Confidence: Part II

[therefump]

I read the other thread on Confidence and I'd like to expand on it. I went back and checked and I've already done 65+ games this year. For the record, that's a lot of games for this part of the country due to the Weather. Anyway, this week was particularly bad for me. I've been on a really good streak up until this week. Well, last weekend (Memorial Day) I had 4 straight days off. When I came back this week I had Plate for a Jr. American Legion. Right off, the coaches from the home team were on me for balls/strikes. I warned in 1st, came back in 2nd and drew a line. I ended up tossing AC when he said that 3 runs were mine. Chirping continued intermittently all night. I felt good at the beginning but as the game wore on I started critiquing myself. When I finished the game I had that terrible feeling I didn't give 100%. I hope you all have had that feeling at one time or another.

Next game I did a Perky game (any age HS - 40: excellent adult baseball) and the home team started on me right away. Now, I know my zone has not changed but they planted the seed that had started the game before. No one tossed but the chirping ebbed and flowed thru the night. Walked away from the game not feeling great but OK with game. BU who I've worked with numerous times said I did a great job and that they were just complaining to complain.

Had bases yesterday and did a great job. Nothing to complain about and I had some real bangers.

Well, today, I did one more Legion game and guess what. Not a peep. Both coaches came over after the game and complimented me (they're not known to do this very often) on my zone. It took through 2 innings to feel that groove that I get into but it was there today. I really felt I saw the ball clearly.

I guess we all have good days and bad. Mine lasted a few days. However, I am starting to think (after 28 yrs of this) that coaches shoot themselves in the foot or feet at times when they jump on us for balls and strikes early. I normally don't let the RATs get to me but every now and again they plant their seed and then they don't get the best game from me. I'm not paid to do this full time so they're not getting MLB umpiring out of me but I strive to give my best. I sometimes wonder if they realize the effort we give to the game and the effort to do it RIGHT.

[moblue]

I called a 13 yr. old tourney game behind the plate yesterday and had a bad day. My upper zone was inconsistent. Try as I might I couldn't get it for anything. Of course that led to the coaches getting on me. Now, they had paid so much for this tournament that they weren't going to argue and risk getting tossed, but they were being vocal enough I could tell neither team was happy.

I ended up leaving that game mad at myself and hoping to stay on bases for the rest of the night. I called two more behind the plate today and guess what? No problems. Everyone has a bad couple of games now and then.

[mstaylor]

We all have bad days, there isn't much we can do about it. The only thing I recomend is slow down and concentrate on the basics. I did a game one night and I was horrible. I was completely inconsistant. As we are leaving the field I told my partner, my interpreter at the time, currently my assignor, that I sucked. He said I wasn't the model of consistancy. His point was that I recongnized it and to learn from it and take the knowledge to my next game. He said that knowing you had a bad game is the important thing. Not knowing is bad.

[Umpire in Chief]

When you recognize your problems it's a good thing. You may not be able to make the adjustments immediately on the field every time. What bothers me and is one of the definitions of "Smitty" is when your working with a guy who you think just had a rough day and as you're thinking of how to bring it up to him he says, "Wow I had a great game today" and being serious.

[therefump]

When you recognize your problems it's a good thing. You may not be able to make the adjustments immediately on the field every time. What bothers me and is one of the definitions of "Smitty" is when your working with a guy who you think just had a rough day and as you're thinking of how to bring it up to him he says, "Wow I had a great game today" and being serious.

ARRGGGG.Agreed.:smachhead:

[mstaylor]

I worked a adult double header tonight. The first game I was on the bases and had an excellent game. The second game I was on the plate. One teams pitcher is throwing gas with a nice breaking ball. The other pitcher was late getting there and didn't have enough time to warm-up properly. He was everywhere. He threw hard but was si inconsitant I really struggled to be consistant. When he did hit the zone he got rocked. I struggled with humidity, causing my glasses to fog. Then we had fog running around the outfield. There was times you could hardly see the outfielder. It would move field to field, then disappear, then roll back in. We actually had to suspend for fifteen minutes to let pass because they couldn't see the batter or ball. The final straw was they changed pitchers and catchers, starting F2 got hurt. He was horrible. I got hit twice, once in the stomach, because the catcher was just stabbing but not catching.

The end result was a horrible plate job, absolutely inconsistant. :banghead:

[therefump]

I worked a adult double header tonight. The first game I was on the bases and had an excellent game. The second game I was on the plate. One teams pitcher is throwing gas with a nice breaking ball. The other pitcher was late getting there and didn't have enough time to warm-up properly. He was everywhere. He threw hard but was si inconsitant I really struggled to be consistant. When he did hit the zone he got rocked. I struggled with humidity, causing my glasses to fog. Then we had fog running around the outfield. There was times you could hardly see the outfielder. It would move field to field, then disappear, then roll back in. We actually had to suspend for fifteen minutes to let pass because they couldn't see the batter or ball. The final straw was they changed pitchers and catchers, starting F2 got hurt. He was horrible. I got hit twice, once in the stomach, because the catcher was just stabbing but not catching.

The end result was a horrible plate job, absolutely inconsistant.

Wow, I haven't had a fog game since last year. They really do suck. I hate nights like that. You can't get comfortable cause the humidity is so high. The baseballs come back wet. And yes, my glasses fogged.:banghead:

[mstaylor]

I was back at the same field today as the site supervisor. I work for the complex as a supervisor, one of my jobs, so I get paid to watch baseball. During the first game the catcher got crossed up and completely whiffed on an inside fastball. The PU caught a half cup shot, 85 MPH fastball. He was supposed to work the bases on the second game but couldn't go so I dressed and took his base.

[BrianDawn95]

I was back at the same field today as the site supervisor. I work for the complex as a supervisor, one of my jobs, so I get paid to watch baseball. During the first game the catcher got crossed up and completely whiffed on an inside fastball. The PU caught a half cup shot, 85 MPH fastball. He was supposed to work the bases on the second game but couldn't go so I dressed and took his base.

When umping the younger kids -- whenever I see that pitch coming right at my forehead -- I tell myself, "Dont flinch!!! He'll catch it!" Than, after I take one or two off the mask, I start turning my head. You know it's getting bad when you say "Ball!" and the coaches are like, "He swung at it!!" "Ok, then, Stirke One! But tell little Jimmy here to catch the ball or it"ll be a ball for the rest of the night whether the batter swings or not!!'"

[HokieUmp]

When umping the younger kids -- whenever I see that pitch coming right at my forehead -- I tell myself, "Dont flinch!!! He'll catch it!" Than, after I take one or two off the mask, I start turning my head. You know it's getting bad when you say "Ball!" and the coaches are like, "He swung at it!!" "Ok, then, Stirke One! But tell little Jimmy here to catch the ball or it"ll be a ball for the rest of the night whether the batter swings or not!!'"

Mate, if you turn your head, at some point you'll be making the call AFTER you regain consciousness, unless you're wearing the hockey mask.

....never mind the h3ll you'll catch for making calls at pitches you're not looking at.

[Umpire in Chief]

I must admit I have a very bad habit of getting happy feet with thte little kids even though I know with my equipment it won't hurt much. But never turn your head away from the ball.

Blue Bomber wrote a good post on overcoming flinching

[MCLEOD36]

UIC,

Happy BDAY first off. I call it getting the yips ie flinching...... I just try and step back, stare at my telephone pole (or something that refocuses me) and then get back in there. Then I say, remember, you dipped your body in kevelar you should be fine. Yes, never turn your head or position your feet like a duck..