Congratz to Mazzamouth

[mazzamouth]

Will Do Brandon... I have been working a bunch, just not as much college as I did in Missouri.. I am new guy in the 5 groups I work with, just working my way in you now..

[mstaylor]

Could the guys going to PBUC contact me on PM. I have a local guy going and wanted to tell him your names so he can say hi for me. I worked with him and his dad yesterday.

[dumbdumb]

Where do I start.LOL

i leave for PBUC on mon, ( I'm driving down which is almost 10 hours) we are going to a pre clinic with a an instructor at Harry's for a refresher. I report to PBUC on Weds.. I have not been told to not talk on Message boards ( yet) i know it is coming..LOL

Some on was talking about the difference between guys who have been trained professionally or amateurs.. Big thing is hustle, Timing, presence, rule book knowledge, mechanics...

Handling situations is fun, and no two situations are alike. yes what KCfan told about the 4 things is a good way to handle things..

Coach.. Mike where is that pitch

Me.. i had it outside... he asked a question, so answer it... if he keeps asking tell him " hey where not going do this all game...

Coach " where the F*&k is that pitch

Me... Hey knock it off.... this is a warning for arguing balls and strikes.. ( you do not have to tell him directly to not argue balls and strikes.. knock it off, that's enough.. etc..etc will do )

Next pitch

Coach... Hey that pitch is a strike

Me.. your done...

now your probably not gonna get the cruse words at the amateur level.

But at the Pro level we will...

I had been to a bunch of really good 3 man college clinics.. and thought I was doing pretty good, heck I already was getting Non Conference D1 games without a pro school.. But know things are slow to me, I have more confidence on the field, im not as timid, or afraid of a argument, the school gives it to you.. I became really good friends with a guy who went to Jimmy's last year, and he still learned stuff at Harry's.. which one is better? Well for Me Harry's, ask KCfan or Moblue they will tell you Jim's.. but the point is you went and learned.. and was trained professionally..

I was talking to my partner today,a nd said if you have the money and time, and ever thought of going, pull the trigger, it is a lot of fun, you learn a bunch, and make some really good friends..

BTW Daytona Beach is Nice in jan I saw from My balcony Dolphins and whales..it was only in the 50's one time, the rest it was upper 60's and even hit 80 once...LOL

They may not say anything about getting off the Message boards because that is your constitutional right. I am only going by the Rob Drake incident where they shut him down. It might not be because they really want to, but, anything that is in type may be used against you whereas verbally is much less harder to prove one way or the other in case someone is trying to spin your words. Remember Joe West said the Red Sox and Yankees were the best teams in baseball but their "pace of game" was whatever he said. This is just like saying Mazz, that's a horsesh$t call, versus saying Mazz, your horsesh$t. It is all in the wording, and if you accidently mess up in print, you cannot say that you did not say it and someone misquoted you for their own purposes. Things in writing can help you but they can also hurt you, so why take the chance. You don't want someone from the board going out and saying a Pro Umpire said so and so on the board, especially if you do "accidently" mess up the words. Then you have to run out and explain your mistake or interpretation. It's just better for everyone concerned in Pro ball to stay off, and just remember these are my own thoughts IMHO. Once again, if you (and I hope you do) get offered a job, and someone on this board wants to come to a game and then go out afterwards and ask you a million questions, have at it. Also, as another analogy, I think I saw and old NHSF test where the words were---may, may not---shall, shall not---will, will not----- which can cause confusion when answering the test. This is the type thing that can happen when answering questions on the boards and one "accidental" slip up could cause problems that people could see in print. The old--the pro guy doesn't even know the rules. You may slip up and make the old "foul tip" mistake and not even realize you did it until someone shows it to you in print. It just isn't worth it IMHO.

I know the above sounds like a lecture, but don't take it that way. Just be ready to at least lock it down, starting Monday.

I like the part you mentioned about the Hustle, Timing, Presence, rule book knowledge and mechanics and I will throw in positioning with the mechanics.

