Dealing with a game changing call

[Moriarty_45]

Working 3rd base on 3 man crew and I had a whacker at 3rd base late in the game with the score tied. R2 no outs. Sac bunt right in front of the plate that was fielded by F2. He makes the throw to F5.I bang him out, pretty sure I got it right. Only problem is, that bit of uncertainty is eating away at me. This was opening day for local high school district. The more I think about it, the more uncertain i become about the call, and start feeling like I failed to "not suck". That team ended up scoring a run that inning but still lost by giving up 2 in the bottom of the 7th. Takes me a few days before I can move on.This might be the toughest aspect of umpiring for me. I need a cold adult beverage.

[JaxRolo]

We want to get all our calls right. But believe it or not we will miss some (Some of us miss more=Jocko)

 

From the sounds of it you got it right. Let it go and move on.

[cyclonehokiece]

Your gut is normally right.  Without video, no way to tell.

Also, did you give up the two runs? No.  Move on and learn what you could do different to make sure you get it right.

[Thunderheads]

sounds to me that your call (regardless) had ZERO effect on the game .... so ease your own mind, and move forward

[semper_fi_72]

One thing you must learn in Umpiring is that, once you make the call, you put it behind you.

Do not dwell on it and let it bother you.

It is over and done.

This will happen from time to time and if you can not put it behind you I would recommend ordering some couch time with a therapist to see if you can get a discount for booking a block of time in advance.  

[T-Rav]

I had one of these last night, R1 & R3 with 2 outs, 5-5 ball game, last inning. R1 steals 3/4's of the way to 2nd base and draws the throw, R3 runs home and I am on 1st base extended and have a banger, I call him safe and home team wins 5-6. It was one of the most challenging calls I've ever made, I thought about it on the way home but that was it.

 

This was HSJV, had this been travel ball I bet I would have been attacked.

[wmmliggett]

If there's one thing I hate, it's to miss pitches. I know I'm going to, but I hate it when I do. I have learned over the years, however, that usually, the baseball gods are with you and it all works out in the end

[Richvee]

I called a 3rd strike on a kid in a championship game with the tying  run on 3rd,bases loaded, full count. The pitch was a great pitch, IMO. On the knees, outside corner. Of course, 1/2 the crowd was furious. I felt good about the call though. Then, driving home, reflecting on the game, I started to wonder. I kept playing the pitch over and over in my head. Maybe it was low? Did it really have the corner?  I learned you just can't dwell on it. Do your best, move on. Remember things like I didn't make the batter before him pop out with 1 out, and I didn't make the last batter run the count full by taking the first pitch down the middle. Make the call, do your best and move on. (Although, I must admit, I can still see that pitch in my mind's eye like it was yesterday...But yeah, it WAS a strike  )

[JaxRolo]

There is no call in a game that is a game changer. Too many things happen in a game to just blame a game one 1 thing alone.

[Jocko]

That's why I don't pay attention to the scoreboard. I don't care the situation. Each call is its own entity and no 1 situation outweighs another. The game changer was actually the 1st at bat of the game.

[Richvee]

That's why I don't pay attention to the scoreboard. I don't care the situation. Each call is its own entity and no 1 situation outweighs another. The game changer was actually the 1st at bat of the game.

I can't do that. I hope I'm consistent enough where the score doesn't effect my calls. Then again, if I've got a 19-0 game in the 4th inning, if I tell you my strike zone didn't just get a least a ball wider in all directions, I'd be lying. 

[Jocko]

I think your sentiment is almost unilaterally applied across the board. i may be the only exception. I try to stay 100% consistent from 1st pitch to last, regardless of score. It drives some people crazy. I used to feel the same as most others. Now, I feel if I open it up or start giving 'mercy' outs, then I'm becoming a spectator and not giving the game my 100% best. Those lopsided drawn out games suck, but I'm trying to be the best on every pitch, every play. What would Jocko do is my mantra. He was selected as a player to umpire because he was known as a man of character, integrity, and impartiality. He's a HOFer. I'll never make the hall, but I can walk away felling like I gave it a HOF effort.

*Disclaimer* These are my personal views and opinions. I do not/will not judge others by the same criteria and standards by which I critique myself. I do not look upon others who will 'open it up' in a bad game with disdain. It's just not my S.O.P. YMMV

[Richvee]

I think your sentiment is almost unilaterally applied across the board. i may be the only exception. I try to stay 100% consistent from 1st pitch to last, regardless of score. It drives some people crazy. I used to feel the same as most others. Now, I feel if I open it up or start giving 'mercy' outs, then I'm becoming a spectator and not giving the game my 100% best. Those lopsided drawn out games suck, but I'm trying to be the best on every pitch, every play. What would Jocko do is my mantra. He was selected as a player to umpire because he was known as a man of character, integrity, and impartiality. He's a HOFer. I'll never make the hall, but I can walk away felling like I gave it a HOF effort.

*Disclaimer* These are my personal views and opinions. I do not/will not judge others by the same criteria and standards by which I critique myself. I do not look upon others who will 'open it up' in a bad game with disdain. It's just not my S.O.P. YMMV

gotta respect that.     

[Richvee]

Just to be clear. I don't open it up a ton either. Twice in blowouts I've had partners tell me in between innings or by a little "stretch" sign with the hands, to open it up, when I had thought I already did open it up. At no point am I going to call strikes at the neck, high ankles, or in the opposite batter's box. 

