Bad Night For Me

[moblue]

Tonight I called a JV game. I was ready and confident about the game, then in the third inning, with two out and bases loaded there was a pop-up in the infield. I opened my big mouth very loudly with "Infield fly; batter's out!" about as loud as I could. My confidence was shot from there on out and I criticized almost everything I did. I felt like my zone had consistency problems (on the outside and upper portions especially). On a side note, one or more of the VT coaches started chirping about pitches and I got to use the 4-step method for dealing with them (ignore, acknowledge, warn, eject). We only needed to go to step two. I think my stare got the point across.

I have five games left this weekend. Any advice to regain my confidence quickly? Should I go bases first game of my DH tomorrow instead of taking the plate?

[Paperipper17]

Bad nights are part of the job. I can't speak for everyone, but I'd prefer to jump right back on the horse and take the plate just to show myself it was a one-night thing. We all beat ourselves up over calls we know we missed, but the last thing we need to be is our own worst enemies...we have enough of them out there. I'm damn sure guilty of it. I've been known to let one call, or missed EJ, or bad positioning sit in my head for days.

Look at it like a player...the best closers in the game year after year are guys like Rivera, Hoffman, and Wagner. They have a bad night, it's out of their head before they hit the clubhouse doors. How many young guys flame out in a year or two? Wohlers, Zumaya, Anderson, Dotel...They kick ass for a year, have a bad stretch, and spend the rest of their lives in a setup or middle innings role. Not because they can't throw 98, but because they don't know how to let it go. Umpires are like closers...You have to be perfect, but if you aren't, come back tomorrow and be perfect then. Have a beer, watch some TV, and shrug it off. Take the stick tomorrow and do the job you know you can do. :shakehead:

Edited April 10, 2010 by Paperipper17

[padist4ump]

We've all been there. Let it go. You kicked a call, coaches chirped (you had to expect that) but it's over now. The way I would deal with it is to just do your games this week as if it never happened. Do what you feel comfortable doing. Wanna do the dish tomorrow, do it, ask your partner, maybe he wants it. If you keep worrying about it, your confidence will go first, then your performance. I know this is easier said then done, but you gotta try, starting now...

[BrianC14]

Tonight I called a JV game. I was ready and confident about the game, then in the third inning, with two out and bases loaded there was a pop-up in the infield. I opened my big mouth very loudly with "Infield fly; batter's out!" about as loud as I could. My confidence was shot from there on out and I criticized almost everything I did. I felt like my zone had consistency problems (on the outside and upper portions especially). On a side note, one or more of the VT coaches started chirping about pitches and I got to use the 4-step method for dealing with them (ignore, acknowledge, warn, eject). We only needed to go to step two. I think my stare got the point across.

I have five games left this weekend. Any advice to regain my confidence quickly? Should I go bases first game of my DH tomorrow instead of taking the plate?

Refer to the bold type: that's a positive for you right there. You didn't let things get SO out of control just because of one mistake. Great job! Take that positive and build on it for the next game(s).

I can tell you this: the longest night of my life was on March 2, 2010. I won't bore you with the details, but in summary:

a) I positively sucked for 3.5 innings. You guessed it: my zone was incoherent... even to me - and I just couldn't figure out how to correct the problem. Things were getting desperate.

My super was working 3B, and for 3 consecutive visits every 1/2 inning, this is what he told me:

Bottom 4th: "One pitch at a time. One batter at a time. One inning at a time. Remember, it's just you and the ball, nothing else matters."

Top 5th: "Good inning there. Keep it up. It's just you and the ball. One pitch at a time. One batter at a time. One inning at a time.

Bottom 5th: "Another good inning. Good timing, good focus. Keep doing that. One pitch at a time, same as before."

After that, he left me alone. I was quickly regaining my confidence.

And you know what? I survived it. That was really saying something, considering the deep, dark SH*#ty hole I'd dug for myself in those early innings.

I survived. And I actually left far more confident than when I went in. I survived.

So will you.

One pitch at a time. One batter at a time. One inning at a time. It's just you and the ball, nothing else matters.