Many times it looks like the MiLB pro guys when I go to the game, which isn't very often, are spending a lot of time hustling to get into position for a call that might not even materialize, yet they are ready if it does. Some people would probably say they do a lot of movement and hustling for nothing. Sometimes at the amateur level (it just seems like in some games I have seen, many just watch the ball and spin around in one spot like a pinwheel rather than move to get into position for a play that might not even happen. Then, if that play does happen, they react too late to get closer to the play. They have to make the old Long-Distance phone call rather than being much closer because they were not getting into position for that possible play in advance. You can anticipate the play and get into position, just don't anticipate the call, I believe is the old saying. Every coach and manager notices an umpire who hustles, just like a coach or manager notices his own players who hustle and the ones who don't. Hustling just might get you out of an argument now and then because the C/M might figure you were right there in position for the call, rather than making a Long-Distance call. Even if they still argue, they are watching and at least appreciate your effort and hard work, just like they appreciate that trait in their own player's. Even if they do not rank you as a top umpire in your group, they will still appreciate the hustle and attempt to get into the best position possible at all times. However, the bottom line is to get the call correct and some have better judgment than others, but why possibly miss a call even if you do not have the best judgment by being lazy and not hustling to get into position. Just doesn't make sense at any level.

Now, after you hustle to get into position to make the call, it is the "timing" issue that comes into play. Let the play happen fully and then make one call. Why call, safe, out, safe, on a play, or out, safe, out on a call, when you can hold your timing by watching the play from beginning to end and just make one out or safe call. Once again, nobody is going anywhere until "You make the call"---(wasn't that a blurb on MLB for a while). Of course timing comes into play in your plate work and it is very very important on the plate to follow the ball all the way into the mitt before you start your motion for the strike call or to call the pitch a ball. If you call the pitch too fast when it is still way out in front of the plate, you will miss what the pitch does after that point, which if the pitch is right on the fringes of the strike zone to start with, will end up well out of the zone as it crosses the plate. Poor timing is where many many pitches are missed. You do not have to have your strike hand in the air for the call as soon as the ball hits the mitt. Follow the ball with your eyes all the way into the mitt "before" you make your decision and start your windup for the strike call or staying down for the ball call. The coaches will learn you do not want to be too fast with your timing to make sure you see the pitch all the way. Better to be more deliberate with your timing than a Fast Freddie. Working the plate drives the Cadillac.

And, of course at "all" levels, have umpires made the above mistakes? You betcha and it can and will get you in trouble at some point. Try to make it happen as infrequently as humanly possible. How you the handle the above and how you handle situations that arise will separate you and distinguish you for the level of play you will eventually reach. The quicker you can master them, the quicker you can reach the level you are seeking to obtain.

Good luck in Florida Mazz.

Oh yes, to you guys who went.

And now, any help on the "help calls". It just seems the amateurs go for help more than the pros and no I cannot find any stats on this, just what I have noticed at different levels. Maybe this is just a HS thing versus a D1 thing also. When an umpire is looking right at the players foot on the bag and the ball pops the glove, the foot is either on the bag or it is off the bag. If it is on the bag the runner is out, and if it is off the bag, the runner is safe. This is not a help call anymore than it is a help call for an out/safe when we are not talking about pulling the foot. There does not need to be any help IMHO. If you are getting--what's the term--oh yes, straigh-tlined, the question is why are you getting "straight-lined". It seems like this happens a lot, when it should happen "very infrequently". I am not saying it absolutely "cannot happen", just that it should happen very very infrequently for someone who hustles and moves on the field to get into position, rather than just loly-gagging (Bull Durham term maybe??) around and next thing you know you are straight-lined. It seems some "might" use this as an excuse to go get help and put their partner on the spot who may be 90 feet away and get off the hot seat, or throw the responsibility on them, so their partner will draw the coaches/managers ire, rather than themselves.

Any help in this area for the differences at the 2 levels, pro and amateur.

[mstaylor]

I am a huge proponent to not get help. There are times to do it but most of the time, "Just say no!" I agree that getting straightlined is an exception. I was instructing a new guy yesterday and I was telling him the first thing he needed to learn to be in specific spots in certain situations, then he had to know why we were sending him there so when it blows up he will know where to get to next.

[kcfan102]

90% of the time you need to get help because you didn't see something, odds are it's your fault for not hustling into position, and there is no excuse for that (check swings don't count). Association or leagues that want umpires to get help on everything they have doubt on are simply enabling bad umpires.

Case in point on a pulled foot at first base, which is what I see most of the time. If you stay true to your mechanics, very rarely, if at all, should you need help on a pulled foot. In fact, on a list of things the home plate umpire is watching when he busts down to the 45 foot line, a pulled foot is NOT one of them.

