Penance, Lessons Learned, and Other Observations

[bluejerred]

  This will be a long interactive post so I apologize in advance...

 

Worked a "friendly" tournament today.  - Lesson #1:  "A friendly tournament, isn't." - bluejerred

 

Solo umpire, 5 games behind the plate, 1:30 time limit, 95-98 deg F, about the same in humidity.  - Lesson #2:  Charge more per game, especially if full of malcontents.

 

Which leads to question #1:  How much do you guys charge for a "friendly" tournament or for games outside your association that you do on the side?

 

Needless to say my feet feel like swollen cinder blocks.  - Lesson #3:  Demand longer than 15-20 minutes between games.  Thank God at least I had my 4E NB plate shoes today. 

 

Penance #1:  Game one 16U - banger at first.  I call runner out.  Runner turns around and screams, "COME ON BLUE, THEIR FOOT WASN'T EVEN ON THE BAG!".  I saw the middle of the 1B foot clearly touching the bag.  In any case, I tell the player very sternly, "You do not get to yell at me.  Your coach can come out if they want to talk but you don't get to do that.  Go back in the dugout now."  Comments...Toss or no toss?? I later tell the player in front of his parents that it was not good game strategy to yell at an umpire and to not do that again.  I got a nod from the parents who knew that was not a good idea either.

 

Observation #1:  "An umpire can be an erroneous player's best friend!"  Game two: R1, R2, 1 out.  BR hits about the most routine fly ball you can hit to F7.  Of course, F7 decides to not catch it.  Runner from second sprints towards third and slides in while F7 throws to 3rd.  I see a hand on the base right at the same time as the ball goes in the glove and I call safe.  DC displays his displeasure.  I tell him I had the hand on the bag before the ball got there at third.  I was about 10 feet away from the play.  He says, "I know we are giving them away Blue, but come on!".  I put my hand up and tell him, "Alright, that's enough".  Could have he been right?  Maybe...but he easily forgot it was his F7 that blew the play to begin with that caused this situation. 

 

Which leads to question #2:  How do you guys normally call that?  It was a HTBT but what do you look for that I may have possibly missed?

 

Unfortunately, this problem lit the fuse and I soon had a hostile field - full of chirping, complaining, and malcontents.  Lesson #4:  An umpire has NO friends on the field.  DO NOT mistake a friendly temperament from fans, coaches, players, and unfortunately in some cases, other umpires as them actually having friendly intentions.  Any mood at a game can change instantly.

 

This leads to question #3:  What do you guys do with hostile crowds and coaches that chirp at everything, even if you may think you missed a call?  What mechanisms do you use to refocus and lock back in?

 

After my second game, I was moved from one field to another because the other umpire was tired of calling 14U games instead of 16U games.  No one asked, told, or even consulted me about it.  The umpire told me that the TD had him come over to the new field.  The TD told me that the other umpire asked to switch fields - that being said, I didn't feel like starting an argument with a fellow umpire or the TD but considering how the second game was a little rough, my suspicions were high.  Has this happened to any one of you and if so, how did you handle it?  In the end, I figured I'm getting paid either way so no big deal?  Lucky for me, game 3 on the new field goes without a hitch and I have no issues and had a good, clean game! 

 

Penance #2:  Game 4, 1-1 count, a call a strike that may have been a pinch outside.  Runner is stealing so I figure close enough and get a strike.  Fan from the stands, some white trash looking guy, yells at me, "Did you call that a strike?  YOUR KILLING ME BLUE!!".  I told him that he was warned and call the HC over and I tell him that the fan had to tone it down.  He did tone it down and the game went on without further incident so the warning worked.  However, looking back, I was sooooooo tempted to use one of the brilliant lines I saw on here - "Let me heal your pain!" with a solid EJ mechanic.  In any case, toss or no toss??

 

Which leads to observation #2:  When umpiring a rec team, it's not a matter of if but of when a problem will arise.

 

Game #5:  God has mercy on me and grants me a good, clean game with no issues .  I'm sure it was just everyone being tired at that point.

