Magic

I am working my first Plate game today after having been on the shelf for the last 10 months. I had my first Base Thursday. Other than being a little sore I came out of it fine.

Wow, and to think I have my travel limits set at 12 miles. I've heard of college guys around here traveling 90 minutes to a game, but not HS guys. More power to you, brother! What Grayhawk doesn't tell you is there are 20 High Schools within 12 miles of his house. So he doesn't have to travel far. I, on the other hand am in the same association as him and I travel a Minimum of 30 minutes to get to the closest high school, and usually 45 minutes to an hour to every game I umpire.

I have not umpired the whole month of November. But I am doing a couple of High School Double Headers in December(Winter Ball). Then I will be off until the New Year. In January we have meeting for the High School season. And then in February we are rolling in to the Season.

In my opinion the only reason the ball hit the bat 3 times was because the bat broke. So therefore the ball is in play. And if you can see that happen on a baseball field then you have better vision that anyone in the world.

"Doesn't matter what you agree with, COACH (said in a disparaging tone)." Why ? Why not ignore the prick and keep moving ? Cause sometimes we are just tired and irritable and forget our training. Then we say stuff. That so happened to me a few weeks ago. Leaving the field after doing a 13U Game. 2nd 9 inning game of the day. 2 hour 45 minute time limit. Game was in the 7th inning and the score was 15-10. No one could throw a strike. we hit the 2 hour 45 minute mark and I call the game. As I am leaving the field the coach says "Did we hit the time limit?" I said "Yes we did coach." And his response to me was "You really need to improve your game management." WHAT!!!! I looked at him and said "Are you joking?" He said "No. We hustle our kids in and out. You need to get the innings started quicker." I looked at him and said "Coach I wouldn't worry so much about hustling the kids in and out. I would start looking for a pitcher that could throw a strike!" I left the field and I regretted my comments the whole way home. But it was a combination of the Heat(105 that day in So Cal) and bad pitching, and a long day. I was So VERY wrong for saying that. I should have left. But I didn't.

So then if I skip the ignore and I warn and never have to eject is this bad? I agree with you on the ignore, warn, eject method when I am dealing with teams, where the coaches have control of the players. And maybe I should adopt your philosophy for all games. But I don't tend to have problems when I warn a kid early that we aren't going to talk about the strike zone. The kid gets the message and seems to tell the other kids as well.

Too many times that comes back to bit you in the Arse. You let one kid do it and the next kid thinks he can. When you are umpiring High School Winter Ball games that aren't being coached by the High School coaches, the games can get out of hand in a hurry. High School Varsity games? I let that go. But out here doing a put together Winter Ball team? Nope. Not going to let it escalate. That is just me. And in the last 6 years I have only had one ejection in a game and it was a Malicious contact.

I don't give players or assistants much leash at all. I had a kid yesterday look away from on a Strike 2. And he said Are you kidding? That was outside. Very quietly. No profanity. I looked at him and said Don't do that again or you will not be around long. He appologized right away. Next pitch he hits a double. Coach comes up to me inbetween innings and thanked me.

I have no problem with the high and outside. The Low and away pitch I just can't call. It is the biggest problem I have. I have tried so many different ways to start calling it. But every time I try and call it, it messes with my strike zone. So I just try and be very consistent. Since I took that approach I hear coaches make comments to their pitchers, "He hasn't called it there all game. He sure isn't going to start now." Atleast they feel like I am consistent.

HTBT????

So tell me this, when I first started umpiring I had the hardest time putting the ball in play. So I just started doing it on every foul ball, ortime that is called. Whether there are runners on base or not. Not one of my senior umpires has a a problem with it but some of my peers have said I shouldn't do it. What do you guys think?

Yeah I am kind of a shy person. Ok not really. I am from Orange County. I umpire High School Baseball. I stumbled across this forum and have just had a blast reading the forum. I am always trying to improve and I think this is going to help me a lot.

Hello from Southern California.