90 degree from the origin of the throw, don't go hands on knees set (or equivolent) until you read a true throw. If it's not a true throw, stay standing set and adjust yourself to where you can see the foot. Too many guys like to act like their feet are nailed into the dirt and don't make those last minute adjustments. They can't see it, and when the first basemen pulls his foot bigger than ****, they have to ask for help. Why? Because they aren't hustling. A lean and look, or a step to your left or right, may not seem like hustle, but it's just as important as busting into the infield to stay ahead of the runner.

Odds are if you have to ask for help, you aren't doing your job right.

Manager: "Brandon, get help on that! I think your partner got a better look at it"

Me: "No skip, I got a good look at it from here."

**** End of Conversation **** If he persists, give him a warning, then eject him if he still persists.

[Guest]

90% of the time you need to get help because you didn't see something, odds are it's your fault for not hustling into position, and there is no excuse for that (check swings don't count). Association or leagues that want umpires to get help on everything they have doubt on are simply enabling bad umpires.

Case in point on a pulled foot at first base, which is what I see most of the time. If you stay true to your mechanics, very rarely, if at all, should you need help on a pulled foot. In fact, on a list of things the home plate umpire is watching when he busts down to the 45 foot line, a pulled foot is NOT one of them.

90 degree from the origin of the throw, don't go hands on knees set (or equivolent) until you read a true throw. If it's not a true throw, stay standing set and adjust yourself to where you can see the foot. Too many guys like to act like their feet are nailed into the dirt and don't make those last minute adjustments. They can't see it, and when the first basemen pulls his foot bigger than ****, they have to ask for help. Why? Because they aren't hustling. A lean and look, or a step to your left or right, may not seem like hustle, but it's just as important as busting into the infield to stay ahead of the runner.

Odds are if you have to ask for help, you aren't doing your job right.

Manager: "Brandon, get help on that! I think your partner got a better look at it"

Me: "No skip, I got a good look at it from here."

**** End of Conversation **** If he persists, give him a warning, then eject him if he still persists.

Spoken like a true Jimmy student. All thats missing is the phrase "patchwork umpiring."

Now, I have nothing against Jimmy or his school - I've never worked with him, but I had two umpire acquaintances down at school with you, and his intense passion for umpire education is evident and admirable. But you must remember, your curriculum is designed for professional umpiring (of course, while working with professional partners). Partners can hang you out to dry because they're not up to "standard" and you have to cover for them, putting you out of position for something else.

And the rest of the time, the situation is a product of only having two guys out there. So I wouldn't say 90% of the time umpires should go for help, it's because they screwed up.

Though I agree with you that there is no reason a base umpire shouldn't be able to determine a pulled foot - with no runners on. Once you're trying to make that call from the working area though, that's a whole new can of worms.

[kcfan102]

ump_24,

All valid points, and I agree completely. Down in Daytona and Kissimmee, they are teaching students to go into the world or professional umpiring. Most of us will never see that world (I never want to). And that said, we can still use pro mechanics. If you and your partner are using pro mechanics, I stand by my imaginary statistic of 90% of the time that umpires need to get help, it's because they screwed up. It is terribly difficult to see a pulled foot from the B or C position, and that's something that would be a legit reason to ask for help.

If you and your partner are not using pro mechanics, then yes, that 90% doesn't mean anything. And I agree that you could be put out of position or maybe watching something that you shouldn't be and miss something else. I've been there too.

"Control what you can control" is another statement preached at JEA. You can't control what he watches, and if you need to compensate, then compensate, but that's not something that you can control. Something you can control though, is hustle and timing. if take every play with maximum hustle and proper use of eyes, odds are, you won't have to ask for help that often, not matter what system you are running. Judgement will take car of itself.

[slider62]

I've had the opportunity and honor of officiating with Mazz this year and can honestly say he is one of the best that I have called with. Hustles a lot more than any I've seen in recent history and has taught this old fart what it really means to hustle. I believe my game has improved because of it too. I just wish others would take the opportunity to learn from him in our area. Good luck Mazz. I'll be looking for tickets in the near future.

[martyjmprescott]

Great job Mazz!

[mazzamouth]

I've had the opportunity and honor of officiating with Mazz this year and can honestly say he is one of the best that I have called with. Hustles a lot more than any I've seen in recent history and has taught this old fart what it really means to hustle. I believe my game has improved because of it too. I just wish others would take the opportunity to learn from him in our area. Good luck Mazz. I'll be looking for tickets in the near future.

Thanks slider.. I see you found the site.. welcome.

[gatoremt]

Hey Mazz what is your status on the PBUC? Congrats and Good Luck.