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Partner off last night

JaxRolo

By JaxRolo
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JaxRolo

JaxRolo

Posted
Posted

Had the bases at a JV game.

 

Partner is normally really good. Doesn't miss many pitches.

 

Last night his strike zone was like 4"x4" except for the high strike he was calling up at the neck. For the first 2 innings he was getting tons of chirping from both sides.

 

I went to him between innings and asked what the problem was. He didn't even realize he was off his game. He thought he was doing just fine.

 

I know that if I am off I know I am off.

 

Have any of you been off your normal zone and not even realize it?

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Stan W.
Stan W.

I think one of the things we don’t teach umpires well is when to book off of a game.....the shortage of umpires and the fact that for 99% of us umpiring is a second job cause umpires to work when th

grayhawk
grayhawk

But your 100% is more like 50% for the rest of us.   

Majordave
Majordave

Yep.  Sometimes I just struggle.  Usually I have problems when the pitcher(s) do not keep ball around the zone--Nibblers, junkers, slow-working and slow-delivery guys.  It's tough to get out of when i

Majordave

Majordave

Posted
Posted

Yep.  Sometimes I just struggle.  Usually I have problems when the pitcher(s) do not keep ball around the zone--Nibblers, junkers, slow-working and slow-delivery guys.  It's tough to get out of when it happens.  If I think I am struggling, usually when I hear chirping from BOTH dugouts and the catchers aren't chatting with me, then I ask my partner.  I try not to blame the pitchers but it is usually the poor pitchers causing me to have poor performance behind the plate.

 

My .02...........

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Rulekeep

Rulekeep

Posted
Posted

I'm a sucker for good framing. *covers head* Not real obvious framing but there's been some just out of the zone that the catcher does a good job with and I find myself calling a strike in agony. There was one night, 14U, and the pitcher was all over the edges and there was an excellent catcher, and, well, I called many more strikes then balls. Visiting side wasn't too happy.

UmpJM

UmpJM

Posted
Posted

rolo,

 

You should hear what he had to say about YOU....  :shakehead:

 

BTW, I can't quite put my finger on it, but you somehow look a little "different" in your new avatar photo.

 

Have you lost weight?

 

JM

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MidAmUmp

MidAmUmp

Posted
Posted

Not like that.  If for some reason my zone is off I'm going to figure it out based on the response from those participating.  I mean...if the house is burning down, you might want to pay attention.  Self evaluation is a good thing!

 

If I start hearing some grumbling I start off asking the catcher.  Depending on his response (agreeing on a strike call -or- disagreeing on a ball call) I ask him would he want me to call it on him?  Then I'll call in one of my partners to ask their take.

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JaxRolo

JaxRolo

Posted
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Posted

rolo,

 

You should hear what he had to say about YOU....  :shakehead:

I heard he told the assignor I am the best umpire ever!

BTW, I can't quite put my finger on it, but you somehow look a little "different" in your new avatar photo.

 

Have you lost weight?

 

JM

Nah... Just forgot to wear my mask behind the dish the other day.

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Stan W.

Stan W.

Posted
Posted (edited)

I think one of the things we don’t teach umpires well is when to book off of a game.....the shortage of umpires and the fact that for 99% of us umpiring is a second job cause umpires to work when they should not have done so.......

I was working a game with a friend and sometimes partner when I noticed much the same results as in the OP. He was missing pitches badly.....and he is a veteran umpire with years of experience....he was hearing it from both dugouts.......

At the end of the inning I came in uncalled and asked if he was ok......the words poured out of him like a waterfall.......he had a horrible week at work, they might close his job down, his wife was sick and needs maintenance medicines that he can’t afford without the health insurance he was apt to lose.......he couldn’t book off the game as the game fee was important to them financially..........

He was a bundle of nerves and could not focus on the job of UIC........There is no set rule for this, but I asked him if it would help if I would take over the plate.....of course it would but how would we do it mid game.........(and save face for both of us)

I called both coaches together and told them that I was a bit gimpy from a hamstring injury (semi-true) and would they mind if I took over the plate and let my more nimble partner on the bases. I don’t believe for a minute that they totally believed my injury line, but they were more than happy to oblige me the few extra minutes that it took for me to change into plate gear.....

 

My partner went on to have a good game on the bases......not sure if it was the short break, or just the relief in not to having to be the UIC that helped but it worked out well...we umpires are all human, and have all the same issues all non umpires have.....sometimes because we are being paid, some participants and attendees at baseball games can lose sight of that fact..........

Umpiring is an avocation for most of us and not a vocation.....being clear on when the real world intrudes and interferes in your umpiring is a skill many umpires need to develop.......

 

So now a personal story...........Colt level Championship game......I am the plate umpire. On the way to the game it is clear to me that I am not at my usual focus level needed for the game. I can't seem to block out the remains of the day. I know that I do not have the clearness of mind to do a good job on the plate that night. But I was the senior man and UIC.

 

I struggle through all 7 innings and to best of my accounting I had a sub par game. My zone was loose and in retrospect, I should have either begged off the plate or booked off the game. This game taught me a hard lesson. I am not immune to being human. Job, life, wife, kids, all assert pressure and I could not "clear the mechanism"...I went home that night dissatisfied with my performance and my partners offered no assistance other than the umpires lament that we all have those days...I on the other hand worry that I may have shorted some player my best efforts.....but now I think I've learned a valuable lesson from it...... 

