My rant about the plate

[Replacematt]

First off, if you're here, you read the title, so you should have an idea of what's coming. Secondly, I have no issue with doing the plate vice any other position. I have my positives and negatives for each.

I don't know what it is this year, but I have more partners asking me if I'll take the plate than ever before. My partners fall into two categories: those I work with quite regularly, and those that I work with about once a year. This is not an issue with my regular partners: we are all experienced guys that have similar approaches to what we work, and we generally just follow a rotation unless something really important comes up, which is next to never.

With my non-regular partners, I've had every excuse under the sun, of which I feel one was legitimate (guy got concussed two days prior.) These are the examples:

"I worked three plates so far this week." Yeah, so have I.

"I saw one of these teams on the dish a few weeks ago." I've had them twice in that time.

"We worked together three years ago, and I had the dish." Whoopdee-do. Tell me how that's relevant today.

The thing that's bothersome is that these are unsolicited and aren't even mentioned with a "Where do you stand?" It's "Hey, it's John, and we're working together on Monday. (Insert BS excuse not to work the plate here.)" It just seems so inconsiderate--again, not that I have an issue with the dish, but this is just a matter of principle. I've gotten enough status in my association that I have been able to tell them that they need to suck it up, but I do not want to make that a habit.

I got to thinking about these partners, and without exception, all of them are either relatively weak behind the plate and/or suffer a lack of confidence about some aspect of it. Thus, these excuses are simply that; they aren't actual reasons for them not to take the plate, but what they feel will legitimize them not doing so.

Thus, if you are this guy, you are lying to yourself and you will never get out of this rut unless you do the opposite and take every dish you can.

[mbkcoach]

Im in it since May and most of my games are 2 games a night rec league.  I have now started doing 1 game a night games and have wondered how this works.  Seems like some guys are scared to go behind the plate.  

[ALStripes17]

I've only been in my association 2 years, and I have lazy partners that tell me I have to take the plate bc they outrank me.

I'm in pretty good with our officers, they have told me I am fully within my right to tell those "vets" to get their gear on and earn their take. The officers of the association gave me rank seeing as some of these guys have done their first year of umpiring 15 times.

It's amazing what dedication, hustle, and intelligence will do for you when you impress the right people.

[Lala]

I must be different, but I usually ask to take the plate.

[mbkcoach]

I think this is a great topic.  So if its the first time you work together?  Less experienced guy does the dish? Next time you work with that partner then yall switch up?  Seem like the more experienced guy would want to take the dish to make sure game is managed and ran smoothly?

[NCAAump2]

I agree with Lala.  If I'm working with someone I don't know, or is wishy-washy about working the plate, I just go ahead and take it.  Why waste my time arguing, when I don't mind doing it anyway.  I like having some kind of control over the game, and I don't feel you do as the BU.  

[mbkcoach]

So if a guy is wishy washy about doing the plate just go ahead and do the plate right?

[MidAmUmp]

Lack of confidence, laziness, etc. aren't valid reasons for not working the plate. I would guess their give a crap level is pretty low, too. I don't know your status in your association, but taking your last sentence and making that your stance with these guys is probably the route I would go. Ask them why they really don't want to work the plate. Get beyond the 3 plates in a week crap and really get down to the heart of the matter...if they're struggling and have 0 confidence, tell them to get back there and you'll watch them to see if you can help them figure out what's wrong. If they're just lazy, tired or burned out, tell them you are too and they need to suck it up and work it...then let your assignor know for future reference.

[refump10]

In my short tenure back, the vast majority of the games I'm assigned also have the positions assigned, so it's not usually a problem.  That said, I'll tend to take the plate every chance I get unless I've already had two that day or an injury/whatever.  More than two plate games in a day is a bit much, and I'll try to avoid it if I can, but if my partner whines about it, I'll strap it on again.  NBD. 

[ricka56]

The thing that's bothersome is that these are unsolicited and aren't even mentioned with a "Where do you stand?" It's "Hey, it's John, and we're working together on Monday. (Insert BS excuse not to work the plate here.)" It just seems so inconsiderate--again, not that I have an issue with the dish, but this is just a matter of principle. I've gotten enough status in my association that I have been able to tell them that they need to suck it up, but I do not want to make that a habit.

 

I would have no "worry" of being known as the guy who habitually calls others on their BS excuses. 

 

I got to thinking about these partners, and without exception, all of them are either relatively weak behind the plate and/or suffer a lack of confidence about some aspect of it. Thus, these excuses are simply that; they aren't actual reasons for them not to take the plate, but what they feel will legitimize them not doing so.

 

If they suck on the dish, I wouldn't expect that they're much better on the pads. I think doing the pads well is harder. There are fewer opportunities to F-up on the pads , but those F-ups are usually signficant. I'd rather that he suck on the dish.  

 

Thus, if you are this guy, you are lying to yourself and you will never get out of this rut unless you do the opposite and take every dish you can.