 

At the end, the HC for the travel ball team that showed up and was involved in my game 4 and 5 told me that I looked sharp, had no complaints, and that he wished his games were always called like the way they were today.  I thanked him and told him that his parents were top notch (kept me hydrated and cheered their girls on) and his players were sharp.  He told me that he had his parents under contract that they cannot abuse umpires, talk to players in the game, etc...and I thought to myself - Why doesn't everyone do this??  While the tables can always turn, it did give me hope that there are coaches who actually understand that hassling the umpire is generally not a very successful strategy. 

 

Comments, complaints, concerns, tips of the hat, and wags of the finger please...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Replacematt]

Solo umpire, 5 games behind the plate, 1:30 time limit, 95-98 deg F, about the same in humidity.  - Lesson #2:  Charge more per game, especially if full of malcontents.

Lesson should be not to do so much. You're looking at eight hours of dish time, one-man.

 

Needless to say my feet feel like swollen cinder blocks.  - Lesson #3:  Demand longer than 15-20 minutes between games.  Thank God at least I had my 4E NB plate shoes today.

See above.

 

Penance #1:  Game one 16U - banger at first.  I call runner out.  Runner turns around and screams, "COME ON BLUE, THEIR FOOT WASN'T EVEN ON THE BAG!".  I saw the middle of the 1B foot clearly touching the bag.  In any case, I tell the player very sternly, "You do not get to yell at me.  Your coach can come out if they want to talk but you don't get to do that.  Go back in the dugout now."  Comments...Toss or no toss?? I later tell the player in front of his parents that it was not good game strategy to yell at an umpire and to not do that again.  I got a nod from the parents who knew that was not a good idea either.

Too many words on the warning. And you went and engaged him later? Hell, no! Would you tolerate a player coming to you later telling you what you should have done, in his opinion?

 

Observation #1:  "An umpire can be an erroneous player's best friend!"  Game two: R1, R2, 1 out.  BR hits about the most routine fly ball you can hit to F7.  Of course, F7 decides to not catch it.  Runner from second sprints towards third and slides in while F7 throws to 3rd.  I see a hand on the base right at the same time as the ball goes in the glove and I call safe.  DC displays his displeasure.  I tell him I had the hand on the bag before the ball got there at third.  I was about 10 feet away from the play.  He says, "I know we are giving them away Blue, but come on!".  I put my hand up and tell him, "Alright, that's enough".  Could have he been right?  Maybe...but he easily forgot it was his F7 that blew the play to begin with that caused this situation. 

 

Which leads to question #2:  How do you guys normally call that?  It was a HTBT but what do you look for that I may have possibly missed?

Sounds like you lack confidence. What reason do you have to think you missed it?

 

This leads to question #3:  What do you guys do with hostile crowds and coaches that chirp at everything, even if you may think you missed a call?  What mechanisms do you use to refocus and lock back in?

Crowds don't exist unless they pose a threat to the completion of the game or to safety. Coaches get warned and/or ejected.

 

Penance #2:  Game 4, 1-1 count, a call a strike that may have been a pinch outside.  Runner is stealing so I figure close enough and get a strike.  Fan from the stands, some white trash looking guy, yells at me, "Did you call that a strike?  YOUR KILLING ME BLUE!!".  I told him that he was warned and call the HC over and I tell him that the fan had to tone it down.  He did tone it down and the game went on without further incident so the warning worked.  However, looking back, I was sooooooo tempted to use one of the brilliant lines I saw on here - "Let me heal your pain!" with a solid EJ mechanic.  In any case, toss or no toss??

Why are you even entertaining his comment? Fans don't exist. Don't engage them. You don't have the authority to toss them.

[semper_fi_72]

I would gladly tell you if you sold out to cheap if you just post what you charged per game?

 

5 Games Solo is to many, especially in this weather we are having.

I did 4 yesterday, 16U also, 2 Base then 2 Plate.

It was to many to do in this Humidity.

I really feel sorry for you guys that always work in Humidity!!!!!!!!!!