And again, good job keeping the chirping down. That's a tough thing to accomplish when the alligators are snapping away, and you're trying to remember that your job is to drain the swamp.

You survived. In this job, that's all you really need to do to succeed.

Great job. ::shakehead:

Edited April 10, 2010 by BrianC14

[Umpire in Chief]

Get right back in there if you intentionally do not take the dish the next time, you're avoiding the problem and doing nothing to resolve it.

As hard as it is, try to find the positive in the game. Like Brian said and you may have to have your partner point it out to you.

[kcfan102]

When I was a wee little lad I went to a clinic. The instructor there told me something I will never forget.

He said something like: Just like a batter who has a broken swing, and umpire can have a broken zone. It all goes back to basic fundamentals. With a batter, it maybe his hands, feet, or something as simple as his eyes. For you, it's your feet, head, or timing. or something like that

Since then whenever I feel my zone is off I take a couple of seconds to make sure I'm doing everything right, one pitch at a time.

And what Brian said was really really good. It also really pays to have a good partner. You never know, being honest with your BiA, he may give you some tips, or just give you words of wisdom.

All is well MObro

[moblue]

Thanks guys. This is why I like this site so much. Brian, I'll be sure to keep your advice in mind tomorrow when I'm behind the plate.

[mstaylor]

I remember having an incredibly bad game, zone sucked, timing sucked, it was just ugly. I was working with my interpreter who is now my assignor. We walk off the field and I told my partner that absolutely sucked. He said I was less than a model of consistancy. As I changed out he told me the biggest plus is I knew I had a bad night and wanted to fix it. The problem is when you don't know you just stunk up the joint. He said to take it to heart and do better next time. Then he went on to explain some things I was doing wrong. Go back to basics, slow down and do what you know how to do.

[noumpere]

Tonight I called a JV game. I was ready and confident about the game, then in the third inning, with two out and bases loaded there was a pop-up in the infield. I opened my big mouth very loudly with "Infield fly; batter's out!" about as loud as I could. My confidence was shot from there on out and I criticized almost everything I did.

Learn to laugh at yourself.

A chuckle, with a pat of the chest and a "my bad" to no one in particular will let everyone know that you know that you made a mistake. It happens. It also won't be the worst mistake you ever make.

[moblue]

Here's my update from today's games. I had two games that were part of a 10 yr. old round robin tournament. The first game I went ahead and worked the bases. I tried to hustle everywhere I went, and kept reinforcing that to myself as a positive point. There were a couple of questionable calls on some bangers and steals of third, but that happens. I made the call and moved on. My favorite call of the first game was a steal of third. The kid slid, extended arm looked wide of third, and was tagged for the out. The tag was on the opposite side of the body, but I couldn't call him safe just for that. I thought there was a tag and if he missed him (which the 3rd base coach insisted he did) then it couldn't have been by much. I called him out and my partner later told me he would have called the same thing if I had come to him for help. On my safe call, one of the parents yelled my new favorite line "That's six you've missed!" All that did was make me wonder if I had even had six close calls to make.

The second game was a rematch of the district championship game, one game I almost wish I had never called. I thought for the first two innings I might lose control of the game, then put that oh-so-wonderful four step method into action. The problems died down on step two. I've found that an elongated stare works wonders. They know that you heard them, and you don't want to hear any more. Things were a little chattery on the borderline pitches for both sides, but it was more that both sides wanted to win than it was they were unhappy with the call.

Bottom of the sixth inning, one out, I called strike three on a kid. It was a boarderline pitch that I might should have called a ball, but it is what it is. The third base coach (who was the HC of the team who also played in the first game) decided to verbalize his disapproval with "That was a p***-poor call!" After the way he had treated his players in the day, my only regret was not getting to do that sooner. Apparently he wanted out because his reply to my ej was something to the effect of "Awsome." He left the field and one pitch later I looked at his side of the crowd. There he was, standing not 20 or 30 feet from his dugout door. I stopped the game and told him he had to get out of sight and sound of the game. I let him know I didn't want to see him or hear him. Two outs later the game ended and I headed back to my car with parents making fools of themselves yelling various disapproving statements at me. I jokingly turned to my partner and said "Well, I guess I don't have to worry about them calling me for any of their games."

