What is the best compliment you've received from a player, coach or spectator?

[Umpire in Chief]

In reading the doing what you love and lovin what do thread I noticed many of you discussed taking pride in a compliment you received. And in our avocation compliments don't come too frequently so you have to savor the ones you get. So tell us about the best compliment you've received from a player, coach or spectator.

Mine actually happened just about a month a go. I had a JV game (read about it in my blog) where I had my strengths and weaknesses, but that was a particularly good game in terms of game management. We had all of the typical mound visits, substitutions and such but still got 9 innings in in just 2:13. A spectator, actually the Time & Billing Manager for the firm I work at, not only was able recognize good game management but thanked me for it. The Monday after that game she came to my office and told me she was really dreading that 9 inning game because they typically take 3+ hours and she still had other games that day.

On a side note she gets to see me quite a few times a year because she has one son who plays Varsity ball, one who is on the JV team and one who is still in the rec system. Plus the two older kids play AAU too.

She told me she liked how I kept the game going and always got the ball back in play as quick as possible, and how I took control over the batters either keeping them in the box or getting them in as quick as possible. She also said those were the quickest between inning splits she'd ever seen. All of which made me very proud because I was still proud of my game management in that game.

She told me she always likes when she sees me behind the plate because she knows win or loose (unfortunately over the years all of her kids have had terrible luck in getting on winning teams) their going to have a well called game.

I thanked her and told her how much I appreciated the kind words.

She went on to ask why rec games can't go as quickly and they almost never finish a 7 inning game in 2:30. I told her it is because too often the rec players and coaches are too lackadaisical to hustle and sometimes do things to extend the game sometimes intentionally. I let her know umpires want quick games too. But when we have to wait forever to get baseballs or kids try to step out after every pitch to get signals from their coach or the catcher even with the hurry up rules in effect take 3 minuets to get their gear on the game will be longer.

[mstaylor]

Probably one of the best compliments I have received was in a BLLL state tournament. I was on the plate and just had one of those games. One of the state guys that was announcing the game was sitting in the pressbox directly over the plate. It was an old MiLB field that had the pressbox extended out to just behind the screen. He told me after the game that I was bang on right to left on my strike zone. He said he coudn't tell up and down but everything else looked excellent, my timing was good and my rotations were good. It made me feel good to hear it from somebody I respect saying I did a good job.

[catoblue]

I guess that for me, when I overhear players and coaches on both teams say something like " cool, look who the umpire is", it tells me they know I call a consistent game and they like the way I call a game. Since I only ump LL, this might not seem like a big deal to some of you guys, but to me, knowing that both teams in a game value the way I call a game means a lot.

Other times, I think the biggest complement comes when nothing at all is said - when I don't hear any grumbling and griping from "Little League Parents" after a game.

[UmpJM]

The best compliment I ever received came "indirectly" a few days after I had called a Colt League game (15-17 yr. olds, Summer ball).

During the game, the pitcher for one team had used a "jab step" pick-off move to 1B. The Offensive HC, who I know pretty well, asked me (politely) why it wasn't a balk. I explained it to him briefly at the time and he accepted my explanation without any fuss. That evening, I sent him an e-mail with the text of the MLBUM section dealing with the jab step move.

A couple of days later, I received the following e-mail from him in reply:

John, thanks for the note and the info. I wasn't aware of that jab step...first I've seen it. So I'm learning all the time.

You did a great job umping. In fact, we had a game tonight that we lost 2-1 where the umpiring wasn't nearly as good (but that wasn't the deciding factor in the game...the other team made 2 outstanding plays in center field). But the moral of the story here is that one of the kids said 'have we had any good umps yet', we as coaches said 'it's not the umping that determines the game', and then one of the other kids said 'that older guy who umped the other night was really good'.

So, as you are the 'older guy', you are also the good ump as recognized by the 15-17 year olds!

Dave

Given the context and the phrasing, it struck me as sincere.

JM

[Majordave]

from players, coaches, game management and workers, etc.

I have had several parents of losing teams come up to me as I leave the field and introduce themselves and compliment me on a good game. Since they didn't win and seem sincere I think those are good ones to receive. They don't have a dog in the fight anymore.

