guyinaredhat

2 things i can think of . Apearance and handling yourself . For new guys Something important to remember is you will make mistakes , but how well will you respond to them after that? Don't lose your cool. If you find yourself making a mistake don't hang your head and give on what's going on finish it . When talking about it almowledge it and know what to do next time so you can fix it. Also look good , dress th part, look the part crease your logoed cap , shine your shoes . Iron your pants . The upper ups want guys who are able to learn and adapt quickly and guys who look good .

Good luck, ! Don't suck . What put you on the shelf? Injury?im a big believer in stretching. Stretching for 10 minutes adds 10 years to your career .

We pregame a subtle signal so that if we have information our partner might need to know we can flash it and it'll be up to him if he wants to go to hi partner.

I went to pro school with very little experience behind me, and my 1st season back I worked a mix of varsity and JV games, and ALOT of 2 man. I didn't get very many 1 man games at all. In our area alot of the JV ball is either 2 man or 1 man. Varsity is all 2 man. Generally the idea is if you can work and you get seen, and don't piss off the assignors then you should get your share of varsity games. Now playoffs is another question.

No one on, no outs, I'm working the Plate and I have a partner on bases. Chopper to the right side and the first baseman has to go to his right to field the ball taking him away from the bag. The pitcher comes over to cover , but the 1st baseman decides he's going to take the play by himself. In the process the pitcher obstructs the BR before he reaches first and then the 1b steps on the bag before the br. My question is as PU would you call obstructon immediatly? or would you wait and get together? The BU did not call anything but an out, and had the Offensive manager question him.

I'm sure Different groups do different things . Last yr was my first with our HS group and every game I worked with the "vets" the base guy would always ask for my brush and brush off HP before the meeting . It wa always kind of awkward when they did that . A 2 inch punch for the PU on his CP as well before the BU takes his position pre pitch . Another friend of mine says " go do the voodoo that you do so well. " What do I say '? "Don't suck . " I picked that up here .

THe only thing they change is when the BU is in A, he has all fly ball in the U , just like when there are runners on and the BU starts in the B or C .The reasoning is it allows both umpires to have an eye on the ball and the BU can get as good or better view of the catch no catch then the PU. The PU still has out fielder playing the ball towards the line. It also means the The PU has all the lines, and the BU wilL Never go out. Since the BU never goes out the PU wil never take the runnner into 2nd . Since the PU has touch/no touch at first the BU can head right to the working area position if the ball drops and the runnner advances. But back to my question if you have 2 umpires making a call and ones clearly quicker then the other what would you do. I could see thi happening with a fly bal with runers on , or 2 umpires at 3rd on a rotation. I did get some good answers and i have worked enough gsames on how to get together and fix something like this.

Didin't know it would create such back lash. I don't mind discussing the actual mechanic, but the reasoning behind why they use it is another thing. I know it's different, but that's what the group uses, my opinion of it is irrevelant. The assigner handles a big amount of the juco ball, and some non conference div 1 baseball.

When using this mechanic when your in A , on a fly ball to the LF the BU has to the left of the LF all the way to about the RF, anything towards the line are the PU's. Easy " cans of Corn" can be called on the jog, anything below the waist should be called while slowing down and settling in, and any dives or converging fielders the umpire should be stopped. The responsibility of the catch no catch goes to the umpire on the bases and the PU stil has an eye on the ball while trailing the runner and watching touch. When using this the BU should be heading towards 2nd base on the inside of diamond heading towards the cut out . It was also explained that the umpire might also take the fly ball on the outside of the base but I never saw any of the seasoned guys doing this, and I was specifically told not to do this until I had more experience under me. It is assumed that the responsibility of the call goes to the BU , unless the PU calls out he's" got the ball/or on the line". As always communication both verbally and non verbal was addressed at the try out clinic, and scrimmages we worked this year. I'm still pretty new to umpiring I'm starting my 4th yr overall but really I consider that I'd been doing it right for about 1 year So learning something new wasn't totally foreign. I've heard lots of reasoning behind why they do it this way , but it's nothing I'd like to address here .

Just to clarify, I might not be using the right terms here, Our college groups mechanics are slightly different from others. Biggest exception for 2 man is that when I'm in the A I have ALL fly balls in the U. Base umpire will NEVER go out on trouble ball to RF. PU responsibilities are the lines for fair/foul catch no catch, and most of the infield unless it's coming right at me away from the PU . When I have the U the PU trails the BR up the line , has touch /no touch at 1b, and has the back door play. On normal bases hits it's all pro mechanics. There's some more differences but this is the most glaring. Yes it's different, but when in ROME...

Man your 17 , shoot for more then that, attend some clinics , work HS, then work Varsity, keep working tourneys and go to pro school in 2 years, start early and you can progress really quickly with that under yopur belt , so even if you don't make the eval course you'll be ahead of th game, and in great position if you want to go back. Wish i had started when I was 13 . or even 18 .

