My first college Fall ball game

[sdix00]

Thanks to hckyosgood30 calling me up yesterday, I got to do my first college Fall ball game yesterday.

This was some of my experience in 10 innings.

1. This just in: college kids are FAST.

I was positioned in A only 5 feet further back from F3, who played very deep (a couple steps from the outfield grass) all game long. That, coupled with the runners' speed, made it difficult for me to pause, read, then bust in and get a good pivot as BR would reach 1B.

I got caught outside on a hard line drive which got past F3 and escaped in to shallow RF. My experience with younger players told me to look for a hard throw from a charging F9 to F3, but F9 was playing too far back and BR was WAY to fast for that nonsense. So bad read on my part.

2. I missed a clear balk.

F1 buckled before he threw to F6. Luckily R2 didn't bite and the ball hit him in the back as he was returning to 2B. That R2 called me on it as he headed to his position in CF after the inning. He was right. I have conditioned myself to let the smaller things go for the younger players (involuntary shudder, shoulder shrug/big breath, etc). I wasn't ready for this far more subtle, yet absolutely deliberate move.

3. I had a swipe tag sitch at 1B where I saw F3 come off the bag 3 feet straight up in the air , swipe straight down behind himself and I heard the mitt tick something but I was straight-lined. 80% sure it was the BR, but it could have been F3's own ass based on the swipe. I went ahead and called the BR Safe and got exactly what I expected - an instant request from F3 to check with PU (hckyosgood30). I got the the rest of the info and reversed the call.

I should have leaned a LOT more on the bad throw, but just didn't adjust well. Aside from the failure to adjust properly on the bad throw, I think I handled the call at 1B as well as I could. I knew that my PU had the info I would need, so I just called what I had and fixed it. Interested to know if anyone would handle this differently?

This had nothing to do with the level of ball. This was just a poor adjustment.

4. The game started 30 minutes early so we didn't have more than a couple minutes to pre-game. But, via a couple looks and a little eye contact with Mike, I was able to adjust on a play where one system has me covering third and another has me staying at second.

5. Other than the swipe tag, I don't believe I missed a single call on the bases. There were some very close steal plays at 2B and a couple very close pick off attempts at 1B but I felt really good about the angle I built in all of them. I felt like I could see everything. Timing felt good and I never called anyone out too soon. There was one play at 2B where the ball beat the runner but the runner avoided the tag by switching arms at the last second on his head-first slide and F6 missed the tag. In one man, he would be out all day, but from my angle, he got in there. I expected a visit from the skipper, but because it was Fall ball or maybe the call was so awesome , he never came out.

Overall, a GOOD game (meaning I didn't look like a fool). But not a GREAT game (meaning any umpire would have noticed my mistakes). I could have been way better. I really do appreciate the taste, however. It really helped to identify the things I need to correct.

Thanks Mike!

[JaxRolo]

Congrats. I have done a few JUCO games and it seems like a different game even faster than HS.

Hopefully many more to come! Good Job! :notworthy:

[grayhawk]

That's really cool Dix. Nice post game report too. Great timing coming fresh off the Desert Classic!

[yawetag]

I got caught outside on a hard line drive which got past F3 and escaped in to shallow RF. My experience with younger players told me to look for a hard throw from a charging F9 to F3, but F9 was playing too far back and BR was WAY to fast for that nonsense. So bad read on my part.

Maybe my experience is different, but in my three years of high school ball, I've seen only one attempt by F9 to get BR at 1B. Personally, it's something I don't account for, but always keep an eye on.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Good for you, Dix. And good for Mike for getting you out there.

Working fall and winter NCAA scrimmage games is the best way to get better as an umpire and see some action in some of the coolest ballparks. Things are done at D-I speed, which is sometimes big league speed. The bangers, the steals, the fair/fouls and the pitching make your skills develop in very rapid fashion. Then there's the mechanics and rules and procedures lessons you get and it is sometimes the most enjoyable and fulfilling work of the year. It's definitely the most helpful.

I will never smell the Pac 12 or the West Coast Conference, because I got started late, and it's just not in the cards. But I get to taste it this way. And I get to make more progress than my peers that don't put in the off-season work. It's worth the effort and devotion in an attempt to go as far up the college ranks as I can, and get better high school and men's league assignments in the meanwhile. And the relationships I've built with the college teams and other umpires has been invaluable.

Last off-season, I did 25 NCAA scrimmages, and before next season, I will have done about 20 to 25 more--most of them three-man. When I get my high school playoff assignments for next year, I will have games with partners who have worked zero three-man games since last year's playoffs, while I have worked dozens--many of them with high level college umpires. The main D-I school where I work most of my games is three blocks from my office, so it couldn't be better.

This is a hotbed and we can get out there. so I would bet that that any umpire out there with a modicum of skill and experience and a boundless desire to move up and get better as an umpire can get out there at their local colleges and universities. I worked one today, and I have five more this month. I recommend it as highly as you do.

[Kevin Finnerty]

I got caught outside on a hard line drive which got past F3 and escaped in to shallow RF. My experience with younger players told me to look for a hard throw from a charging F9 to F3, but F9 was playing too far back and BR was WAY to fast for that nonsense. So bad read on my part.

Maybe my experience is different, but in my three years of high school ball, I've seen only one attempt by F9 to get BR at 1B. Personally, it's something I don't account for, but always keep an eye on.

There's this one premier high school league with two Catholic schools that have short right field fences (250-260) with high screens and the right fielders play extremely shallowly. We actually have a mechanic for it: with BU in A, he goes foul, and PU takes batter/runner to second and third on an overthrow. BU takes dead ball responsibilty and rotates home if there's another broken play. We've had several of these plays at those two schools.

[hckyosgood30]

Steve, glad you enjoyed our time together. I will continue to help you grow in anyway I can, as I'm sure you will continue to do for me. Hope this taste gives you the push you need to take you to your next level. Just got done with the MLB clinic in compton, and you should go next year. At least for the single day if nothing else. Great opportunity to learn, and see what a portion of our socal brotherhood looks like. See you on a field again soon, hopefully before Sacramento.

Best,

[Kevin Finnerty]

We'll have to connect on one before the winter's over.

[hckyosgood30]

Sounds good sir, Just PM and let me know your next date that you want me to join you on. Best to all of you on this rainy weekend in socal.