At a tournament mill near here where there are hundreds of games a summer (six or seven fields, ages 8-19 served) the kids waiting on the next game will come up to the fence and ask me while I am working the bases if I have the plate the next game. When I say yes they do the "yessssss!" thing and when I say "no" they usually awwww unless I am working with my 22 year old son or my man Harvey, the State Trooper who looks like Robocop/roboump. Both of whom I deem to be very good umpires. I really like it when all three of us work together as we all three love what we are doing and I think it shows to the participants and supporters.

Of course other experienced or accomplished umpires who are watching you when they aren't working are a good resource too. Especially when it is your assigner watching you work the plate while considering you for post-season tournament assignments. I like receiving his compliments in post game. Sometimes I get them from him and sometimes not. Since I got to work four games last year in two different regions I think I did okay.

The keys, I think, are to:

1.) know the rules

2.) be consistent

3.) hustle

4.) be approachable, and

5.) have fun.

[LMSANS]

It's not a compliment, but it makes me feel good when after the completion of a LL-jr game, the parents from both sides say "thank you".

After my first varsity game behind the plate, the home team coach called me over and asked for my contact info. It seems he runs some tourneys and wanted me there.

[Umpire in Chief]

It's not a compliment, but it makes me feel good when after the completion of a LL-jr game, the parents from both sides say "thank you".

After my first varsity game behind the plate, the home team coach called me over and asked for my contact info. It seems he runs some tourneys and wanted me there.

I'll take those for good compliments.

[Majordave]

I agree with UIC and Larry. Coaches asking for your contact information is usually a good thing.

[Stan W.]

Somewhere in the back of my head is the old phrase "if you believe them when they tell you are great, you have to believe them when they tell you that you stink".....

I cant shake that thought when I get compliments....yet, the one I take without concern is "Good Hustle Blue!"....

Big summer tourney, hot day, tight game...lots of bang-bang plays...game ends 3-1, base umpire is nailing his calls, I have 2 big outs at third.....walking off the field a coach for the team scheduled to play next, says "I hope we draw two umpires that hustle like that......"

Ill take that anyday.....

Also agree, anytime someone asks for your contact information, you have got to take that as a compliment...

[jim knight]

If you believe them when they say "nice job" then you have to believe them when they say "you suck"... I do not belive them.

[Bigdog]

Hey all,

Not a personal compliment, but one for the crew.

Losing coach in a LL Sectional game asked the crew if we don't mind traveling to do some of their regular season games next year. They were from @ 90 miles away. I worked every game as we were the tournament host, and I must say, our crew was really on that whole week.

Bigdog:cool:

[mstaylor]

I did a college game once where the manager asked me the same question about going to his area to work his games. I told him the guys in his area may not appreciate that, he said he didn't care.

[Old Nr 24]

Umpire compliments are kinda like cops....never one there when you really need it. No offense to my friends in law enforcement, just quoting the old saying.

Well, I've had a few compliments over my years of officiating, but since the one thing everyone says they want from us, and the one thing to which we all aspire is consistency, I have to say I got my best compliment from simply overhearing a comment from a Legion team manager.

In a pretty close ballgame with a runner on second, his batter takes a sharp slider with 2 strikes, and I ring him up big time. Heck of a pitch. The batter is so angry he could eat nails, and he grumbles about the pitch being outside as he heads for the dugout, and apparently complained to his manager sitting on the end of the bench. His manager tells him, "Son, he's been calling that pitch a strike for 10 years. You gotta take that ball to right field and drive in that run. Now sit down." Consistency??

The next season this same manager, who was notorious for beating umpires like a rented mule (he was a rules guy who knew his baseball and played to win, and some umpire refused to do his games at all), paid me another compliment of sorts. He was taking a team to The Neatherlands, I think it was, to participate in the European championship series, or something like that. They were offered the opportunity to bring along an umpire from their league to join others in working the games, and he asked me. Unfortunately, other things prevented me from going, but I considered that a compliment as well.

[mstaylor]

I got an interesting compliment once after a game where I tossed the manager. I'm at my truck changing out and a guy comes up and asks if he can talk to me. He tells me he is the brother of the guy I tossed. I think, here we go! He said it was a good toss, that his brother has no clue how to conduct himself on a field. The next day I ran into the SS at another field and he introduced himself and said the same thing. Not bad from a 15 yr old.