I would STRESS what they can say and what they can't say. What they should question ( Rule misaplications) and what they shouldn't question( judgement calls) Explain what can be protested and when, and how they should be in control of coaches and players and fans. Respect is paramount and a 2 way street. These are all things I think rec managers need to know at ALL levels.

Ok i was working a tourney this weekend and had a slight hiccup in the semi final game . 18 U OBR USSSA Rule set I was working with one of our best umpires on Sunday. Most seniority,great knowledge, sharpest dressed, really well put together guy. I've known him for years but this was our first time working together. We had a thorough pre game, and decided we were going to rim. The local college group uses that as its preferred mechanic and he knew I could use the experience using it. I was on the bases , my crew chief behind the plate. in the bot of the 3rd with 2 outs, batter hits a shot to the center right field gap. CF is speedy and has a play, I know I"m taking that ball, and i get into position, slow down as I can see the center fielder has a play and am stopped when the center fielder dives for the ball his dive takes him towards the outfield wall but he never had his back to me. , I know exactly what I am looking for and all of a sudden I hear my partner say something like balls out" or "balls on the ground" I don't think he said " no catch" I'm still looking at the play , waiting, I never saw the ball come out , but I stil hadn't had a catch so I'm still waiting, and then I see the voluntary release and I come up with a huge " That's a catch" The inning ended and from short rf , i could see the HT Manager question my partner in a very civil way. No big stink was made, but what would have happened in a closer game. I could easily see a manger going off on another umpire, and he never came to me at all, Post game we talked about it, and my partner knew he Mucked up . Just wanted to see your opinions on what you guys might have done if your partner jumps on your call or something thats your responsibility and you don't agree. For a split second I almost went with my partners call just to back him up, and not have 2 different calls. I'm pretty new to the rim so I'm not as confident as 2 man pro mechanics, and when I heard him say that I thought I might have mucked up MY responsibilities in that situation.

Weathers been warming up around here, but tell me why I get the only 9 o clock game of our tournament, this weekend. Can't wait for that one.

don't know what you're talking bout?

The rundown occurs when the defense is making a play on the runner. The rundown ends as soon as the defense stops to do something else ( like throw home to retire r 3 .) I could see it being called type a and b. I could see the runner being obstructed on the back end while the fielder in front of him is firing the ball home. Then play goes on. But.... obviously if the defense is making a play on the runnner and he's obstructed then I call " Time thats obstruction and award bases."

This is a good lot of stuff, if anyone wants to go in on this with me Ill ship . http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/sgd/3544272501.html

What level ball ? I have a honigs chest protector and a navy mask I could let go . Both have seen some wear but a good beginner set for a newbie umpire.

Worked my first tourny this weekend. I had 9 games total, 18U and 16 U . This happened in an 18u OBR USSSA Rule set Here's my ejection report Top of 4 leadoff bater is # 21 First pitch I called a strike . 0-1 Batter says that's outside . I say "it's a good pitch" Next Pitch is fouled off, 0-2 . Third pitch, I called strike 3. Bater throws his arms up and states "That's outside" and draws a line in the dirt with his bat where he thought the pitch was . I then eject #21. Batter leaves the field, and play continues. Easiet EJ I have ever had, I didn't even get a manager in my face wanting an explanation or ANYTHING , not even the fans said anything, at least not loud enough to be heard by me , i am kinda deaf, in addition to being blind. Batter was an ass on the 1st pitch, acting incredulous with his body language at the pitch and his comments. But Jerry Layne taught me the right way to deal with that, and not go kicking the hornets nest. I do have to add you don't really remeber the ejections you make, but rather the ones you don't make. I haven't been umpiring nearly as long as some people on board but early in my carrer I was working 2 different adult league games. a 1 man , and a 2 man. Both times behind the plate I had baters draw a line and I let them get away with it, after learning a bit more I vowed it would never happen again.

First tourney if 2013 had 5 18 u games. It was damn cold too, and it's official . I think I lead unpire empire in ejections so far with 1 ! Wooooooo it's gonna be a good year .

The better question to ask is how many games a week can you work . I'm in No Cal and worked a ton of games this year . But realistically you can prob work at most around 15 a week durring the really heavy season of ball March-May and then prob about 8-12 the rest of the year . How much you mak per game is another question though prob no less the 35 a game and prob more like 45-50 if you can work up to HS age .

your right California suckssssss. Please whatever you do DON't move Here..... errrrrrrr there.

RichVee, I bought a pair of the ultimate plate pants in MArch and by June they were almost unwearable, they turned a weird shade of purple. Bought the poly wools and they are the best pair of pants i've ever bought.

2012 seasons rolls right along into 2013. Theres still 2 more tourneys in Nov. and 4 left in Dec. I'm working at least 2 of those, and hope to get on at least 2 more before the end of the year. College fall scrimages are winding down, but it's always baseball season in Northern California.

All great advice . I just joined my local college group this year. Biggest piece of advice I have gotten this year is make sure you look good. At this level every one can work, some better then the others but you don't want to be pidgeonholed cause your not looking your best. Poly wools, new belt, shined shoes, non faded ball bags. Good luck and I'll see you at the CWS in about 20 years.