After last night, I was happy with how I did today. And Brian, that advice helped me out when I was having trouble with my zone during the game. "One pitch at a time, one batter at a time, one inning at a time." I was surprised at how effective that was.

[Guest]

When you dump a rat and he won't leave, don't speak to him. Go to the new manager and instruct him to remove the coach you've just ejected.

"Tom, I need you to remove your ejected coach before we continue this game."

If he won't, then he can join his friend.

Once they get the hook, they don't exist. Don't speak to them, talk about them, or even look in their direction.

[Jeff C.]

Good job, moblue. I had a freshman game last week that my partner recommended I open up the zone. Well, some of the pitches I called strikes Eddie Gaedel couldn't have hit! I knew I was struggling, but I just reminded myself to track the ball and call'em as I see'em. Got games all next week and I'm raring to get back at'em. Keep working hard.

[BrianC14]

Here's my update from today's games. I had two games that were part of a 10 yr. old round robin tournament. The first game I went ahead and worked the bases. I tried to hustle everywhere I went, and kept reinforcing that to myself as a positive point. There were a couple of questionable calls on some bangers and steals of third, but that happens. I made the call and moved on. My favorite call of the first game was a steal of third. The kid slid, extended arm looked wide of third, and was tagged for the out. The tag was on the opposite side of the body, but I couldn't call him safe just for that. I thought there was a tag and if he missed him (which the 3rd base coach insisted he did) then it couldn't have been by much. I called him out and my partner later told me he would have called the same thing if I had come to him for help. On my safe call, one of the parents yelled my new favorite line "That's six you've missed!" All that did was make me wonder if I had even had six close calls to make.

The second game was a rematch of the district championship game, one game I almost wish I had never called. I thought for the first two innings I might lose control of the game, then put that oh-so-wonderful four step method into action. The problems died down on step two. I've found that an elongated stare works wonders. They know that you heard them, and you don't want to hear any more. Things were a little chattery on the borderline pitches for both sides, but it was more that both sides wanted to win than it was they were unhappy with the call.

Bottom of the sixth inning, one out, I called strike three on a kid. It was a boarderline pitch that I might should have called a ball, but it is what it is. The third base coach (who was the HC of the team who also played in the first game) decided to verbalize his disapproval with "That was a p***-poor call!" After the way he had treated his players in the day, my only regret was not getting to do that sooner. Apparently he wanted out because his reply to my ej was something to the effect of "Awsome." He left the field and one pitch later I looked at his side of the crowd. There he was, standing not 20 or 30 feet from his dugout door. I stopped the game and told him he had to get out of sight and sound of the game. I let him know I didn't want to see him or hear him. Two outs later the game ended and I headed back to my car with parents making fools of themselves yelling various disapproving statements at me. I jokingly turned to my partner and said "Well, I guess I don't have to worry about them calling me for any of their games."

After last night, I was happy with how I did today. And Brian, that advice helped me out when I was having trouble with my zone during the game. "One pitch at a time, one batter at a time, one inning at a time." I was surprised at how effective that was.

Glad to hear it, MO. I know it got me through to the 9th, I'm glad it helped you as well. :tantrum:

[mstaylor]

I did a varsity game Friday night and my partner and I had an excellent game. However, the first call I had to make was a steal at second. The catcher had a cannon and had him by a mile, kid slides right into the glove. I had a good look at it, so I thought, SS comes up with his glove and as I get ready to bang him the ball rolls out from under the runner. I rolled my out right into a "No, he's off the bag, safe!" Nobody had a clue, including by partner, that I was getting ready to smoke to the call. After that I had a ton of close calls, bangers, double plays and sliding catches in the outfield. Nailed everything. A kid balked and we both in unison yelled balk, it was great. The other pitcher balk later, I nailed him, my patner was a tad slow so didn't echo but agreed.

Smoking the first call could have thrown me in a tailspin but I just bared down and had a really good game.

[Big Red]

Good for you MoBlue! Only thing I'd add is that just as we practice our calls and mechanics, I've found it helps to run through my mind and play out making a bad call...missed strike, ball, tag, whatever, so when it happens, it's not so foreign, especially newer guys.

