Felt a little "Off" yesterday.....

[KLAH316]

HS Freshman.....

I'm working solo.  2 VERY good teams who's Varsity is ranked in the top in the state.

We frequently have to do these games 1 man because of the shortage of umpires and alot of districts don't want to pay for the 2nd umpire. 

 

Game started good, I felt pretty locked in until..... I've never had this many close plays or coaches complaining about calls when I'm solo.

 

Bang/Bang play on a Pick-off move at 1B....

Bang/Bang play on a steal of 2nd....

Bang/Bang swipe tag on a runner tagging up from 2nd going to 3rd....

 

I used everything else that I observed on the plays to make my calls.  The Pick-off, the runner started toward 2 and dove back.  I thought he got him on the shoulder.  Steal of 2nd, there was a huge cloud of dust and I couldn't see any tag from 120' away.  The swipe tag at 3rd, the F5 sold the SH*# out of it.  Of course, after each one I would get chirping from whichever HC it affected.

 

Those are just the ones that stick out in my mind. 

 

Then, I judged an inside pitch went off the bottom of the bat while the BU said it hit him in the elbow. Sure as heck didn't sound like an elbow and the kid never flinched. Not much of an argument and the next pitch he hit a 3B down the line so all was good there.

 

The reason I felt "off" is after all that, I seemed not to be as locked into my zone as I was.  I think I was replaying them all in my mind. 

 

Hate days like that.  I left the game completely exhausted!

[Thunderheads]

it happens, ...sounded like you were just fine, especially going solo.

 

pregame: Jim, Mike, as you can see I'm working solo and I'll bust my butt for both teams, but I don't want to hear a peep, ok? Thanks!

[LMSANS]

Gotta disagree with you @Thunderheads that's starting on the negative. I wouldn't go there for that reason.

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[Thunderheads]

Gotta disagree with you @Thunderheads that's starting on the negative. I wouldn't go there for that reason.

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Ok, then how about this ....

 

"guys, I don't want to hear anything today, ...I'm working alone as you can see, but I'm going to bust my butt and hustle for you the entire game"

 

There, ...I ended on a positive!

[Mike Prince]

 

Gotta disagree with you @Thunderheads that's starting on the negative. I wouldn't go there for that reason.

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Ok, then how about this ....

 

"guys, I don't want to hear anything today, ...I'm working alone as you can see, but I'm going to bust my butt and hustle for you the entire game"

 

There, ...I ended on a positive!

 

Just say the highlighted part.

[Umpire in Chief]

@KLAH316

 

2 things. First you'r working solo, so don't get to wound up on plays away from the plate. 

 

But more importantly. I think it is awesome when umpires in general know they are having an off day. It happens. But the thing is to continue to work your way through it. Recognize it and try to make any adjustments if you can. 

 

I had an off day not too long ago and when we got to the locker room I asked my partner, "Was my zone as bad as I feel it was?" My partner said, he noticed my zone was not as big as usual and it opened up a good post-game conversation.

 

I normally have a pretty large zone, but that day for what ever reason I was being stingy on outside pitches. 

 

So be open and honest with yourself. It irritates me to no end when I have a partner that is appearing to have an off day try to deny it. 

[Lala]

@KLAH316

 

2 things. First you'r working solo, so don't get to wound up on plays away from the plate. 

 

But more importantly. I think it is awesome when umpires in general know they are having an off day. It happens. But the thing is to continue to work your way through it. Recognize it and try to make any adjustments if you can. 

 

I had an off day not too long ago and when we got to the locker room I asked my partner, "Was my zone as bad as I feel it was?" My partner said, he noticed my zone was not as big as usual and it opened up a good post-game conversation.

 

I normally have a pretty large zone, but that day for what ever reason I was being stingy on outside pitches. 

 

So be open and honest with yourself. It irritates me to no end when I have a partner that is appearing to have an off day try to deny it.

Players have off days... Unfortunately, so do umpires. It's part of the game.

When working 1 man, as long as you are hustling and trying to get in the best position possible to make some tough calls, thats all you can ask.

[mw94]

Hey Kevin,  put it rather bluntly hire 2 umpires & shut the F*#K up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! u did the best you could , I never sweat pick offs and steals when working solo . They get what I see from my angle end of story

[Umpire in Chief]

My opinions on working solo, YMMV:

1. I wouldn't address working solo at the plate meeting.
2. Hustle, gaining the best angle you can for plays away from the plate.
3. If you get in an argument over a play at the bases: 

• Keep it short
• Don't use not having a partner as an excuse
• Explain (if true) you were in the best position possible and made the call based on what you had.

[grayhawk]

 

My opinions on working solo, YMMV:

1. I wouldn't address working solo at the plate meeting.
2. Hustle, gaining the best angle you can for plays away from the plate.
3. If you get in an argument over a play at the bases: 

• Keep it short
• Don't use not having a partner as an excuse
• Explain (if true) you were in the best position possible and made the call based on what you had.

 

 

^^^^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^^^^^  Every time!

[Pete Peterson Sr]

 Pete Jr's wife's aunt died suddenly during a Varsity matchup that he and I were working. Between games, I sent him home to take care of his kids while the wife went to be with her family, leaving me to work the JV game solo. VT pitcher threw over to first a couple of times, and his F2 (HC's son, btw) stepped in front of the plate and said to F1 " Throw over there to keep him close, but don't expect to get an out. Pete is out here by his lonesome, got it ?" I appreciated that, and I told him so.