Helluva First Game as PU

[mjr_2013]

I had my first game as Plate Umpire tonight... Pretty crazy.

I expected to work the bases tonight. When my equipment came in earlier than expected (ump-attire.com is too efficient ), I let the umpire coordinator know, and he told me to bring the equipment to the game. I figured he just wanted to see what I had gotten, and so I brought it without my plate brush, ball rag, or even cup... When I got there, the coordinator told me I was working the plate today with my partner on the bases, and then we would switch tomorrow with me on the bases and him behind the plate...

He also told me that the coach for one of the teams is known to be late and that he may give me a hard time about the time limit.

We started, and I was wayyyyyyy off my game. I was setting up wrong, disorganized, everything that could go wrong was going wrong... I evn said 'ball' on a pitch that the batter swung at. Luckily, the catcher and batter didn't hear me.

At the end of the 2nd inning, me and my partner met and I whispered to him with our backs to the dugouts how my zone was (I thought it was awful - being my first time and with the pitcher and coaches rolling their eyes and saying come on and etc. ). My partner told me it was fine and relaxed me, and I started doing fine.

In the 4th inning, it started raining. It wasn't too bad, and I was cool with everything... We had 13 minutes left befrore time limit, so we kept going in an "open inning" (no run limit). Home Team was winning by 2. As the inning started, a down-pour started. It was pouring... Of course, the away team scored 5 to take the lead. The home team took the field and we started playing the bottom of the last inning. It was raining so hard I had to borrow a rag from the home team to try and wipe off home plate (it didn't really work).

The home team started in on it, and put 2 on the board, with the tying run on 3rd. I called strike 3 on a pitch down the middle to end the game.

The away team had won, and took to the mud pit sliding in it and everything.

The entire time, the coach that the coordinator told me about had somehow found out that this was my first game behind the plate (I hadn't told anyone), and was trying his best to get in my head.

When I switched out a wet ball, "Oh the ump's getting you the lucky ball (Player), you should thank him!"

When I borrowed that rag, "I'm giving you a favor, you should give me a favor and not call any strikes, right?"

When the catcher asks me "How many out", and I respond "two", he calls time and communicates across the diamond to his first base coach to try and figure out who had gotten out.

When a ball got stuck in the fence and he got it out, "There you go, blue, now that is my son out there (indicating mound), you should help him out now, right?"

The only one that bugged me was #3. I was this close to telling him "coach, we aren't stopping the game for this let's play ball" until he "figured it out". Everything else I took as a joke (though it was getting old), and just ignored...

So yeah, quite an interesting game.

[JaxRolo]

So you worked the game without a cup? Or did you borrow your partners?

When you are behind the plate. SLOW DOWN! watch the ball all the way to the glove. With your eyes. Slow down!

Practice makes you better. Good Job! But it sounded like it was too wet to play. Safety First!!!

[mstaylor]

Are you old enough to know the 59th Street Bridge Song? It starts, "Slow down, you move too fast " Being too fast is something you will fight all your carreer. As far as his little jokes, that's a context thing. You have to read that for yourself, if you think he is genuinely joking, even if unsuccessful, then let it ride, but if he is throwing barbs as thinly veiled jokes then shut him down. If you don't have all your gear with you or it isn't adjusted then tell your assignor you will work the next night.

Just a word of advice, make sure your CP covers your collarbone, that it is as tight to your throat as possible.

[JaxRolo]

Did I say SLOW DOWN?

If not then SLOW DOWN!!!

If you go back and do things slower then you are still not slow enough. Slow down some more!

It may feel weird but you will get used to it. Same thing applies when you are on the bases. SLOW DOWN!

SLOWN DOWN!!!

Just trying to make a point!!! SLOW DOWN!

[yawetag]

Did I say SLOW DOWN?

If not then SLOW DOWN!!!

If you go back and do things slower then you are still not slow enough. Slow down some more!

It may feel weird but you will get used to it. Same thing applies when you are on the bases. SLOW DOWN!

SLOWN DOWN!!!

Just trying to make a point!!! SLOW DOWN!

Just to be sure, I read this post slowly. I think I got the message.

[Phil]

I had my first game as Plate Umpire tonight... Pretty crazy.

