Found this on YouTube

[Triguy29]

The more I think about this guy the more I feel bad for him. He loves being an umpire and has no clue how bad he is. I don't know that it was edited to get under umpires skin I think he just does everything that does that naturally. Especially his overemphatic strike call.

[BT_Blue]

In all honesty I dont have much of an issue with this guy. The strike call is perfectly fine for the age he is calling as well as his zone. He truly seems to love umpiring and the game of baseball. He is one of those guys, despite his wanting "to become a Major League umpire some day", who will not advance above his local league... which I want to say maybe a PONY league considering some of those strange rules MST mentioned (PONY does not have a "must slide" rule but I do want to say it has a "slide to avoid" rule at HP). Sure there are something that a more experienced umpire would notice that this dude does wrong. But I refuse to pick apart this guy since we need people like him. These are the guys that will get a kid interested in umpiring cause he make it look fun. Then we (the people that frequent clinics and forums such as this one) will have the opportunity to further those kids as umpires and make them better. :2cents:

[johnnyg08]

So he needs to learn some game management and learn the rule at home plate just to be sure.

Just because somebody called their guy out last week, doesn't mean that guy was right either.

[zm1283]

I will say that for the level of baseball in the video, he isn't that bad. Like I said, he has some issues and doesn't communicate well, but there are far worse umpires out there working 9 year-old games.

[scrounge]

Yea, after reflecting on it, I kinda felt guilty and a bit ashamed about my reaction. Yes, the dude is bad at many aspects. Probably hasn't had any training, barely one step up above daddy umps, but he did five games that day and really seems to care about the kids and the game. He'll probably never rise above youth rec league level and, to put it delicately, may not be heading to grad school in the near future, but how many kids are helped and allowed to play because he's there? And for what, $20 a game or something? Maybe a little more.

Who knows if the video is true. If it's a fake, it's a masterfully done comedy. If it's real, on face value given the immensely tiny snapshot we have, it's an earnest and amiable fellow who may not be a genius but is out there for kids and serving the game. If this was all happening on a school field, even middle school, it's a totally different story. And yea, I get that rec league kids deserve good umpires too. But I'd rather have a bunch of earnest albeit ignorant guys like this than a bunch of uncaring, arrogant wannabes who don't care. At least you've got a chance to teach with this. And I'm sorry I laughed at him.

[sdix00]

.

[grayhawk]

It cerainly occured to me that maybe I shouldn't make fun of the guy because he loves umpiring. It was a little bothersome, however, that he seems to like it, at least in part, because he "is the king out there." Not a good attitude to have as an umpire. I would be very interested to see a more recent video of him to see if he has learned anything over the years.

Hey, if nothing else, this video serves as an excellent example of horrific timing. Leslie Neilsen has him beat, but not by much.

[mjr_2013]

Sorry to grave dig this of all things, but it is the type of video you can't not say something on as an umpire...

This is a fake... The date on the video for Tom's "first game" was Saturday, April 1st, 2000, you fools...

My best guess is that Tom Beighey is a real person, who is obsessed with umpiring, and all the stuff that drives umps nuts, and they made this video of "him" as a joke.

If this is a real video, with a real person, and a real game.... God help his umpiring soul.

--On Edit--

This was written, produced, and directed by umpires too... Maybe fellow umps in his association or something. No way a non-ump, beginning ump, or probably even one ump could fit this many mechanical mistakes into one video.

[Umpire in Chief]

I think this is legit.

Yes, Tom is your stereotypical LL umpire- having fun, little-no training, nice guy, little rules knowledge.

Maybe somebody here knows him he's in Alpheretta, GA and I know we have a few members from that area. If you do reach out to him. He has ambitions of moving up. Talk to him about attending a camp or clinic. Heck the Southern Camp is right there. maybe he can develop his passion to something he's good in.

[renegadewolf]

Doctor, my brain hurts...... youtube posting said this is not ficiton.... so many things are so very, findimentally wrong.... I especially like the calling strikes before the ball is even in the catchers mitt.

[Mudder]

I will admit there is one thing he does that I do as well...removes his mask with his right hand and quickly transfers it over to his left hand instead of taking it off with his left hand directly.

I don't know why I just can't get used to taking my mask off with the left hand with the indicator in my hand, it just feels cumbersome and awkward and I have big hands?

[zm1283]

I will admit there is one thing he does that I do as well...removes his mask with his right hand and quickly transfers it over to his left hand instead of taking it off with his left hand directly.

I don't know why I just can't get used to taking my mask off with the left hand with the indicator in my hand, it just feels cumbersome and awkward and I have big hands?

Practice it at home sitting on the couch.

[JaxRolo]

I will admit there is one thing he does that I do as well...removes his mask with his right hand and quickly transfers it over to his left hand instead of taking it off with his left hand directly.

I don't know why I just can't get used to taking my mask off with the left hand with the indicator in my hand, it just feels cumbersome and awkward and I have big hands?

Are you left handed?