[blue32]

One of the best I recieved was last HS season. Both teams in the hunt for the top seed for districts, 1 run game. 2 outs, team that's down by a run puts the lead off man on first, who gets caught in a run down. But the first baseman loses his mind and after releasing the ball stands right in the baseline, rather than peeling off, obstructs the R1 going back into first before R1 is tagged out. I call obstruction and place R1 on 1B. Coach storms out of the dugout, we have some words, he heads back to the dugout. The offensive team proceeds to score 2 runners with a walk and a walk-off double. The coach of the losing team came to me afterwards to shake my hand and tell me that it was the right call on the obstruction, even though it went against him and they ultimately lost as a result. Coaches will hardly ever do that, so it feels good when they do.

[mstaylor]

blue32:

Not to ruin your story but why did the runner get put back on first? In HS, he should always get a base past last legally touched. In all other codes, it would be Type A, dead on obstruction and award second. Just curious.

[BigBird]

I guess I would have to say that a game I did 4 years ago. 2 things happened that would make any umpire feel good. Moreso since I was not there to call the game, but to watch my son play. It was a LittleLeague game and it came to game time. I looked around and realized 2 things, 1) No umpires have showed up and 2.) I was the only member of our BOD on site as well.

First part of this happens as I got to let the coaches know that nobody is here yet and if they are not here in 5, they get me. The first dugout I come to is my son's team where the players immediately ask if I am calling the game and groan when I indicate that "I don't know". I then walk to the other dugout where their players immediately start asking me to do the game. They all know me and know my son. The coach says ok and I walk back to the stand to wait but get met with a phone from the league prez - Umps called off, can you do it.

I get dressed and walk onto the field to the plays cheers. No doubt that tells you how the players think of you.

3 days later, I got up to the field to watch a game that has major championship implications. My son is not involved but the team they had played is. One of the parents from that team come up to me where I sat with my wife and league secretary and makes this comment: "That game on Saturday, I know your son is on the other team but that was the most fair and consistant game I have seen in 3 years. How can you call your own son's game that well?" My reply is simply, "when I put the gear on, I am no longer a fan and he is no longer my son. He is merely a player at that point. Any 'great job' cheers are done in the car on the way home."

The two incidents were certainly the best I have had up to this point.

[kylejt]

"You look HOT in that jacket" - T-ball Mom, when I was wearing a plate coat.

"Hey, it's the funny umpire" - Cross town kids when I showed up for a game at their park.

"You suck" - old guy in a wheel chair, that couldn't see past his own hand. Hil-freakin'-larious.

[okump96]

D3 DH yesterday, i plate game one. home team pitcher goes the distance and gets beat 5-1. game 2 i'm on the pads, he is now playing first base, he comes over to me and shakes my hand and says "you called a helluva game".

[POLOGREEN]

I think if I leave the field and don't hear much I did the job I was supposed to do. Be in charge of the game and not be noticed.

[umpire54]

Working a HS JV game and my partner doesn't show up, so I work it 1 man, both HC wasn't happy about only one Ump at the plate meeting, ended up being a great 7 inning game, home team won in the bottom of the 7th score 2-1 there was 8 double plays in the game, bang call at every base, even had a Bald Eagle land on the 3rd base line, had to run him or her, game lasted 1:35, after the game, taking off my gear in parking lot, I was just beat and drain, loosing team's bus was driving pass me to go catch there ferry back to Seattle, when they stop and the HC and Pitcher and Catcher came over to shake my hand and thank me

[blue32]

blue32:

Not to ruin your story but why did the runner get put back on first? In HS, he should always get a base past last legally touched. In all other codes, it would be Type A, dead on obstruction and award second. Just curious.

Because I was thinking about the first part of the rule, and completely brain faded on the second part. :banghead:

[RWPatten]

This is my 1st full year, so the number is small right now. Here are 2:

1. "Great Hustle Blue!" From 3rd base coach, when I covered 3rd on a base hit to right field, running from the plate.

2. "You're leaving? Can you stay for the next 2?" After calling the 1st 2 games of 4 at a Freshman Tournament. That team had just been run-ruled.

[Umpire in Chief]

Good job

[blue32]

Worked a Varsity game tonight, both teams I hadn't worked before. After the game, both HC's said I did a good job, and one added that I had the most consistent zone they had seen all year.

Made me wonder, consistently good, or consistently bad? j/k, didn't hear a peep out of anyone all night, coaches or fans. Another low scoring, 1 run game, so I know I am due for a 3 hour donnybrook any day now.