[bluejerred]

I would gladly tell you if you sold out to cheap if you just post what you charged per game?

 

$30 per game

[semper_fi_72]

 

I would gladly tell you if you sold out to cheap if you just post what you charged per game?

 

$30 per game

 

 

Yes you charged to little unless you are doing a Fund Raiser to help a team you really like.

16U we get $54 with a 2 hour time limit.

You should have been getting around $40

 

You are also correct on their is no such thing as a Friendly Tournament at least from a Umpires aspect.

Treat every game the same.

 

Keep your Head and Ears inside the fences.

Anyone outside the fence does not exist.

[bluejerred]

Thanks gents!  In retrospect, I flogged myself well for letting my ears go past the fences.  I don't know if this is just first year growing pains or what.  That, and in addition, I really don't have a mentor except this forum (which has proven invaluable).  That being said, I'd rather admit my mistakes here and have you guys calibrate me rather than make the same mistakes over and over again. 

[Pete Peterson Sr]

" At the end, the HC for the travel ball team that showed up and was involved in my game 4 and 5 told me that I looked sharp, had no complaints, and that he wished his games were always called like the way they were today. "

 

Just my opinion, but if you believe them when they say you are good, you have to believe them when they tell you you suck, too.

[bluejerred]

" At the end, the HC for the travel ball team that showed up and was involved in my game 4 and 5 told me that I looked sharp, had no complaints, and that he wished his games were always called like the way they were today. "

 

Just my opinion, but if you believe them when they say you are good, you have to believe them when they tell you you suck, too.

Very true.  I have talked to experienced coaches after a game and asked them what their observations were.  I really don't have a choice since I have no mentors and need every possible resource to get better.  They tell me the good with the bad and try to learn from it.

[semper_fi_72]

 

" At the end, the HC for the travel ball team that showed up and was involved in my game 4 and 5 told me that I looked sharp, had no complaints, and that he wished his games were always called like the way they were today. "

 

Just my opinion, but if you believe them when they say you are good, you have to believe them when they tell you you suck, too.

Very true.  I have talked to experienced coaches after a game and asked them what their observations were.  I really don't have a choice since I have no mentors and need every possible resource to get better.  They tell me the good with the bad and try to learn from it.

 

Big Mistake here.

Never listen to a coaches evaluation of your performance, good or bad.

They are coaches, not umpires.

The only opinion that will matter to make you better is a more experienced umpire.

[bluejerred]

 

 

" At the end, the HC for the travel ball team that showed up and was involved in my game 4 and 5 told me that I looked sharp, had no complaints, and that he wished his games were always called like the way they were today. "

 

Just my opinion, but if you believe them when they say you are good, you have to believe them when they tell you you suck, too.

Very true.  I have talked to experienced coaches after a game and asked them what their observations were.  I really don't have a choice since I have no mentors and need every possible resource to get better.  They tell me the good with the bad and try to learn from it.

 

Big Mistake here.

Never listen to a coaches evaluation of your performance, good or bad.

They are coaches, not umpires.

The only opinion that will matter to make you better is a more experienced umpire.

 

That's why I'm here - I would be in bad shape if I didn't have these resources

[mstaylor]

I can't agree100%. Of you have a coach that is a decent coach, listen to what he says. His perception can give you a clue to what is expected at that level. Obviously his thoughts like where you should be is worthless, but the amount of hustle and handling of the game, certainly, at least to a point. <br /><br />Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2<br /><br />

[th3]

softball

[mstaylor]

 

 

Unfortunately, this problem lit the fuse and I soon had a hostile field - full of chirping, complaining, and malcontents. 

Simply pull your mask and tell the coach you are done listening to the chirping. Or as Bill Cosby says his wife says." I have heard enough!" as her way of announcing that the beatings will begin. Anything else and the ejections will begin. 

As far as being moved, I would do it without complaint, until later. If it was as the TD then you should be asked if you mind switching. If, as you suspect, you are being moved because the coach whined then your TD is a chicken sh!t. He doesn't have the cojones to tell the coach to pack sand and then didn't have enough to tell you why he moved you. The TD would move to the bottom of my list to work for. 

