Jumpy today on the Dish

[Mr Ump]

Had a DIII game today on the dish which was proceeded by last nights 11 inning second game of a NAIA  (Top teams tho) Dh. In last nights game I was hit 4 times by foul balls.  One on my wrist, thought it was broke but it was just 40 degrees so it felt broke but numb went away. Had not been hit all season but last night sure made up for it.

 

Flash forward today and had two average at best catchers. My partner (a Frontier Lg guy) said I seemed 'jumpy' and calling pitches as soon as they hit the glove. I have been working to stay locked in for 16 years but today I didn't even realize I was moving.

 

Can't wait until tomorrow to see if I have settled down. My partner said to watch the logo on the catchers glove and not do anything until I see that logo. Do any of you guys have any suggestions for a 'jumpy' ump...LOL...just trying to get back to my A game....

 

BTW did not miss any pitches or hear any complaints from players or coaches....one fan said something but he was an idiot....LOL

[alex7]

If I find myself getting jumpy, I'll literally grab my right pant leg near the knee (side/back of right knee) as I get set for the pitch, just as a reminder that I'm not coming up soon.  That helps me stay down longer.  I dunno, works for me  =)

[Dash Riprock]

If I find myself getting jumpy, I'll literally grab my right pant leg near the knee (side/back of right knee) as I get set for the pitch, just as a reminder that I'm not coming up soon.  That helps me stay down longer.  I dunno, works for me  =)

Track the pitch all the way to the mitt, then linger on the mitt before you even decide what the pitch is..

[ricka56]

I was recently made aware that my "lock" had gotten loose. The result was that I was moving and was coming up too quick also. I adjusted/tightened my "lock" and (I believe) fixed both issues with the one adjustment. My fix was pushing my wrists into the sides of my legs more tightly. I feel that I have a more solid stance now and If I start coming up too quick, I can feel it in my wrists.

 

Every umpire has their own "lock" technique. I've not seen your work, so I wouldn't suggest a solution. I suggest you evaluate to see if your "lock" is sufficient. Perhaps you can find a minor adjustment that will help you stay down longer.

[MidAmUmp]

BTW did not miss any pitches or hear any complaints from players or coaches....one fan said something but he was an idiot....LOL

Didn't miss a pitch? Damn! I've never called a perfect game.

[Mr Ump]

I was recently made aware that my "lock" had gotten loose. The result was that I was moving and was coming up too quick also. I adjusted/tightened my "lock" and (I believe) fixed both issues with the one adjustment. My fix was pushing my wrists into the sides of my legs more tightly. I feel that I have a more solid stance now and If I start coming up too quick, I can feel it in my wrists.

 

Every umpire has their own "lock" technique. I've not seen your work, so I wouldn't suggest a solution. I suggest you evaluate to see if your "lock" is sufficient. Perhaps you can find a minor adjustment that will help you stay down longer.

Good idea....I am hands on knee so maybe I will use that as my lock. I will try that today.

[Mr Ump]

 

BTW did not miss any pitches or hear any complaints from players or coaches....one fan said something but he was an idiot....LOL

Didn't miss a pitch? Damn! I've never called a perfect game.

 

LOL...Figure of speech...What I should of said was did not call any strikes balls....

[blue23ll]

 

I was recently made aware that my "lock" had gotten loose. The result was that I was moving and was coming up too quick also. I adjusted/tightened my "lock" and (I believe) fixed both issues with the one adjustment. My fix was pushing my wrists into the sides of my legs more tightly. I feel that I have a more solid stance now and If I start coming up too quick, I can feel it in my wrists.

 

Every umpire has their own "lock" technique. I've not seen your work, so I wouldn't suggest a solution. I suggest you evaluate to see if your "lock" is sufficient. Perhaps you can find a minor adjustment that will help you stay down longer.

Good idea....I am hands on knee so maybe I will use that as my lock. I will try that today.