[Jocko]

I think your sentiment is almost unilaterally applied across the board. i may be the only exception. I try to stay 100% consistent from 1st pitch to last, regardless of score. It drives some people crazy. I used to feel the same as most others. Now, I feel if I open it up or start giving 'mercy' outs, then I'm becoming a spectator and not giving the game my 100% best. Those lopsided drawn out games suck, but I'm trying to be the best on every pitch, every play. What would Jocko do is my mantra. He was selected as a player to umpire because he was known as a man of character, integrity, and impartiality. He's a HOFer. I'll never make the hall, but I can walk away felling like I gave it a HOF effort.*Disclaimer* These are my personal views and opinions. I do not/will not judge others by the same criteria and standards by which I critique myself. I do not look upon others who will 'open it up' in a bad game with disdain. It's just not my S.O.P. YMMV

gotta respect that.     Until we're on the field together for a 2 1/2 hour 37-0 rout. The good thing is, when the games go like this and I don't open it up, 1st round's on me. :cheers:

[grayhawk]

Working 3rd base on 3 man crew and I had a whacker at 3rd base late in the game with the score tied. R2 no outs. Sac bunt right in front of the plate that was fielded by F2. He makes the throw to F5.I bang him out, pretty sure I got it right. Only problem is, that bit of uncertainty is eating away at me. This was opening day for local high school district. The more I think about it, the more uncertain i become about the call, and start feeling like I failed to "not suck". That team ended up scoring a run that inning but still lost by giving up 2 in the bottom of the 7th. Takes me a few days before I can move on.This might be the toughest aspect of umpiring for me. I need a cold adult beverage.

 

Don't sweat it - you have a whole season in front of you to miss calls! 

[Replacematt]

It's okay to rehash your calls. It shows you care. Instead of focusing on whether it was right, think about what you did. Did you have the correct position? Timing? Was everything mechanically sound? If so, that is all you can do.

 

Don't be afraid to critique yourself on the ones you got right. I do that more than on the ones I may have missed, or that I know I missed.

 

Once you go through these steps, learn from them. Reinforce what you did correctly, and work on what you didn't.

[MT_Blue]

jocko your title reads resident smart a$$, it should read resident zen master...

[mstaylor]

You will miss judgment calls, you try to make it only close ones. However, knowing that, there is nothing wrong with replaying to see if you did everything correctly, right position, good timing but don't dwell on it, it will happen. Where it bothers me is blowing a rule interp. I pride myself on my rules knowledge and it drives me crazy to kick one. 

[carolinablue]

I called a 3rd strike on a kid in a championship game with the tying  run on 3rd,bases loaded, full count. The pitch was a great pitch, IMO. On the knees, outside corner. Of course, 1/2 the crowd was furious. I felt good about the call though. Then, driving home, reflecting on the game, I started to wonder. I kept playing the pitch over and over in my head. Maybe it was low? Did it really have the corner?  I learned you just can't dwell on it. Do your best, move on. Remember things like I didn't make the batter before him pop out with 1 out, and I didn't make the last batter run the count full by taking the first pitch down the middle. Make the call, do your best and move on. (Although, I must admit, I can still see that pitch in my mind's eye like it was yesterday...But yeah, it WAS a strike  )

 

 

You knew it was going to be a borderline pitch in that situation didn't you. It's either going to be knee high on the corner or across the middle but right at the very top of the zone, and they ain't gonna swing. Never fails with the game on the line. Umpire karma or something.

[IABlue]

I am one that tends to dwell on my mistakes, perhaps a little too much, but to the OP, if it had no direct bearing on the outcome of the game, I can let it go a little easier.

 

I know for a fact that I blew (Blue?) a call at home plate in a high school game between 2 very good teams that decided a game late last season.  Play at the plate in the 7th that should have been "safe" for the winning run, and I call "out."  The other team ends up scoring in the 8th to win.

 

That one has been gnawing at me for pretty much the entire off-season.  As others have noted, the key is to ask yourself why you might have missed the call, or why you're not sure about it.  In my example, I was both too far away from the play and also made the cardinal mistake #1 for an umpire, i.e. I "anticipated"  that the runner would likely be out, before the play even fully developed.

[Jocko]

Gotta let it go, brother. Learn from it and move on. In the grand scheme of things, that 1 play means nothing to humanity. Noone lived/died because of it.

[Sayhey]

R-2 only in a bunt situation with a tie game you can stay on the line and bring U-1 into the B position. U-3 stays on the line and is in a much better position to rule on a play at 3rd base. Some crews are inflexible and will not try this. We're you in "short C" ? Situational umpiring. Set yourself up for success

[bam]

I never worry about ball/strike calls.  If it's close enough for me to call a strike, the kid should be swinging.  HS on down - SWING THE BAT!

 

Had one the other day - called a ball on a pitch maybe a ball/ball and 1/2 off the plate.  Immendiately knew I should have called it a striike.  Oh well.  Next pitch  - EXACT same place.  Ball two.  At least I'm consistent.  Pitch #3 - same place again!  Jeszum Crow!  Now I'm begging the catcher to set up somewhere else. 

 

Kid got a free BB becasue I missed the first pitch.  Big deal.  It was a HS baseball game.  The sun rose the next day.  And we all had lunch (obscure Red Sox quote)

[MidAmUmp]

So are you saying you intentionally missed 2 more pitches in the name of consistency???