Member Video: PonyUmpire

[PonyUmpire]

Hey guys, I had a friend take these at a Bronco All-Star scrimmage the other day.  I noticed that my head height is a bit high.  It really goes to show you that your head really isn't where you think it is.  Do you guys have anything else?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JISMN-iZg0I&feature=youtu.be

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M20o5VJEW7A&feature=youtu.be

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBkGmfTb_TY&feature=youtu.be

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFM4uIm7m44&feature=youtu.be

 

[bleacher_bum]

Good videos.  I agree about your head hight, but other than that, I think your throwing motion needs some tweeks.  I could help with that. lol

[bam]

What are you pointing at at the 1:25 mark of the last video? 

[PonyUmpire]

What are you pointing at at the 1:25 mark of the last video?

I think I was letting my partner, who was pivoting, that the ball was down.

[PonyUmpire]

Good videos. I agree about your head hight, but other than that, I think your throwing motion needs some tweeks. I could help with that. lol

There's a reason I no longer play baseball lol

[noumpere]

Are those combo pants?  why brush off the plate at 1:35 of the last video (when you return from the middle on what I guess is a hit)?

[LMSANS]

Good videos.  I agree about your head hight, but other than that, I think your throwing motion needs some tweeks.  I could help with that. lol

I agree with this.  Let F2 throw the ball to F1.

[PonyUmpire]

Are those combo pants?  why brush off the plate at 1:35 of the last video (when you return from the middle on what I guess is a hit)?

 

No, they're plate pants.  They might look smaller because my shinguards are ridiculously large.  After I saw the video, I knew I had to get lower profile shiguards.

[JaxRolo]

Please quit throwing the ball back to F1!!!! I think your feet are way to wide. A little less wide and sit down more. You are to upright. If you notice when you come up to make your strike call you are only coming up a couple of inches.

[Richvee]

Others with more experience will know better, but I'd say "sit" down more. I think the stance could stay wide. The wider the stance, the less you have to sit, but you do need to get lower. Maybe get a little closer to the catcher? Maybe a little square to the plate? You look good though. Keep it up!

[PonyUmpire]

Thanks for the input guys! This is why I love this site. I'll post a new video in the next few weeks after implementing your suggestions. I'll have plenty of travel tournaments in which to fine tune my plate work this summer.

[semper_fi_72]

Pants are to short.

They are coming way up when you get down.

[flastyle727]

First, your doing and excellent job!  I'll agree with others, the pants, something isn't right with those pants. I like your timing. Are you tracking the ball from hand to glove? Keep working hard! Remember when you can walk you can jog.

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[RichMSN]

I'm not that bothered with the head height for kids this small.  Timing's really good, judgment on the pitches looks good.  

 

No need to point to the ground, just let your partner verbally know the ball's down.

 

Not really a whole lot to nitpick here -- I'll let the others do that.

[guyinaredhat]

Thanks for the input guys! This is why I love this site. I'll post a new video in the next few weeks after implementing your suggestions. I'll have plenty of travel tournaments in which to fine tune my plate work this summer.

if your at Twin Creeks Fields 1,2, 5, 6, they have the web cam streaming all day.  

[Thunderheads]

Pants are to short.

They are coming way up when you get down.

great insight Lou

[Thunderheads]

If you want to throw the ball back to the pitcher, throw the ball back. You don't have to give the ball to the catcher to throw. 

 

Once you are done growing, you will need longer pants. Don't worry about that until said period of completed growing.

 

My biggest observation is that you're not tracking the ball all the way into the glove consistently. Otherwise, when the batter hits the ball, you will noticeably jerk your head in the direction of the ball once it is hit (if that makes sense). 

 

Finally, if the 1:25 point to demonstrate the ball dropped was near a fielder making an attempted catch, you should be stopped and accompany with a no catch signal. If it was a routine base hit, there's really no need to move out from beyond the plate area. 

 

Head height is fine for kids this age as said above and you are not drifting. Two big pluses.

 

Lastly, get your strike call higher.

 

Otherwise, well done, and naturally kudos for posting videos for feedback.

Pony,

I think all in all you look pretty damn good!   Hell, you look better than some guys I've seen doing HS ball here in Michigan  !!

 

Chris, ... I like your comments, but may I ask [honest question!] .........how can you tell from the video vantage point that he's not tracking all the way into the glove?

[RichMSN]

 

 

Finally, if the 1:25 point to demonstrate the ball dropped was near a fielder making an attempted catch, you should be stopped and accompany with a no catch signal. If it was a routine base hit, there's really no need to move out from beyond the plate area. 

 

 

This.  Although I will move out about halfway between the plate and the mound on even a routine hit.  One never knows what could happen, and that includes a partner rolling his ankle on a pivot and the BR trying for second.  

[zm1283]

I'll just say that if your pants are being mentioned as a negative in this thread, you're doing just fine.  The players/coaches/fans at that level could have a lot worse than you.  You're more mechanically sound than a lot of high school umpires I've seen.

 

The rest of these guys have done a good enough job of nitpicking, so I'll leave that alone.  Good job.

[RichMSN]

Damned right.  You are a good umpire and do a good job.  That should be first and foremost in all of these posts.

[PonyUmpire]

@ump_24 You're insight is partially correct.  On pitches with no swing, I almost always track to the glove.  I know this because I wait to see what the catcher does with it, and use this info to make my call.  When there is a swing, I sometimes flinch/blink, and it's something I've been working on.  It use to happen all the time, and now it only happens occasionally.  Hopefully by the end of the season, I can get it out of my system completely.

[flastyle727]

@ump_24 You're insight is partially correct.  On pitches with no swing, I almost always track to the glove.  I know this because I wait to see what the catcher does with it, and use this info to make my call.  When there is a swing, I sometimes flinch/blink, and it's something I've been working on.  It use to happen all the time, and now it only happens occasionally.  Hopefully by the end of the season, I can get it out of my system completely.

Something that has helped me with flinch, is something I read on another post in this forum. Just like shooting a gun, if you exhale as the pitcher is beginning his motion and hold your breath on the exhale as your track the pitch, you'll be relaxed and won't flinch. I hope this helps, it helped me.  Again, keep up the good work!

[Specks]

Looks good, I'm jealous of how young and skinny you are! You've got lots of good feed back and the only thing I'll add is with a right handed batter it looks like your feet are very offset (could be the video angle). Try bringing them a little more heel-to-instep or heel to toe, it will straighten your torso and keep your protective gear facing forward. Again keep up the good work

[bam]

 

 

 

Finally, if the 1:25 point to demonstrate the ball dropped was near a fielder making an attempted catch, you should be stopped and accompany with a no catch signal. If it was a routine base hit, there's really no need to move out from beyond the plate area. 

 

 

This.  Although I will move out about halfway between the plate and the mound on even a routine hit.  One never knows what could happen, and that includes a partner rolling his ankle on a pivot and the BR trying for second.  

 

I agree that there's really no need to move out, but I'll always clear F2 and step out in front of the plate, given no other responsibilities, just to keep an eye on everything in front of me. 

[PonyUmpire]

@ump_24 You're insight is partially correct. On pitches with no swing, I almost always track to the glove. I know this because I wait to see what the catcher does with it, and use this info to make my call. When there is a swing, I sometimes flinch/blink, and it's something I've been working on. It use to happen all the time, and now it only happens occasionally. Hopefully by the end of the season, I can get it out of my system completely.

Something that has helped me with flinch, is something I read on another post in this forum. Just like shooting a gun, if you exhale as the pitcher is beginning his motion and hold your breath on the exhale as your track the pitch, you'll be relaxed and won't flinch. I hope this helps, it helped me. Again, keep up the good work! I discovered this trick midway through the season, and it really helped with my timing and consistency. It also helped eliminate most, but not all blinking on swings. When I blink, or fail to track a pitch, it's usually because I lost focus