Edited by Stan W.
clarity and spelling- the usual suspects....
  • Like 4
Jocko

Jocko

Posted
Posted

Maybe for a pitch or two. I asked my partner Sunday if I banged a called K3 a bit low. He sad yes. Oh well. I got an out. But we all miss a pitch (some of you guys miss ALOT of pitches :stir: ) but not for a whole inning, much less a game. But if youve called upwards of 1000 pitches in a day, youre bound to reach down for one eventually. Pfffft. Sounded like a strike to me.

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Thunderheads

Thunderheads

Posted
Posted

Maybe for a pitch or two. I asked my partner Sunday if I banged a called K3 a bit low. He sad yes. Oh well. I got an out. But we all miss a pitch (some of you guys miss ALOT of pitches :stir: ) but not for a whole inning, much less a game. But if youve called upwards of 1000 pitches in a day, youre bound to reach down for one eventually. Pfffft. Sounded like a strike to me.

wow :D

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blue23ll

blue23ll

Posted
Posted

 

rolo,

 

You should hear what he had to say about YOU....  :shakehead:

I heard he told the assignor I am the best umpire ever!

BTW, I can't quite put my finger on it, but you somehow look a little "different" in your new avatar photo.

 

Have you lost weight?

 

JM

Nah... Just forgot to wear my mask behind the dish the other day.

 

Ol dent face!

GoodOldGus

GoodOldGus

Posted
Posted

I think we're all inclined to have a bad day or bad game.  I think the comments above about getting feedback from your partner or having the ability to have good enough self-awareness that you're a bit off are spot on.  It's always a benefit to have a good catcher behind the dish.  Catchers that catch the ball properly give umpires the complete picture of the pitch and whether most umpires will admit it or not how the catcher catches the ball is very important.   "Framing", to me, means a catcher is trying to fool you into a pitch that isn't a strike.  You can usually tell when a catcher is trying to extend the zone, but proper and solid catching mechanics can make calling balls and strikes much easier. 

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GetItRight

GetItRight

Posted
Posted

I've always felt that the difference between a truly excellent umpire and average/bad/mediocre ones is the ability to recognize and evaluate your own mistakes.  I make as many of them as anyone else, but I always understand when I've screwed up and can typically identify what the problem was (timing, positioning, lack of focus, etc).

 

A poor or mediocre official doesn't realize that they are making mistakes, and/or has no idea how to correct them.  I've had bad games before, but I know when I'm having bad game, and I know when I'm having a great one.  I don't need anybody else to let me know.  If someone honestly can't tell the difference of when they're having a good or bad game, then they just aren't very good to begin with, by definition.

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treydawgmt

treydawgmt

Posted
Posted

Maybe for a pitch or two. I asked my partner Sunday if I banged a called K3 a bit low. He sad yes. Oh well. I got an out. But we all miss a pitch (some of you guys miss ALOT of pitches :stir: ) but not for a whole inning, much less a game. But if youve called upwards of 1000 pitches in a day, youre bound to reach down for one eventually. Pfffft. Sounded like a strike to me.

wow :D

When you do 6 games in a tourney that are each 6 innings, yeah, I'll bet that's over 1000 in a day. I've done it a few times. All single umpire games. Wouldn't recommend it if you can help it!

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

  • Like 1
bam

bam

Posted
Posted

I did 4 games on the plate Sunday in a USSSA tournament. I am fairly certain I saw at least 1000 pitches...Sent using Tapatalk

Only Jocko can do 1000 pitches a day and be effective.

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grayhawk

grayhawk

Posted
Posted

 

I did 4 games on the plate Sunday in a USSSA tournament. I am fairly certain I saw at least 1000 pitches...Sent using Tapatalk

Only Jocko can do 1000 pitches a day and be effective.

 

 

Whoa bam!  Mike never once claimed to be effective.

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BalkHawk

BalkHawk

Posted
Posted

Have any of you been off your normal zone and not even realize it?

I'm sure it has happened, but I didn't realize it.

All things considered, how can you be sure that your partner was off his game and not you?

  • Like 1
bam

bam

Posted
Posted

I did 4 games on the plate Sunday in a USSSA tournament. I am fairly certain I saw at least 1000 pitches...Sent using Tapatalk

Only Jocko can do 1000 pitches a day and be effective.

 

Whoa bam!  Mike never once claimed to be effective.

That's a great point.

Jocko's bumper sticker - "Quantity, not quality"

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Jocko

Jocko

Posted
Posted

@GoodOldGus - framing = sticking. Framing is good. Thats where the catcher sticks the pitch and freezes for a split second to give us a good look.

What you're referring to is pulling. Pulling is even better than framing. When F2 pulls the pitch into the zone, he's telling you that even he knows it wasn't a strike.

I say that only half in jest. I prefer a good F2 frame the pitch for me. But the more he moves his glove, the more he announces its location outside the zone.

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Jocko

Jocko

Posted
Posted

I did 4 games on the plate Sunday in a USSSA tournament. I am fairly certain I saw at least 1000 pitches...Sent using Tapatalk

I missed one pitch. 1@1000 is pretty good ratio. Lmao
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GoodOldGus

GoodOldGus

Posted
Posted

@Jocko I agree!  Had this happen the other night.  One catcher was sticking (framing) the pitches towards the bottom of the zone and the other catcher was really pulling his glove up into the zone.  It really was the "tale of two catchers".  Guess who got the benefit of the doubt most of the time :nod: 

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Pete Peterson Sr

Pete Peterson Sr

Posted
Posted

 

I did 4 games on the plate Sunday in a USSSA tournament. I am fairly certain I saw at least 1000 pitches...Sent using Tapatalk

I missed one pitch. 1@1000 is pretty good ratio. Lmao

 

 

That's not what I was told...

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