 

If you are hands on knees, then that should be your lock. That's if you stay HOK , or do you start HOK stance and then drift into something else as the pitch comes in? The GD or HOK is a very good stance for a rock solid lock in.

[Mr Ump]

 

 

 

I was recently made aware that my "lock" had gotten loose. The result was that I was moving and was coming up too quick also. I adjusted/tightened my "lock" and (I believe) fixed both issues with the one adjustment. My fix was pushing my wrists into the sides of my legs more tightly. I feel that I have a more solid stance now and If I start coming up too quick, I can feel it in my wrists.

 

Every umpire has their own "lock" technique. I've not seen your work, so I wouldn't suggest a solution. I suggest you evaluate to see if your "lock" is sufficient. Perhaps you can find a minor adjustment that will help you stay down longer.

Good idea....I am hands on knee so maybe I will use that as my lock. I will try that today.

 

If you are hands on knees, then that should be your lock. That's if you stay HOK , or do you start HOK stance and then drift into something else as the pitch comes in? The GD or HOK is a very good stance for a rock solid lock in.

 

No I start HOK and then once caught or almost caught he said I was drifting up.....I will work on that LOCK of the HOK today....and report back...I just realized I am working with my son today..he will love the opportunity to critic Dear old Dad.....this should be good....he is a good ump tho so he will be fair and accurate in what he sees and says...

[ricka56]

 

 

I was recently made aware that my "lock" had gotten loose. The result was that I was moving and was coming up too quick also. I adjusted/tightened my "lock" and (I believe) fixed both issues with the one adjustment. My fix was pushing my wrists into the sides of my legs more tightly. I feel that I have a more solid stance now and If I start coming up too quick, I can feel it in my wrists.

 

Every umpire has their own "lock" technique. I've not seen your work, so I wouldn't suggest a solution. I suggest you evaluate to see if your "lock" is sufficient. Perhaps you can find a minor adjustment that will help you stay down longer.

Good idea....I am hands on knee so maybe I will use that as my lock. I will try that today.

If you are hands on knees, then that should be your lock. That's if you stay HOK , or do you start HOK stance and then drift into something else as the pitch comes in? The GD or HOK is a very good stance for a rock solid lock in.

I agree that HOK is a solid locked-in stance, but I need my hands/fingers for my day job. So, I am a pussy and modify.

 

I start off with HOK, at TOP I slip hands to side of legs, slight knee bend, wrists on side of legs, slight push on legs to lock-in and that helps prevent he from coming up too quick also...YMMV.

[blue23ll]

 

 

 

I was recently made aware that my "lock" had gotten loose. The result was that I was moving and was coming up too quick also. I adjusted/tightened my "lock" and (I believe) fixed both issues with the one adjustment. My fix was pushing my wrists into the sides of my legs more tightly. I feel that I have a more solid stance now and If I start coming up too quick, I can feel it in my wrists.

 

Every umpire has their own "lock" technique. I've not seen your work, so I wouldn't suggest a solution. I suggest you evaluate to see if your "lock" is sufficient. Perhaps you can find a minor adjustment that will help you stay down longer.

Good idea....I am hands on knee so maybe I will use that as my lock. I will try that today.

If you are hands on knees, then that should be your lock. That's if you stay HOK , or do you start HOK stance and then drift into something else as the pitch comes in? The GD or HOK is a very good stance for a rock solid lock in.

I agree that HOK is a solid locked-in stance, but I need my hands/fingers for my day job. So, I am a pussy and modify.

 

I start off with HOK, at TOP I slip hands to side of legs, slight knee bend, wrists on side of legs, slight push on legs to lock-in and that helps prevent he from coming up too quick also...YMMV.

 

The problem with the 'drift' is that most of the time I observe no real lock in. I mean a physical lock, that you feel every time, for me in the GD its the lock of my elbows, solid and every single time, no exceptions. Prior to using the GD, I used to think I had a pretty good "lock" too, and I was deluded.