Finally, remind yourself time-to-time that you are human and that sometimes, despite the most spectacular efforts, Murphy is always lurking and sh!t happens.

Case in point:

Had 4 games yesterday in a PONY 14U fast-pitch mini head-to-head tournament. Started the first game as BU, PU was one of our best & most experienced guys around and I was feeling good. Had several banger plays that I nailed and was always where I needed to be...got good compliments from PU, who is not one to usually say anything.

First 3 games were great...behind the plate was seeing the ball in slo-mo, no complaints, me and my partner jumped on an interference call on R2 going to third w/ F6, which unfortunately made it the final out of the game for the team that was down, but nonetheless we were in unison and got it right away.

I'm PU for last game, a little concerned as my partner is a last sec fill-in...1st yr ump, still in high school and this is his first softball game. We have a good pre-game....I'm still feeling it behind the plate, even smiling ear-to-ear at times. My partner's doing well out there, despite getting in baseball B, C & D position v. softball positioning (outside the basepath).

The it happens. 3rd inning, VT is up by one run.

1 out, R3, batter hits a sharp grounder that the SS knocks down, looks back R3, fires to first and ball deflects off F3's glove. I scramble to kick the bat out of the way as R3 comes in to score.

BR makes the turn for 2nd. F3 throws to 2nd, but runner just beats the throw & tag by F6...partner signals safe, but doesn't say anything. I pause to watch for a second, then turn to the next batter to get the bat I had kicked out of the way.

As I do this, I suddenly hear everyone yelling. I turn to see the BR, now R2, several feet off 2nd slowly walking toward first and the infield celebrating. I look at my partner....he's just looking at me.

OC starts yelling at R2 to get back to 2nd. DC starts screaming, "She's out! She tagged her!"

As R2 starts running back to 2nd, my partner, still walking toward me with his back to the play, puts one arm up as if to say IDK, then his other arm w/ fist halfway up in a half-hearted out call.

SS who still has ball tries to tag runner again, but she's in to 2nd safe. Since my partner had his back to it, I call her safe.

DC loses his mind, along w/ all their fans. I call time and meet w/ my partner to ask him what he saw. He didn't see anything as he had turned around to get in C position right after he signalled safe. While were meeting the DC keeps yelling that she came off the bag and his SS tagged her out.

I shut him down then ask my partner why he signalled out. He said he thought she was out because she was walking away!

So I confirmed with him that he did not see anything to call her out, and based on what I saw, she was safe, so he calls her safe.

Fans for VT lost it, SS looks exasperated and DC is so mad, he's speechless....for a bit. He says, "I don't know what game you guys are watching!" That would usually warrant , but knowing we booted it, I gave him the look and a warning, telling him that yes we may have booted it, but I'm not going to let him make it personal. He immediately apologized and not another word from him (different story for the fans).

That runner eventually scored and even though VT eventually was blown out, I felt like sh!t the rest of the game and all the previous stuff seemed to be wiped out, even though it wasn't technically my call. VT fans were on us about everything the rest of the game.

Allowed it to affect me a li'l too much as I later rung up a batter w/ 3-1 on the 2nd strike! Laughed that off and it made me realize to fuhgetaboutit and finish the game, as Brian says, one pitch, one batter and one inning at a time.

Afterward, confirmed w/ the scorekeep and one of my buddies who was watching the game that indeed, the runner walked off and SS tagged her. Asked the OC what happened and he said his runner thought she was out because she didn't hear anything, so she started walking back to dugout. Credit I s'pose to OC for heads-up in getting her back because he knew that BU missed it and rightfully hoped I did too.

Had a good discussion w/ my partner after the game and it was a great learning experience for both of us, which is really all we could do with it at that point. But, even as I lay my head down last night, that was the only thing I was thinking about and I still felt bad about it, despite the rest of the day.

So, don't feel like you're on an island all alone when stuff like that happens...it happens to everyone. Sometimes we just simply have a bad day, but even when we're in the zone so to speak and one moment of inattention, even if it's not entirely on you, blows it all away. But, whatever technique you use, the key is not letting it compound into further mistakes because you've lost focus.