Your experience sounds a lot like my first game as PU as well (which was only about two weeks ago). Very stressful, forgetting everything I'd ever learned about the most basic stuff (IFF), getting flustered by little leaguers doing crazy things (running out of baselines to avoid tags). I think my strike zone was awful. Everything goes better the next time out. Good luck!

[Dragon29]

I agree w/everything the others have said, and encourage you to re-read Andrew's post about slowing down.

I had my first game as Plate Umpire tonight... Pretty crazy.

When the catcher asks me "How many out", and I respond "two", he calls time and communicates across the diamond to his first base coach to try and figure out who had gotten out.

You had the right idea here - Shut it down. The first thing to remember here is that the managers didn't call 'Time', because he can't. Only you or your partner can call 'Time'; he can only request it. That being said, once 'Time' is granted, this is what should have happened:

PU: Time!

OM (to 1B coach): How many Outs do you have?

1BC: <whatever . . . doesn't matter what he says>

PU: Skip, there are two Out. Play!

Done.

[semper_fi_72]

Sounds like you should have stopped the game for the rain.

When you start using rags to wipe off the plate or dry balls for a youth game, it is time to stop.

Safety of the kids always first.

And just to make sure it sinks in

Slow Down

[Dragon29]

Slow Down

I sense a theme here . . . ?

[HokieUmp]

So what everyone is saying here is that he should go just as fast as he can, right?

:Spit_20Laugh:

[mjr_2013]

So you worked the game without a cup? Or did you borrow your partners?

When you are behind the plate. SLOW DOWN! watch the ball all the way to the glove. With your eyes. Slow down!

Practice makes you better. Good Job! But it sounded like it was too wet to play. Safety First!!!

Yeah, I worked without it... I know... I didn't even realize it until a ball hit me on the thigh.

[mjr_2013]

I'll just respond to all of the messages in one --- You are unbelievably right about slowing down... I was pretty nervous, just because I had been expecting my first game to be Friday, not Wednesday... As the game went on, I became more relaxed and I started slowing down, but really I was just too nervous.

Yes, I got Andrew's message.

Me and my partner were in a big bind with the rain situation... When we said that we would play the next inning, it hadn't started raining that hard yet. It was after a couple of runs had scored and the AT had taken the lead.

Me and my parter were in a catch-22... If we called the game, it would look like we had played in an absolute down pour for the AT to catch up but wouldn't play in the same down pour for the HT to try to catch up... We just kept making sure that the pitcher wasn't slipping on the mound and that the hitters weren't slipping out of the box, and they weren't, so we kept playing... Had that runner on 3rd scored to tie the game, there is no way we would've kept going past the 3rd out.

[JaxRolo]

I'll just respond to all of the messages in one --- You are unbelievably right about slowing down... I was pretty nervous, just because I had been expecting my first game to be Friday, not Wednesday... As the game went on, I became more relaxed and I started slowing down, but really I was just too nervous.

Yes, I got Andrew's message.

Me and my partner were in a big bind with the rain situation... When we said that we would play the next inning, it hadn't started raining that hard yet. It was after a couple of runs had scored and the AT had taken the lead.

Me and my parter were in a catch-22... If we called the game, it would look like we had played in an absolute down pour for the AT to catch up but wouldn't play in the same down pour for the HT to try to catch up... We just kept making sure that the pitcher wasn't slipping on the mound and that the hitters weren't slipping out of the box, and they weren't, so we kept playing... Had that runner on 3rd scored to tie the game, there is no way we would've kept going past the 3rd out.

Remember that if it is an Official game and you have to stop in the middle of the inning then you go back to the last inning for the score.

And in case I neglected to say it before: SLOW DOWN!!! :crazy:

[mstaylor]

If you have one of the lined ball bags, put a little stay dry in your ball bag and spin the ball in it. It will dry the balls out fairly quickly.

[yawetag]

I agree w/everything the others have said, and encourage you to re-read Andrew's post about slowing down.

Slow down, Dragon. It was Jax that said slow down.

[Dragon29]

I agree w/everything the others have said, and encourage you to re-read Andrew's post about slowing down.

Slow down, Dragon. It was Jax that said slow down.

Oh . . . yeah . . . of course. I was just using that as an example of what can happen if you make a call too fast.

(Is anyone buying that?)

[mjr_2013]

The Ump Coordinator stayed through the game (trooper through the rain), and gave me my evaluation today....

