“You got to get the player out of you�

[BigUmpire]

While watching the “Third team†Ted Barret stated “ I tell guys before they go to umpire school, you got to get the player out of you†“If you are still like a baseball player or a big baseball fan you are not going to be a very good umpireâ€

 

My wife was in her office and came running out and asked me “is this true?†She went on to state that I am always saying that people coming into umpiring NEED more than a few years IN the game before that can be a good umpire especially at higher levels.

 

I still believe this BUT how do you out there feel about Ted’s statement of “You got to get the player out of you�

 

I told her I agree with Ted because when I walk on a field as an umpire I want to umpire, NOT play.

I think Ted was saying that you must have a focus on umpiring NOT second guessing players and coaches BUT enjoying what you are doing, UMPIRING!

 

Sound off please.

[Rulekeep]

He told me something very similar, "You might consider to stop rooting for the Mariners in a few years, otherwise you'll never be a superior umpire."

 

I think it has to do with seeing things as an umpire and not as a player or fan. If you get on the field as a both a player and an umpire, then you'll probably get your perceptions skewed. Also, from my experience, guys who are players AND umpires tend to be a lot more biased to a certain team. 

[johnnyg08]

I 100% agree. Get the player out of you, the fan, the coach, everything that's not umpire.

Once you can do that, you can be a good umpire.

You need some game sense, but that's where it stops.

He is spot on! Stop being a fan and umpire.

[MPLSUMP]

I agree. I retired 5-6 years ago from playing. My early evaluations commented on my "chasing" ground balls. Being a catcher really helped me understand how necessary a good relationship with the PU is.

[Majordave]

I agree 100%. I love THE GAME itself. The rules. Keeping it fair. Keeping it moving. I could care less who wins. Don't really have a favorite team or player. Game sense or "Baseball IQ" is a huge help. I coached a bunch of years. Had a former Triple A pitcher helping me. We were always focusing our players on the strategies of team play. We were also consistently amazed at how many of our umpires knew so little about the game. And didn't seem to really want to be there. He hated umpires. I tolerated them. Now I are one.

[Rulekeep]

Now I are one.

[Kevin_K]

I love baseball, but I love it differently than almost anyone I know.It’s a thinking person’s game, which is a big part of the allure.

 

When I played third base, I was always thinking about the pitch, the ensuing play, my responsibility, the situation, and what I was going to do based on any number of possible scenarios that might occur once the ball was put in play. When I was at bat, I considered the count, the number of outs, runners on, the pitcher, the situation.

 

I do none of that now in the same way. I still consider every situation whether as BU or PU, and that game sense is incredibly important to being a good umpire because it allows me to anticipate without anticipating.

 

I used to watch the players play the game, but now I watch the umpires manage the game. I probably could not really tell you who the top ten hitters in baseball were, but I can surely tell you who many of the umpires are by their strike call or other personal habits.

 

The player in me is long gone, and has been replaced by an umpire who sees the game from a distinctly different angle than those who are not an umpire. I think of the top umpires that I have the pleasure to work with, and none are players.

 

Mr Barrett is correct.

[blue23ll]

It is a positive thing to have a "sense" of the game, it's ebbs and flows. Knowing what might happen in a given situation is critical. As they say, an umpires worst enemy is surprise. Fighting the urge to chase the ball, moving before its the proper time, will get you into bad positions and even worse predicaments. We all love the game, or we wouldn't be doing what we do. 

 

@Rulekeep, does anyone actually root for the Mariners? 

[Rulekeep]

@blue23ll

Sidebar

Yes. This was our entry for the ultimate fan contest. It didn't win. Probably because it was thoughtful and there wasn't enough shwag in the picture.

[DVA7130]

I would not go as far as saying we are not fans.

In fact, we are the largest true fans of the game.

[johnnyg08]

I would not go as far as saying we are not fans.

In fact, we are the largest true fans of the game.

It's a different context. Completely different.

Fans is short for fanatic. Fans are emotional. Umpires are not. Fans see with their hearts, we see with our eyes.

Fans think that we care who wins. There is a difference. I love baseball. I am not a fan.

[JaxRolo]

Whose ever team has the best looking moms is the teams that is getting the close calls as far as I'm concerned!

[johnnyg08]

Whose ever team has the best looking moms is the teams that is getting the close calls as far as I'm concerned!

There are certainly exceptions Rolando!

