5th with him winning 3-2 and I immediatley stopped him and restricted him to the dugout. Should had been smarter and tossed him then but trying to not leave the team without a HC restricted him. In the 6th inning he came out to coach 3rd base where he had been the whole night. When I informed him he had to stay in the dugout he complained that he had noone to coach the team and started to blame me for punishing his kids and that he had to coach I immediatley ejected him and he still continued to blame me for punishing his players over him running his mouth. I told him it was his own doings. Even his catcher was trying to explain to him that the pitches was high and not even close. Only my 2nd ejection in 5 years with only 1 coming in regular season.

Does anyone else have issues getting paid for the games they do. I know there are a lot of umps from other states or just wandering if it is our state. We very rarely get paid the day of the game and they send us the check in the mail usually somewhere between a week to 3 weeks later.

Always widen it for both teams and to answer the first question they usually dont score that many but never tighten it once you widen it as long as it equal on both sides nothing is going to be said. Consistency for both teams is the key.

When you see some of the games we have and its like 9 - 1 3rd or 4th inning and the team with 1 run has only 2 hits and their pitchers can't get it close to the plate you have to change the zone. We are talking about high school teams that when only 1 - 3 gamed a year. If you don't widen it out some as the game progresses in games like this you will be there up to 4 hrs doing a 7 inning game.

If and when they mark the batters box it is usually only about 3" - 4 " on the out side

I never verbalize balls only strikes except for swinging strikes at which point I just point. On dropped 3rd strikes I just hold out 3 fingers and never say anything unless 1st is occupied.

I umpire High School, Middle School, Babe Ruth League and my strike zone is the same for all leagues. The inside and outside will increase depending on the score and the inning it is.

How can you call it if they fail to do what they are supposed to do. So you punish the batter even though the defense is too lazy to even try and make an attempt on the ball? That is an argument in and of itself.

Some of the games we have to call if you dont give the batters box line on the inside its going to be a very very very long night. Four hour ball games with score of 18 - 12 and your still in the 5th inning is a great example of why you have to be open to giving that inside pitch on the line.

They just step back and pull it usually. Out of the 30 + games I did this year they all were hitting it.

Amen Stan!!! Try to work as much as possible. What really helped me out was doing Summer League Games. As a general strike zone for me I give the lines of the batters box as far as inside and outside. The low pitch depends on the catcher as how he catches the ball. If the glove is turned like a scoop that is a ball if he catches it upright its a strike. Watch the catcher he will let you know most of the time on how he catches it. The high pitch I determine that when I am set if the ball is at my eyes its a ball. I try to set my eyes with the batters hands. The key is to get the kids swinging. Remember you get paid by the game not by the hour. Depending on the pitcher you could have a 4 hour game and no one wants that. I try to get them to swing that bat, but you have to be realistic on the calls. Hope this helps.

Just went to the scissors this year after the first few weeks. Really helps me to see the plate much better than ever before. Would definitely recommend this position to younger umpires who are having trouble getting a good feel for a strike zone.

Rule states must be reasonable effort and therefore no one moved at all they just stood and looked at the ball.