He said my strike zone, game management skills, and partner communication were great.

He said I need to work on my forcefulness and confidence in my calls... "STRIKE!" instead of "strike..."

You aren't going to believe this last one... Above all, he said I needed to...

SLOW DOWN

[JaxRolo]

You aren't going to believe this last one... Above all, he said I needed to...

SLOW DOWN

He must be a smart man!

[yawetag]

You aren't going to believe this last one... Above all, he said I needed to...

SLOW DOWN

He must be a smart man!

He probably frequents the forum. He stole your line, Jax.

[AmackNH]

I am extremely happy to have found this site...this is my first year umpiring and I have done about 7 games so far...3 as the PU. My partner last night was a very experienced varsity umpire and talked after the game. His first words to me were...SLOW DOWN. I am calling pitches too early. Glad to see its not just me :-)

[mstaylor]

Remember, we aren't telling everyone to slow down because we like to lengthen games. We want to make more correct calls and be more consistant. Watching the pitch all the way to the glove gives more info on the pitch. If you don't then you will stop watching just before the plate, it's called zoning, and not actually see it cross the plate. This makes you call it too fast and possibly wrong. If you are getting pop,strike, you are deciding before the ball gets there. What you want is pop-----------strike. See it, decide what it, stand up and say strike.

This a long way of saying, " Slow down!"

[Dragon29]

. . . a very experienced varsity umpire and talked after the game. His first words to me were...SLOW DOWN. I am calling pitches too early. Glad to see its not just me :-)

Nope - it's everyone.

One of the things I tell newbies at clinics is, "When you get to the point where you're sure you're waiting way too long, you might almost be slow enough."

[wek29]

Remember, we aren't telling everyone to slow down because we like to lengthen games. We want to make more correct calls and be more consistant. Watching the pitch all the way to the glove gives more info on the pitch. If you don't then you will stop watching just before the plate, it's called zoning, and not actually see it cross the plate. This makes you call it too fast and possibly wrong. If you are getting pop,strike, you are deciding before the ball gets there. What you want is pop-----------strike. See it, decide what it, stand up and say strike.

This a long way of saying, " Slow down!"

So, I've realized this is my issue. (One of many, but maybe my biggest one.) I've been making my mind up before the catcher has the ball. So as I peruse all the posts during our many rainouts I thought, "That's it, just slow down!" Yea, right...do you know how FREAKIN hard that is to do?!?!?! Got a game in last night and was trying my hardest. One of my biggest issues is pitches outside. I almost never give it and I am sure I am missing them. Although I could not get where I need to be I think I did help myself with a couple of those pitches. I really have to work on this!

[mstaylor]

Slowing down is a problem for every umpire ever to walk on the field. Some struggle more than others but we have fight it. The outside corner needs either a clinic, a local guy that can watch you or take video and post it here for an evaul. I'm sure you head height is wrong or you aren't in the slot or working too fast so you aren't seeing it.

[AmackNH]

Remember, we aren't telling everyone to slow down because we like to lengthen games. We want to make more correct calls and be more consistant. Watching the pitch all the way to the glove gives more info on the pitch. If you don't then you will stop watching just before the plate, it's called zoning, and not actually see it cross the plate. This makes you call it too fast and possibly wrong. If you are getting pop,strike, you are deciding before the ball gets there. What you want is pop-----------strike. See it, decide what it, stand up and say strike.

This a long way of saying, " Slow down!"

So, I've realized this is my issue. (One of many, but maybe my biggest one.) I've been making my mind up before the catcher has the ball. So as I peruse all the posts during our many rainouts I thought, "That's it, just slow down!" Yea, right...do you know how FREAKIN hard that is to do?!?!?! Got a game in last night and was trying my hardest. One of my biggest issues is pitches outside. I almost never give it and I am sure I am missing them. Although I could not get where I need to be I think I did help myself with a couple of those pitches. I really have to work on this!

I talked to my partner about this on Monday night. I had the same feeling...that I was missing the outside corner. His critique was that I was "zoning" instead of "tracking" the pitch...meaning I am moving my head (starting to stand to make the call to early) and not watching it with my eyes all the way into the catchers glove. I was told you need to trust the catcher a little. If he is set up on the corner and doesnt move the glove outstide...its a strike.