[Richvee]

I was thinking like @DVA7130. I would consider myself a huge "fan" of the game. Now if we take @johnnyg08 definition of a "fan", then no, I guess I'm not a fan, I just have a healthy love for the game. So if we're saying having a love for the game does not equal being a fan of the game, I'll agree. 

 

I'm also having a little trouble figuring how rooting for a pro team makes me less of an umpire on a HS field? 

[johnnyg08]

I'm also having a little trouble figuring how rooting for a pro team makes me less of an umpire on a HS field?

I think it's how a person approaches the game. I see no issue w/ cheering for a particular team. I have a much different interpretation of the word "fan" than most. I am no longer fanatical about any professional sports. I just want to see a good game. That doesn't mean that I'm right and you're wrong. I simply can't watch any professional game anymore through the lens of a fan. For me, it's always a neutral approach. (Again, I'm not saying that my approach is the right one) that's just how it rolls for me.

I read about homers on here all of the time, bashing umpires, their team got screwed, blah, blah, blah...that is a "fan" mentality.

That mentality is not a healthy mentality for officials.

[Richvee]

 

I'm also having a little trouble figuring how rooting for a pro team makes me less of an umpire on a HS field?

I think it's how a person approaches the game. I see no issue w/ cheering for a particular team. I have a much different interpretation of the word "fan" than most. I am no longer fanatical about any professional sports. I just want to see a good game. That doesn't mean that I'm right and you're wrong. I simply can't watch any professional game anymore through the lens of a fan. For me, it's always a neutral approach. (Again, I'm not saying that my approach is the right one) that's just how it rolls for me.

I read about homers on here all of the time, bashing umpires, their team got screwed, blah, blah, blah...that is a "fan" mentality.

That mentality is not a healthy mentality for officials.

 

No argument from me there. I understand what you're saying and agree. 

[zm1283]

I definitely still have favorite professional sports. I watch games differently than a normal fan because of the perspective I have, but I still cheer for my teams. 

[Stan W.]

keep it in perspective....

 

Players play....

 

Coaches coach...

 

Umpires umpire....

[zm1283]

And by the way, watching/being a fan of teams has nothing to do with playing. Barrett is talking about playing vs. umpiring, not about following a team and being a fan of a team at a level you'll never work. (MLB for us)

[JaxRolo]

We don't work MLB games. I don't see a problem with being a fanatic of a Major League team.

[Umpire in Chief]

Absolutely agree. 

 

Although we mock, ridicule and scorn players/ and managers who exercise bad judgement in regards to umpiring. Some of the habits which are good for players/managers are not good for umpires. Like keeping your eye on the ball in flight, on a force play we're watching the bag and not the ball or really understanding the whole concept of timing.

 

Also the mind set of a player is very different from an umpire. 

 

IMO those habits are very hard to break. Not that they can't be broken but it is a steeper learning curve.

 

Where players have a greater advantage over non players is being able to read situations and anticipate plays. 

[BigUmpire]

As posted before one of our young umpires, former college player is at Harrys.

 

Here is his email update to me today:

 

Today was a very good day! A couple of the instructors already know me by name. Only mistake i was making today was we were working on fly balls (trouble balls) to the outfield from A position and I kept wanting to look at the ball and not just look at the fielder. Gotta get the player out of me.

[Sayhey]

I have read every post and I saw Third team and I still don't understand what Ted means. My apologies for being dense

It sounds like a profound statement but I'm not sure what the meaning is. Ted didn't say anything about being a fan.

He said get the player out of you. If there is a bigger Giants fan in America I would like to meet him. I'm kinda like Jimmy Fallon in the movie Fever Pitch. Passion for the game makes me a better umpire. Any deeper thoughts or clarification?

[Thunderheads]

I have read every post and I saw Third team and I still don't understand what Ted means. My apologies for being dense

It sounds like a profound statement but I'm not sure what the meaning is. Ted didn't say anything about being a fan.

He said get the player out of you. If there is a bigger Giants fan in America I would like to meet him. I'm kinda like Jimmy Fallon in the movie Fever Pitch. Passion for the game makes me a better umpire. Any deeper thoughts or clarification?

I'm not sure how you're confused by his statement. (said with respect)

[Sayhey]

I'm not sure why I am confused either. I did just read Big Umpires post and that turned a light bulb on. His post about a former college player at Harry's school watching a fly ball instead of reading the fielder is helpful. Thanks for your patience. Still don't understand why being a fan is detrimental to being a good umpire. Thanks for the respect comment. I certainly need to be more respectful to others on this site. We need to support each other.