[Ump17]

I have been more than jumpy.  I am downright flinching.  Took a juco fastball straight to the mask last year (think Kerwin Danley a few years back) and now I absolutely bail on anything high and tight.  I am even jumping on pitches in the dirt.  I am slightly better when working the scissors but I cannot work that stance on back to back nights due to the strain on my back.  Any suggestions other than my partners suggestion of "quit being a pussy"?

[Mike Prince]

Search "sock drill", then do it.  Otherwise, follow your partner's advice and trust your equipment.  If you don't eventually the ball will find you when you bail and you will be less protected than when you are locked in.

[MidAmUmp]

I have been more than jumpy. I am downright flinching. Took a juco fastball straight to the mask last year (think Kerwin Danley a few years back) and now I absolutely bail on anything high and tight. I am even jumping on pitches in the dirt. I am slightly better when working the scissors but I cannot work that stance on back to back nights due to the strain on my back. Any suggestions other than my partners suggestion of "quit being a pussy"?

Trust your equipment and trust the catchers. The first is easy...the second...not so much. As with every other person you meet in life, give them a chance until they prove otherwise. Some are going to do a good job, some aren't.

I think we all "flinch" when one is headed straight at our face and the catcher isn't moving his glove.

Talk to the catcher and find out what the pitcher throws. If he has a late breaking curve ball, know that in advance so you're not bailing thinking you are going to get hit, only to have it drop into the zone.

Lock in, stay locked in, even when you feel yourself start to bail. We've all been there. You just have to force yourself through it. Grab your leg...or something and try to keep yourself from moving.

It's going to hurt a hell of a lot worse if you're jumping around and get hit in an unprotected area.

[Ump17]

It seems like when I am working the scissors I naturally follow the ball all the way to the glove.  I do not have to think about it at all, it just happens.  If the ball is hit, I have no trouble seeing it off the bat.  This does not happen for me at all when working the box.  Definately a defect in my tracking while working the box.  I try to put my head in the same spot every time and have tried different "locks."  Will keep working on it. 

[MadMax]

@Ump17 - My greatest challenge has been not behaving like a catcher or hockey goalie (was both for 15 years). For quite awhile after turning in my catching glove, I would still act as if I had it on while behind the plate (used to take my mask off and hold my indicator with my right hand, yeesh). For those high-and-tight ones, as you've mentioned, I have had the rare flinch where I find my left hand up by my shoulder, as if to quickly try and snag... Well, I've gotten to breaking that twitch-habit by wrapping my inside arm around my back to find my centerline belt loop, while my outside hand hovers on the catcher's back (unless there's an extremely odd set-up pose or position F2 takes, or the F2 is a demonstrated bailer-out'er).

 

There may be something within hockey goalie training that will help you, though...

 

As a hockey goalie, we're taught to "bear down" and center on where we think the puck is coming from. That means squaring the shoulders to it and also tipping the chin _down_ slightly... the closer the origin of the shot, the more you tip your chin down (I do NOT mean drop your head). The most protective spot on the goalie mask is the brow – the point right between and above the eyes. If a puck is going to hit your head, you want it to hit there. What we're also taught is to bite down and set your jaw. Many players, across all sports, wear mouthguards... not necessarily for the contact, but for something to bite down on and thereby lessen the chance of concussions. You might want to get a discreet, low profile mouthguard, or perhaps chew gum during gameplay, and have something to consciously bite down on while F1 is pitching the ball. Condition yourself to stay with your jaw set until the ball is beyond the plate (thud in the mitt, thud into you, fouled off, put into play, etc.)

 

And definitely take @Mike Prince 's (and others') advice on the Sock Drill.

[BalkHawk]

...One on my wrist, thought it was broke...

Search MLB.com for Dan Iassogna hit in wrist (last season).

...fastball straight to the mask LAST YEAR... Any suggestions other than my partners suggestion of "quit being a pussy"?

Search 'mask' and 'pads' threads as well as 'staying locked in' and itquay eeingbay aay oossypay.