Coach's thought

[dportz]

During a umpire clinic the coach from the local university team was in attendance and the instructor asked him what he likes, dislikes.. etc.

He said.... "We hire you guys to come out and calls strikes and outs... not balls and safes. I have other things we need to do, so don't make the game any longer than it has to be.":D

As a new umpire I thought this was interesting. They basically said that every pitch is a strike... unless it is a ball.

Any thoughts?????

Is this good advice for a newbie:confused:

[Majordave]

As to what that coach said. Abso-freakin'-lutely. All pitches are strikes until they prove themselves different. Anything close is a strike. All borderline pitches are strikes. This moves the game along and gets them swinging the bats. NO ONE comes to the game to see walks. NO ONE. The players actually decide the game when you call a lot of strikes early because they get the message, get the bat off their shoulder, start putting balls in play and games move along faster with players making plays not umpires calling ball, ball, ball, ......

Every evaluation I have read for a new umpire and every new umpire I have worked with could benefit from calling more strikes. I say again: ALL close pitches are STRIKES. ALL borderline pitches are STRIKES. When in doubt, call a STRIKE. Do it early, do it often. No one will bitch and you will have a reputation as a good umpire. All of the guys I work with that are considered "good umpires" call a lot of strikes early, hustle a lot, look good in uniform (fitness and neatness) and they know the effin rules. I strive to be in that percentage. Most people think I am. Particularly the ones that count-my assigners and evaluators.

Aren't you a Mountie? You should have no problem pissing people off and "announcing your presence with authority". (quote stolen from Bull Durham-Nuke Laloosh.)

Good luck in whatever path you choose. Work a lot of games. More experience is always a good thing.

[littleleagueump]

I like strikes and out myself, it gets you home faster. Most of all, the game is for the kids, not the coaches or the umpires to get paid.

Call the game fair, down the line. Never short change a team because your favorite T.V. program is on in less than 30 minutes or you girlfiend has better things for you to do.