[yawetag]

My partner's doing well out there, despite getting in baseball B, C & D position v. softball positioning (outside the basepath).

D? In two-man?

[HokieUmp]

...I'll post my bad game, too.

UIC has mentioned our eval system before, and has even posted the criteria, so I won't get into that. But it was my second game last week - it was spring break, so there wasn't much on M-F - and it was also my second eval game. The first one was a base game, and it went real well. So I should have known karma was coming, but I stepped off the curb anyway.....

Didn't feel right for the first half of the game or so. Not a ton of b1tching from the benches, but wasn't feeling it. Called my partner over, and asked if I was killing them with my zone, and he said yes, which I expected. Problem is, when he elaborated, he was telling me there was a lot more I could get on the inside and outside! (The expected problem - where I felt like I was hosing - was the high stuff. All the pitchers were throwing into that "gray area" on the high part.) So, terrific. Apparently, I'm screwing them on ALL FOUR EDGES OF THE ZONE. (It was of no consolation to me that I was screwing both teams equally.)

What was worse, he was saying that I wasn't really getting the heel-toe - I was more square to the plate - and that I was too far behind the catcher. (It was worse for one team than the other, because their F2 liked to move a couple feet forward after giving the signal, and since I was setting up based on that first position, and not moving up with him all the time, there was a huge gap at times.) Now, I wanted honest feedback - I wouldn't have asked otherwise. But now my head's really spinning, since I felt even worse than before I asked. <Bleep!> <BLEEP!>

It got better over the second half, and the evaluator even mentioned that. But I didn't like the struggling-for-air feeling. And even though it's a rat term used against us - I know I'm better than that. So, I was not thrilled with the result.

The evaluator talked things over with me, and told me how he sets up when he's got a "movy" catcher, and stuff like that. And he DID say that everything else looked good - good hustle, timing, positioning, etc - but the only thing I could say in response was "Yeah, it was a great game - except for the MOST IMPORTANT part!"

I tried not to let it eat me up, but it seemed that every time my mind wasn't occupied, I would drift back to it. And of course, I had to tell my tale of woe to my wife when I got home.

The worst part was reading the eval. For the first time, in something like 25-30 evals, with 18 rating points per eval, I got a "Below Average" on a rating point - Plate Mechanics. And that was terribly deflating - justified, but still. I'm newly promoted to the HS level as out association, but I'm in my eighth year, and did almost all plate work overseas during years 1-4, so it's not like I haven't done this before. I know bad games are there, but it's pretty gutting nonetheless. And like I said - I'm new to my level, and we can get DEmoted as well as PROmoted, so with limited chances for evals, it's a bad feeling.

So there you go.

Edited April 12, 2010 by HokieUmp
edited for clarity

[Big Red]

Yawetag,

Yes, in PONY softball, anytime w/ runner on 2nd, you are in C...2nd base side of SS.

Anytime runner on 3rd, you are in D...3rd base side of SS. Both about 2 steps behind SS.

Yes, it can get confusing! :question1:

[yawetag]

Yawetag,

Yes, in PONY softball, anytime w/ runner on 2nd, you are in C...2nd base side of SS.

Anytime runner on 3rd, you are in D...3rd base side of SS. Both about 2 steps behind SS.

Yes, it can get confusing!

OK. So similar to softball mechanics, where you're outside the infield.

[mstaylor]

...I'll post my bad game, too.

UIC has mentioned our eval system before, and has even posted the criteria, so I won't get into that. But it was my second game last week - it was spring break, so there wasn't much on M-F - and it was also my second eval game. The first one was a base game, and it went real well. So I should have known karma was coming, but I stepped off the curb anyway.....

Didn't feel right for the first half of the game or so. Not a ton of b1tching from the benches, but wasn't feeling it. Called my partner over, and asked if I was killing them with my zone, and he said yes, which I expected. Problem is, when he elaborated, he was telling me there was a lot more I could get on the inside and outside! (The expected problem - where I felt like I was hosing - was the high stuff. All the pitchers were throwing into that "gray area" on the high part.) So, terrific. Apparently, I'm screwing them on ALL FOUR EDGES OF THE ZONE. (It was of no consolation to me that I was screwing both teams equally.)