Fans comments should bounce off of you like bullets off Superman. 

[bluejerred]

 

 

 

Unfortunately, this problem lit the fuse and I soon had a hostile field - full of chirping, complaining, and malcontents. 

Simply pull your mask and tell the coach you are done listening to the chirping. Or as Bill Cosby says his wife says." I have heard enough!" as her way of announcing that the beatings will begin. Anything else and the ejections will begin. 

As far as being moved, I would do it without complaint, until later. If it was as the TD then you should be asked if you mind switching. If, as you suspect, you are being moved because the coach whined then your TD is a chicken sh!t. He doesn't have the cojones to tell the coach to pack sand and then didn't have enough to tell you why he moved you. The TD would move to the bottom of my list to work for. 

Fans comments should bounce off of you like bullets off Superman. 

 

The TD in this case is a coach who had teams playing in the tournament.  His was the game that the call at third didn't go his way so that is one of the reasons that my suspicions were high.  If I had a list, then he would probably go to the bottom but being a first year umpire, I really don't have a list to put anybody on and I'm trying to get all the experience I can on my own since I have no association help right now. 

 

I am definitely looking forward to getting into some more organized ball so I can develop with other umpires and learn from their tutelage.  These trials are definitely teaching me my BS limits, to not pass on problems to other umpires, and that when I get to games that involve 2,3, or 4 man mechanics - to back my partners all the way because this on-field abuse sucks. 

[Replacematt]

Get into an association ASAP. You'll do nothing but waste time and get bad habits free-lancing.

[mstaylor]

A TD that has a team in the tournament is a double piece of crap. How the devil can he make impartial decisions with a vested interest in the outcome. <br /><br />Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2<br /><br />

[blue23ll]

Jarred, these games are hornet's nests. You won't get any better doing solo garbage games like these. Why? You need to work with partners who are more experienced than you are, who can watch and give you constructive criticism. But you know this!

[SoCal Lurker]

A TD that has a team in the tournament is a double piece of crap. How the devil can he make impartial decisions with a vested interest in the outcome. <br /><br />Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2<br /><br />

 

Depends on whether it really  is just a friendly tournament.  My son played in a couple of tournaments that really were in the sense that there were no trophies, no standings, not playoffs, just a handful of games so the kids could play.  That doesn't mean the teams didn't want to win, but did mean that the TD (i.e., the guy that called everyone and did all the scut work) being a coach didn't matter a whit. But as a general concept, your point is well taken . . .

[jjb]

So, let’s review:

1. There’s nothing inherently wrong in working a tournament solo, but if you’re looking for feedback, going to coaches is like a judge going to defendants: you’re probably not going to get an objective response
2. While it’s not necessary to be a hard-ass out there, a simple “I’ve heard enough†will generally stop most chirping. You’ll know when to use it: it’s when you’ve decided that this game isn’t fun anymore.
3. “Friendly Tournaments†usually least until the Plate Meeting is over. Then, they’re looking for the ESPN truck.
4. Every now and then you’ll run into a TD who’s an idiot. Early in your career, you’ll just have to tough it out, if you want to work. Eventually, you’ll figure out who the wing nuts are, and you can work somewhere else.

[FlaUmp22]

 

So, let’s review:

1. There’s nothing inherently wrong in working a tournament solo, but if you’re looking for feedback, going to coaches is like a judge going to defendants: you’re probably not going to get an objective response
2. While it’s not necessary to be a hard-ass out there, a simple “I’ve heard enough†will generally stop most chirping. You’ll know when to use it: it’s when you’ve decided that this game isn’t fun anymore.
3. “Friendly Tournaments†usually least until the Plate Meeting is over. Then, they’re looking for the ESPN truck.
4. Every now and then you’ll run into a TD who’s an idiot. Early in your career, you’ll just have to tough it out, if you want to work. Eventually, you’ll figure out who the wing nuts are, and you can work somewhere else.

 

 

Don't forget the scouts looking to promote them to MLB manager