 

You can't much care about what these guys think about you shaming them into working the plate. If this is a significant problem, then you're probably getting good at calling them on their BS.  Why worry ?

[umpire_scott]

I've had this happen a lot this year too.  It is usually a request made buy older umpires who use some physical reason.  If it is a younger guy that lacks confidence then I'm going to offer to take the plate.  If it is someone I have worked with where Adam Wainwright would have difficulty finding his zone then I'm offering to take the plate as well.  The vast majority of guys in my organization are good about it and I have no issues.  The only issues I have is it seems like the older guys in my group, when they have not worked with me before, take advantage of the opportunity to ask me to take the plate for some of the same reasons Matt mentioned.

[noumpere]

I think this is a great topic.  So if its the first time you work together?  Less experienced guy does the dish? Next time you work with that partner then yall switch up?  Seem like the more experienced guy would want to take the dish to make sure game is managed and ran smoothly?

I prefer the new guy to take the dish -- but you can tell him that you'll handle "all" the game management stuff and he just needs to call B/S.

 

Coaches are more willing to accept a missed B/S than they are a missed call on the bases.

 

But who had the plate the last time we worked together, or who had a team bases / plate recently can come into play.

[umpire_scott]

 

The thing that's bothersome is that these are unsolicited and aren't even mentioned with a "Where do you stand?" It's "Hey, it's John, and we're working together on Monday. (Insert BS excuse not to work the plate here.)" It just seems so inconsiderate--again, not that I have an issue with the dish, but this is just a matter of principle. I've gotten enough status in my association that I have been able to tell them that they need to suck it up, but I do not want to make that a habit.

 

I would have no "worry" of being known as the guy who habitually calls others on their BS excuses. 

 

I got to thinking about these partners, and without exception, all of them are either relatively weak behind the plate and/or suffer a lack of confidence about some aspect of it. Thus, these excuses are simply that; they aren't actual reasons for them not to take the plate, but what they feel will legitimize them not doing so.

 

If they suck on the dish, I wouldn't expect that they're much better on the pads. I think doing the pads well is harder. There are fewer opportunities to F-up on the pads , but those F-ups are usually signficant. I'd rather that he suck on the dish.  

 

Thus, if you are this guy, you are lying to yourself and you will never get out of this rut unless you do the opposite and take every dish you can.

 

You can't much care about what these guys think about you shaming them into working the plate. If this is a significant problem, then you're probably getting good at calling them on their BS.  Why worry ?

 

 

I disagree about the dish versus bases.  While I agree that one F-up can be worse on the bases it is still better to have the better umpire on the dish.  Nothing can derail a game quicker than an inconsistent or poor strike zone.  And there is not a lot of damage control I can do on the bases when my partner has a horrid zone. But if he F's up a call on the bases, I find it easier as the plate umpire to run interference or do something to keep the situation under control.  Oftentimes the coaches look at the PU as the crew chief, even if he technically has no more authority.

[OHUMP]

Typically I will always ask my partner what they prefer unless I know I am with a weaker partner then I will tell them I have the plate.  Usually I find being behind the plate keeps me more in the game.

[SteveJ]

We are assigned our positions by the league assignor. When we receive our assignment it states who has plate/bases If it's a 3-man game the assignor lets us decided who is U2/U3.

[KenBAZ]

Guess I'm like OHUMP, I always reach out early and ask what my partner wants to do. In the last two years I've worked with about 65 different partners and I don't feel like anyone has tried to take advantage. Just do your fair share and have positive expectations of your partners' and things will usually work out.

[grayhawk]

We are assigned our positions by the league assignor. When we receive our assignment it states who has plate/bases If it's a 3-man game the assignor lets us decided who is U2/U3.

 

Same here - even for summer ball.  The only time I switched was when I asked my partner for our game at Angels Stadium if I could take the dish.  He was happy to oblige.  Thankfully, I seem to be working for assigners that don't have any really weak umpires, so this is not currently an issue I have to deal with.

[StrikeDavis]

Every assignment we get specifies plate or bases.  I did hear a funny story from a guy (John) who ended up working a game with a notorious plate dodger.  John had surgery on his shoulder and per doctors orders could only work the bases for about a month.  John shows up for a game where his partner claims arbiter had him down for the bases (it didn't). He says he came directly from work (he did, wearing a suit with no tie) and forgot his plate gear at his house.  John says he can't work plate due to the surgery but he still has his plate gear in his car and offers to let the guy borrow it for the game, "except the cup, that will be yours if you wear it".  The plate dodger goes back to his car and says "hey look, I guess I didn't forget my gear".  John goes back over to the guys car after and the guy had to move his briefcase and tie off his chest protector to get it out of the car trunk.     