What was worse, he was saying that I wasn't really getting the heel-toe - I was more square to the plate - and that I was too far behind the catcher. (It was worse for one team than the other, because their F2 liked to move a couple feet forward after giving the signal, and since I was setting up based on that first position, and not moving up with him all the time, there was a huge gap at times.) Now, I wanted honest feedback - I wouldn't have asked otherwise. But now my head's really spinning, since I felt even worse than before I asked. <Bleep!> <BLEEP!>

It got better over the second half, and the evaluator even mentioned that. But I didn't like the struggling-for-air feeling. And even though it's a rat term used against us - I know I'm better than that. So, I was not thrilled with the result.

The evaluator talked things over with me, and told me how he sets up when he's got a "movy" catcher, and stuff like that. And he DID say that everything else looked good - good hustle, timing, positioning, etc - but the only thing I could say in response was "Yeah, it was a great game - except for the MOST IMPORTANT part!"

I tried not to let it eat me up, but it seemed that every time my mind wasn't occupied, I would drift back to it. And of course, I had to tell my tale of woe to my wife when I got home.

The worst part was reading the eval. For the first time, in something like 25-30 evals, with 18 rating points per eval, I got a "Below Average" on a rating point - Plate Mechanics. And that was terribly deflating - justified, but still. I'm newly promoted to the HS level as out association, but I'm in my eighth year, and did almost all plate work overseas during years 1-4, so it's not like I haven't done this before. I know bad games are there, but it's pretty gutting nonetheless. And like I said - I'm new to my level, and we can get DEmoted as well as PROmoted, so with limited chances for evals, it's a bad feeling.

So there you go.

In your group are you allowed to request an eval to offset a bad one? Have you worked a plate since and if so, how did you do? I worked a college game once with a pro grad that I really liked working with. We were supposed to finish a game and then do a regular nine. He was on the plate doing the three innings continuation and was setting too high. It was causing his entire zone to be up. I told him he was high but he just couldn't find his lock-in. He was supposed to stay on the plate but I suggested I take the plate on the nine. He was all for it, I told both managers that we were going to swap, they were both happy. I have never seen him do it since.

[Umpire in Chief]

We can request more evals. And generally we each get 3-4 per year. I know first hand one off eval will not destroy you.

[HokieUmp]

In your group are you allowed to request an eval to offset a bad one?

UIC's already fielded the answer to that. We can, if feasible, and it's not the end of the world, but it felt like it for a while. I know there are more evals, since we're still pretty early - I mean, I'm averaging in the mid-60s for games every year, and that was only game seven of the current season. And I had 10 evals last year, so it can balance out.

Have you worked a plate since and if so, how did you do?

Not yet. No games since that one (Thursday) - for some reason, I'm not on the weekends much right now. (That was already set in place before I $%^&*ed up this game, so I know it's not a direct result.) I have one tonight, but will probably be the base guy. Wednesday, I owe a plate to the partner for that night, so I'll be back on the horse then.

If I'm honest, I think the main contributors would be a) early in the season, still working the bugs out, and complacency? And maybe more than a). Maybe not, but it does make me wonder now if my stance has been off for a while, and I haven't noticed enough to correct it.

It might not help that I'm tighter on my zone historically, and if I'm missing, it's going to be brutal, apparently.

[moblue]

For my games on Saturday, my partner was responsible for assigning umpires for a tournament this coming weekend. I was already scheduled to work all day Saturday, and apparently he thought I did a good job, because I've been asked to call on Sunday as well. My game schedule for this weekend has jumped from six games to 11.

[Umpire in Chief]

11 games????

Better you than me. I did 5 last weekend and that was too much.

But as long as you enjoy it, knock yourself out.

[BrianC14]

For my games on Saturday, my partner was responsible for assigning umpires for a tournament this coming weekend. I was already scheduled to work all day Saturday, and apparently he thought I did a good job, because I've been asked to call on Sunday as well. My game schedule for this weekend has jumped from six games to 11.

11 games in two days?!?

Holy :Horse: