Partner Yesterday

[Magic]

MAN OH MAN!!!!

 

Ok I am not one to normally bitch about my partner but...

 

Runner on 1st. I am in B. 1st inning, he signals he has 3rd. I am a little impressed he knows the signals. I said to myself, ok this is going to be ok today. 2nd inning Runner on 1st. He gives me the I have 3rd signal. Now here is where it gets interesting. Ball hit in the gap to Left Center. R1 rounds 2nd and is on his way to 3rd. I have BR who is going to 2nd. I glance over my shoulder and my partner is hanging out at home. I slide back toward the mound to try and get the best angle I can at the play into 3rd. Ball and R1 get there at the same time, 3rd base drops the ball and it rolls away. No call has to be made. I turn and look at my partner and he is clueless. In between innings I walk in and ask him if he knows what the signal means that he is giving me? He had no clue. So I say ok, if you are giving me that signal it means you have 3rd on  a base hit to the outfield, unless you tell me you are staying home or you tell me you have the line, I am expecting you to be there. He said ok I am sorry. I tell him, don't be sorry man. I understand. You are learning. Just if you aren't sure let me know. And don't signal to me if you don't know what you are supposed to do. He says ok. Fast Forward to the 5th inning. I am in A. Ball hit in the gap. BR is stretching it into a Triple. Play at 3rd is going to be close. I am scooting into position. I watch the whole play, take it in and I am about to signal my call when I hear SAFE!!! I look to my left and my partner is in Foul territory making the call. What? 6th inning Runners on 1st and 2nd 1 out. He gives me the Infield Fly signal and the touch Tag Signal. At this point I know he has no clue what he is signalling. Fly ball to Center, R2 tags up at 2nd, He advances to 3rd. Where is my partner? at Home. Yeah Lou I am looking forward to working with a GOOD partner on Friday. 

 

It wasn't all bad. He did catch a kid missing 3rd on his way home in the 2nd game. Which I made sure to come in and tell him he did a good job. 

 

And for those of you that are curious, in USSSA games you don't have a lot of time to pregame. He had a game before, I met him on the walk to the field. I asked him if he knows 2 man mechanics? He said yes. I said ok I don't do anything different from regular 2 man mechanics. If we aren't sure on something lets make Eye contact before we rule so we know who's call it is. He said ok.I asked him what level of baseball he umpires? He said USSSA and Pony. That should have been a clue. 

 

Oh well. I have 2 games with Lou on Friday. And then I am done for the tournament. Should be fun.

[JaxRolo]

Lou might be slightly better.

[semper_fi_72]

MAN OH MAN!!!!

 

Ok I am not one to normally bitch about my partner but...

 

Runner on 1st. I am in B. 1st inning, he signals he has 3rd. I am a little impressed he knows the signals. I said to myself, ok this is going to be ok today. 2nd inning Runner on 1st. He gives me the I have 3rd signal. Now here is where it gets interesting. Ball hit in the gap to Left Center. R1 rounds 2nd and is on his way to 3rd. I have BR who is going to 2nd. I glance over my shoulder and my partner is hanging out at home. I slide back toward the mound to try and get the best angle I can at the play into 3rd. Ball and R2 get there at the same time, 3rd base drops the ball and it rolls away. No call has to be made. I turn and look at my partner and he is clueless. In between innings I walk in and ask him if he knows what the signal means that he is giving me? He had no clue. So I say ok, if you are giving me that signal it means you have 3rd on  a base hit to the outfield, unless you tell me you are staying home or you tell me you have the line, I am expecting you to be there. He said ok I am sorry. I tell, don't be sorry man. I understand. You are learning. Just if you aren't sure let me know. And don't signal to me if you don't know what you are supposed to do. He says ok. Fast Forward to the 5th inning. I am in A. Ball hit in the gap. BR is stretching it into a Triple. Play at 3rd is going to be close. I am scooting into position. I watch the whole play, take it in and I am about to signal my call when I hear SAFE!!! I look to my left and my partner is in Foul territory making the call. What? 6th inning Runners on 1st and 2nd 1 out. He gives me the Infield Fly signal and the touch Tag Signal. At this point I know he has no clue what he is signalling. Fly ball to Center, R2 tags up at 2nd, He advances to 3rd. Where is my partner? at Home. Yeah Lou I am looking forward to working with a GOOD partner on Friday. 

 

It wasn't all bad. He did catch a kid missing 3rd on his way home in the 2nd game. Which I made sure to come in and tell him he did a good job. 

 

And for those of you that are curious, in USSSA games you don't have a lot of time to pregame. He had a game before, I met him on the walk to the field. I asked him if he knows 2 man mechanics? He said yes. I said ok I don't do anything different from regular 2 man mechanics. If we aren't sure on something lets make Eye contact before we rule so we know who's call it is. He said ok.I asked him what level of baseball he umpires? He said USSSA and Pony. That should have been a clue. 

 

Oh well. I have 2 games with Lou on Friday. And then I am done for the tournament. Should be fun.

I told you about my partner yesterday and lack of returning signals while he was on the bases.

 

Well the games he had the plate were worse.

Bad Zone.

Worse strike and 3rd strike call I ever heard.

In fact they asked him several times if that was a strike after he called it because no one, including me was sure.

He must really like poker.

3 balls and 2 Strikes = a Full House.

Not even a Full Count but a Full House

 

Can't wait till Friday and work with another friend and a couple of games with Magic.

[semper_fi_72]

Lou might be slightly better.

Definitely better looking than you   

[JaxRolo]

 

Lou might be slightly better.

Definitely better looking than you 

 

Wanna borrow my Ranger Hat. Looks great when you are BU!

[BigUmp56]

This is just too funny. I mean, I've worked with guys that didn't signal anything because they didn't know anything, but I've never worked with anyone that gave signals they had no idea what they were. Was he mirroring your signals, or was he just regurgitating signals he'd seen used before that he THOUGHT he knew what they meant?

 

Tim

[grayhawk]

Hope we get to work together in one of these tournaments some day.  I got no games this weekend.

[Magic]

Tim,

I was mirroring him. He was the lead. 

 

Gray,

I didn't get any games this weekend either. But it is ok. After umpiring 16 games over the last 10 days I will enjoy my weekend off. 

[JHSump]

It's interesting that he apparently gave the correct signals for the situation, so he new what signal was associated with what situation!  Yet he did not know what the signal signified.  That's similar to knowing what words to use in answer to specific questions, but not understanding the meaning of the question or the answer!  On one level, it's an amazing feat. On another level, it's just plain terrible.

[bluejerred]

Is there a link or reference that you guys could show me for the signals you guys are talking about? I would rather ask now and learn rather than be in the same situation. Thanks!

[grayhawk]

Is there a link or reference that you guys could show me for the signals you guys are talking about? I would rather ask now and learn rather than be in the same situation. Thanks!

 

It's done in slightly different ways, but the gist of it is:

 

On a play where PU is going to take the play on R1 at third (on hits to the outfield, though some mechanics call for balls that stay in the infield where R1 is safe at second and then attempts to advance to third), the PU will point towards third base with his right arm, and denoting the number out outs with his hand at the same time (fist for no outs, index finger for one out and index and middle fingers for two outs).  The BU then acknowledges the signal by using the same point towards first base.

 

This ensures that both umpires are on the same page as to who is going to take what plays where.  On a ball hit down the RF line, the PU should loudly call to his partner, "I'm on the line!" to let him know that BU is now responsible for all plays at third base.

[afaber12]

Interesting. We have the same mechanic of PU taking R1 on 1st to 3rd, but a different and sounds like more subtle signal: fist with thumb and pinkie finger out and horizontal, so they point towards 1st and 3rd, and waggle the fist. Some do it with the fingers pointing up and down, but its the same signal.

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[grayhawk]

Interesting. We have the same mechanic of PU taking R1 on 1st to 3rd, but a different and sounds like more subtle signal: fist with thumb and pinkie finger out and horizontal, so they point towards 1st and 3rd, and waggle the fist. Some do it with the fingers pointing up and down, but its the same signal.

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Whatever floats your boat, as long as it's pre-gamed.

[JaxRolo]

Interesting. We have the same mechanic of PU taking R1 on 1st to 3rd, but a different and sounds like more subtle signal: fist with thumb and pinkie finger out and horizontal, so they point towards 1st and 3rd, and waggle the fist. Some do it with the fingers pointing up and down, but its the same signal.

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Pinky finger???    Awwwww!!! How cute!  

[afaber12]

When I say "we" in that I'm talking about Australians (or at least New South Welshman) have that as the standard signal for it.

I've often been told Australian pinkie fingers are cuter than American ones. Can't prove it but heard it before.

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[JaxRolo]

When I say "we" in that I'm talking about Australians (or at least New South Welshman) have that as the standard signal for it. I've often been told Australian pinkie fingers are cuter than American ones. Can't prove it but heard it before. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I hope you guys get your nails done before your games! lol

[afaber12]

I hope you guys get your nails done before your games! lol

Of course that's the intention, but sometimes hair and makeup takes too long to fit it in.

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[semper_fi_72]

Hope we get to work together in one of these tournaments some day.  I got no games this weekend.

 

Greyhawk

 

18 teams means like 18 games on Saturday.

Like 6 two man crews for the whole day art West Covina.

I would venture to say that you didn't give availability for West Covina.

 

Did you give any availability during this week for the world series?

Playoff brackets for those games start tomorrow and diminish down to like two games on Sunday.

 

My point is, if you want to work USSSA games and get in with any regularity, you might want to open up your availability.

It took my about two years of every other or every third week to get games regularly.

My standard answer to the availability email requests is "Any day, Any Site, Any Time you need me?"

Any Assignor is going to work the guys that are always there for them and provide them with assigning flexibility once they have worked their way in and up.

[grayhawk]

Actually Lou, I told him I was available anytime Sat and Sun at either Chino or West Covina.

It is what it is. I'll just keep chopping wood.

[Magic]

As far as the World Series, he told me he was only working guys who attended the meeting.

[mstaylor]

The pinky/thumb waggle was a MiLB signal a few years back but was switched to the pointing method mentioned. What we do on a first to third or first and third is show the number of outs and point at third with your right arm except we do it at our waist. The tag signal is similar except you hold your left first in front of you and your right first is on top with your index finger points to third. It is only down with R1,R2 and less than two outs. It means I have third if he tags on the catch, that way the BU can take R1 into second.

[grayhawk]

As far as the World Series, he told me he was only working guys who attended the meeting.

I was in Dallas when he had the WS meeting, so it's not surprising I didn't get those games then.

[Forest Ump]

 

And for those of you that are curious, in USSSA games you don't have a lot of time to pregame. He had a game before, I met him on the walk to the field. I asked him if he knows 2 man mechanics? He said yes. I said ok I don't do anything different from regular 2 man mechanics. If we aren't sure on something lets make Eye contact before we rule so we know who's call it is. He said ok.I asked him what level of baseball he umpires? He said USSSA and Pony. That should have been a clue. 

 

 

Funny. I was going to write something asking what was discussed in your pre-game meeting. Before I posted, I went back and reread your post and read the bottom part.  Now I see why you and your partner has some issues. No pregame. That tough when you do tournaments and you can't pregame.

[JaxRolo]

@mstaylor do you get into your scissors stance to give the rotation signals?      

[Umpiresoftball]

Sounds like he just learn the wrong way... I pick those bad things up myself like .... the full house full count etc... I learn that not true, but when coach ask i just say "yes coach"

 

Hopefully he improve but how come you don't have much for game meeting in between?

 

The issue we get down with rec is that we used  to doing the game by our-self. So when we have umpires out there on bases some forgot to check or do signals.  I know the past president in my league umpires very nice guy. Doing a local playoff game and he said he wsa sorry for not signal to me a couple times. i was ok with it.