persong

I work in Wisconsin mainly. Prescott, Hudson, Ellsworth, New Richmond. Mostly MYAS stuff..

How about when a Batter is so close to the plate you can't see the pitcher delivery? Do you stay in a good spot and just see it when you can or move towards the middle of the plate in the (danger zone). :shrug:

I have noticed that Mom's are getting worse when they are fans too. Used to be they would just watch and cheer no matter what. Now, they hear something from a coach or a dad and will not let it go. whether it is right or wrong. I sometimes wish I could say something to those ignorant fans, but it is best to leave it alone. No good can come of talking to them anyways. If they are yelling and saying those things they have already showed me that they can be MORONS...

I am in St. Paul. MN

That is a good Idea. Where can I find out more??

How many guys are here doing this just for love of Umpiring? I do this because I honestly love doing it and want to be a really good umpire. I make mistakes, but want to honestly get better every single time. Been doing this for a while now, so it is not like I am a rookie. I am certified for HS ball too, but only have done JV since I have only been certified for 2 years. What steps did you veterans do to get better? Before you say it, I can't afford to take time off or pay for a school. Would love to, but I just can't. Every year look at my performance and choose something to improve on each season. Last year it was positioning to make the best call, whether it was balls and strikes or plays at first, Home plate. This year it has been Timing. I try to call pitches after a small delay to make sure that I am getting it right. Also Out calls I am delaying to make sure we have all the requisite things before I can have an out. Nothing worse than calling an out on a Banger then seeing the ball drop from the players glove and changing a call. I have not done that this year by the way. Safe I can usually make quicker because you know when they are safe. Looking for something else I can work on. I know the rules pretty well, would say the things that happen i know. The "weird" things I would have to think, but mostly I am ready for them too. I work always in a 1 man system so any tips you guys have would be great. I do go to a local clinic every year also. Thanks guys. I am on here every day looking at things trying to learn.

I wish they would foot the bill for people on the bases. But .... I agree that the kids don't get the best game w/ one Ump. but if there is only 1 "In My Most Humble Opinion" the plate has the highest percentage of plays and is where I would rather be. I think behind the mound you are really depending on where the catcher gets the ball more than where it crosses the plate. Our field of view in 3 dimensions is greatly deteriorated at a distance, therefore it only stands to reason this is so. That is the whole reason we hustle to get in position to make a call. So for Balls/Strikes and Fair/Foul the plate "feels" best to me. Of course 80% of the time with the younger players I am only getting a foul line out to the edge of the infield anyhow. So I can't judge a ball in the outfield based on a line I don't have.. As long as a guy hustles, knows the rules and does not make him or herself bigger than the game, I think you could do a good job either. I really like reading the opinions here, gives me a really good picture of what we all see out there as Umpires. I know I am not alone and we are all doing our service...

I let the level of play determine what happens mostly. If it is a 10/11 year old they are gonna get the base unless it was 5 MPH and the don't even flinch. 14/15 then I need to have some kind of movement. They can turn "front shoulder towards the plate" like they are taught and I will give it to them. But if they don't move at all they are just gonna be sore. Of course if a kid is throwing a great breaking ball that moves they get the benefit of the doubt. I am sure not gonna reward a pitcher for being WILD.. had a tournament game over the weekend. Pitcher hit the first 2 batters, gave up a walk then hit the 4th batter. Needless to say the coach pulled him.

6 + 581= 587

Right Handed Pitcher?? Where can they throw while on the Rubber? Where can they fake to? Left Handed Pitcher? Where can they throw? Where can they fake to? Just a brush up for everyone. Coaches will yelp like crazy on this one. Of course normally when the pitcher steps off and fakes.. Thanks in advance..

The little kids deserve a well-umpired game too. How else do they learn to respect us? Do we really want them out there thinking "this ump sucks, so it does not matter". Imagine where that could go. I understand wanting to not get hurt, but I do it out of respect for the kids and the game. I don't think Quality of Ball should be the determining factor.

99.5% of my games are behind the plate. I get no base umpire.. I hustle to make the calls. Steal of second if the ball beats him and there is a tag. He is out. I try to assume where the play will most likely be and get there. Behind the mound you are in the way of any steal to 2nd throw and other plays up the middle. Think of it this way. Where are you most needed? Balls and Strikes are on every single batter and every play starts with them. How can you call Balls and Strikes from behind the mound?? Looking through the pitcher, batter swing and guess?? You must really have to judge balls and strikes by where the catcher gets the ball then.

99% I am alone at Home plate calling these. Get my best position I can to make the call. Usually about 15-20 feet from the plate 5 feet inside the 3rd baseline after following the play. Timing is the main tool I use on these to get them right and get less arguments. If he is safe, right away I call safe and the play ends there. If out, then I take my time make sure we have catch, foot on base, control etc.... Then call out. I have worked hard this season on my timing and it has been a lifesaver truly. Have not made an out call yet that I have had to change because of a pulled foot or dropped ball. Even on ball and strike calls my timing has changed. Now i take about 1/2 second on pitches after they are caught by the catcher before I even move to make the call. Saves me so much of the time..

OK, so I know that I should not have said those words. 14U game. Umpired game earlier in the week for this team and coach did not like a call I made on runner leaving baseline to avoid a tag. I called the runner out. Coach asked me why, I said because he left the baseline to avoid the tag. Coach responded where could he go. This was a play at first, where the throw was up the line and first baseman was making the tag. R1 jumped 5 feet inside the baseline to avoid tag. I called him out. In this game, there is a low inside pitch to Left Handed batter. Ball appeared to me that it was just a wild pitch and R1 advanced. I did not immediately call "time" and give the runner first base. Turned around after the catcher got the ball and saw the batter was limping. I asked the kid if the ball hit his foot and he said yes. I awarded 1st base and that advanced his runner to 2nd from first. Obviously the kid was hit and the correct call was HBP and runner gets first. coach comes to argue with me about the call and I said I did not see it hit the batter at first, but when I asked the batter said it hit him. Keep in mind this was the offensive coach so it was his kid. I told the coach I was getting the call "right". He continues to argue so I say "SHUT UP!!". Here is my issue. Once the play was done the next 1/2 inning I apologize to the coach for telling him to Shut Up. Should I have done that?? Or should i just move on and let it go. Felt bad for using the language, but it did work like a charm. Not another peep the rest of the game...

sounds like you did exactly what should have been done. I got to hear from the scorebook guy last night after the game that I "ruined it for the kids". Yeah, I tossed him even though the game was over and it was the last playoff game.

I am in Wisconsin too. Please don't hold that against me.

My name is gary and I am an addict. Love umpiring. I enjoy it way more than coaching and if they talk back I can toss them. Plus no parents to bug me about why little johnny is not playing short and batting lead off.

My son has been umpiring for about 4 years now, he is 17. He probably would have said the same thing and not thought twice about it. Not professional, but how many of us wish we could say it? now he at least has had that opportunity. :notworthy:

R2 1 out. Pitcher is in set postion, before he starts any motion, players in the field run "going". I assume becuase they had picked up something that told them the runner was going to steal. Runner has just a lead, not running yet. As soon as pitcher lifts his foot, runner takes off. Pitcher continues his motion towards second, but just steps toward second and then runs toward runner with the ball. Eventually they get the runner in the run down. Is this a balk, the pitcher was making a play on the runner and stepped off towards second?