[Replacematt]

I'm glad that this sparked some discussion. It was intended as a vent for me, but that was my secondary hope. I wasn't so much looking for advice--I know where I stand and what I'm going to keep doing, but it's good stuff nonetheless. I've got enough credibility that I can call these guys on what they're doing (often without realizing,) and when I haven't been, it's simply because I really don't have the energy to care at that time about something that is so mundane to me. When I said I don't want to make it a habit, it's more of a statement that I don't want the situation to get to the point where I have to do this with every guy that is unfamiliar to me. I've worked with some great new guys this year that the first words out of their mouth are "Hi, I'm new, and what do you have to teach me?" We are very much a member-developed organization. We have excellent umpires that can offer advice and counsel to others, and that is our preferred method of handling anything that may become a problem or could use improvement.

[Mike Prince]

 

 

The thing that's bothersome is that these are unsolicited and aren't even mentioned with a "Where do you stand?" It's "Hey, it's John, and we're working together on Monday. (Insert BS excuse not to work the plate here.)" It just seems so inconsiderate--again, not that I have an issue with the dish, but this is just a matter of principle. I've gotten enough status in my association that I have been able to tell them that they need to suck it up, but I do not want to make that a habit.

 

I would have no "worry" of being known as the guy who habitually calls others on their BS excuses. 

 

I got to thinking about these partners, and without exception, all of them are either relatively weak behind the plate and/or suffer a lack of confidence about some aspect of it. Thus, these excuses are simply that; they aren't actual reasons for them not to take the plate, but what they feel will legitimize them not doing so.

 

If they suck on the dish, I wouldn't expect that they're much better on the pads. I think doing the pads well is harder. There are fewer opportunities to F-up on the pads , but those F-ups are usually signficant. I'd rather that he suck on the dish.  

 

Thus, if you are this guy, you are lying to yourself and you will never get out of this rut unless you do the opposite and take every dish you can.

 

You can't much care about what these guys think about you shaming them into working the plate. If this is a significant problem, then you're probably getting good at calling them on their BS.  Why worry ?

 

 

I disagree about the dish versus bases.  While I agree that one F-up can be worse on the bases it is still better to have the better umpire on the dish.  Nothing can derail a game quicker than an inconsistent or poor strike zone.  And there is not a lot of damage control I can do on the bases when my partner has a horrid zone. But if he F's up a call on the bases, I find it easier as the plate umpire to run interference or do something to keep the situation under control.  Oftentimes the coaches look at the PU as the crew chief, even if he technically has no more authority.

 

I respectfully disagree with your disagreement.

 

When I have an inexperienced partner, I encourage him to take the plate.  Once they realize they won't get hit (or that the equipment will protect them) most do just fine - batters and coaches remarkably have an ability to adapt to whatever strike zone is being called and ball/strike chirping is pretty easy to manage, even for a new guy.  Many "disaster" games I have had involve a lazy or inexperienced partner on the bases - it's easy for a new umpire to be overwhelmed as to where proper positions are and how to have proper timing.  Once a new guy blows a call on the bases and realizes he either gave or took away an out incorrectly, things go further downhill from there.

[zebra2955]

Great discussion. I find that the umpires around here who continually beg of the dish are a lot the excuses already mentioned, but we have a couple who are   afraid of getting hit,

[Pete Peterson Sr]

In my associations, tenure gets you your choice of positions. I personally prefer to work the plate in nearly any given game. That being said, I will sometimes choose to work the bases in a bigger/better game, so that a younger or less-experienced partner has an opportunity to gain some confidence and experience. 

[Jocko]

I want the stick. But everytime I work with @Pete Peterson Sr, he's a plate hog.

If I expect trouble.....if I know someone is notoriously argumentative. ...etc I INSIST on the plate. Unless I'm with someone I know is solid and will keep us out of trouble. If we have a DH, we split the plates. Tournaments, EVERYONE is taking their fair share.

[Pete Peterson Sr]

I want the stick. But everytime I work with @Pete Peterson Sr, he's a plate hog.

If I expect trouble.....if I know someone is notoriously argumentative. ...etc I INSIST on the plate. Unless I'm with someone I know is solid and will keep us out of trouble. If we have a DH, we split the plates. Tournaments, EVERYONE is taking their fair share.

 

 I prefer "collector of plate jobs".....

[JHSump]

Why do these umpire not want the plate? Can't take all the squatting (e.g., bad knees)? Too many injuries in an already long career? You might just try to have an honest conversation with them. Or, maybe not, if they are just acquaintances.

 

I don't understand why umpires would *not* want the plate. I'd rather have the plate in every game I do. But, we are assigned plate/base in HS games. And, in tournaments (i.e., a bunch of games in a few days) everyone should take on a share, as Jocko says.

 

The plate is more interesting. The plate is more challenging. The plate is more fun. You have control of the game. You have to interact (properly) with the managers/head coaches, which is always more interesting than standing out in RF between innings.

 

For that matter, if I don't know my partner, I'd rather have the plate. I guess I come down on the side that thinks the plate umpire is more important to the general flow and atmosphere of the game. I want it my way (e.g., no wasted time between innings, ball put in play after fouls, etc.)

 

@Jocko, when we work together (I'd look forward to that!), I hope it's a DH, so we can split it.