Thanks For The Evaluation

[KenBAZ]

I was working a 13U Utrip game today. I was the BU in A. There was an uncaught third strike. The ball drops right at F2's feet. F2 picks it up and drops it again as BR takes off for 1B. I took a step or two inside and forward. I was also watching closely for a running lane violation. The throw from F2 came in and the play just blew up on me. The BR was still out, though it was much closer then it should have been.

As I started back to my position I heard from above the dugout down the RF line, "You're too damn close to the play, back up so you can see it". I was shocked, I had been just thinking the same thing. Also, any time I've heard anything about umpiring mechanics from the stands they have not had a clue what they were talking about.

When I got back to A I asked the 1BC if that was one of his parents, explaining that the advice had been right on. He told me that one of his team's dads was an NCAA umpire. Usually, I hear things from the stands but don't pay attention to them. However, you can bet I was really focused for the rest of that game.

[Tksjewelry]

I have two grandfather's of a team I worked fairly often last year, one was a baseball coach for a Florida college and one was a Minors ump. Being a first year, I was slightly intimidated by them but after the third game they started giving me critics after the games, they always sat straight behind me too. And they were good fair critics and some good tips on mechanics. Once during a game their coach was giving me hell about my strike zone and the old ump yelled "her strike zone is right on, shut up and get these kids swinging". Lol. Not another peep from either bench about anything the whole game.

[JasonPalo]

Kinda cool, I guess

[Thunderheads]

Not cool at all.

 

If he wants to do any 'good', ....an NCAA umpire should know better to NOT yell at an umpire regarding mechanics on the field while during a game.  Awful.

[JasonPalo]

I'm really bad at doing this, that's why I cannot watch any games I'm not umpiring, I'd argue too much with the umpire.  I'm in trouble when my kid starts too play ball lol

[Thunderheads]

I'm really bad at doing this, that's why I cannot watch any games I'm not umpiring, I'd argue too much with the umpire.  I'm in trouble when my kid starts too play ball lol

don't be "that guy" Jason!

[JasonPalo]

Yeah I know, I tend too stay away from the field if I'm not umpiring

[KenBAZ]

Not cool at all.

If he wants to do any 'good', ....an NCAA umpire should know better to NOT yell at an umpire regarding mechanics on the field while during a game. Awful.

I understand your thinking on this. I guess I was okay with it because he wasn't arguing the call which everyone knew was correct but communicating with me in a way that only another umpire could. I've done quite a few games where a MLB umpire has been watching his kids play and never heard a word. That's more then ok too. Because of the delay at the plate I sort of drifted too far forward and was in a bad position. I liked that someone besides me noticed it and recognized it.

[Thunderheads]

Not cool at all.

If he wants to do any 'good', ....an NCAA umpire should know better to NOT yell at an umpire regarding mechanics on the field while during a game. Awful.

I understand your thinking on this. I guess I was okay with it because he wasn't arguing the call which everyone knew was correct but communicating with me in a way that only another umpire could. I've done quite a few games where a MLB umpire has been watching his kids play and never heard a word. That's more then ok too. Because of the delay at the plate I sort of drifted too far forward and was in a bad position. I liked that someone besides me noticed it and recognized it.

And that, in and of itself IS cool ..... but not the way he did it, ...that's all I'm saying.

[maven]

At some point, you'll be that umpire in the stands watching somebody work a lower-level game. My recommendations:

1. Never shout from the stands, whether the call/mechanic was right or wrong.
2. Post-game, introduce yourself and ask whether the umpires would like to talk about the game; if the answer is no, wish them good luck and boogie.
3. Identify 2 or 3 mechanics the umpires did well, and at most 3 they could improve. Stick with the 2-3 areas they most need to improve: it's difficult after a game to absorb more than that. If you talk for more than 3 or 4 minutes, you need to charge them for a clinic.
4. Never discuss judgment calls unless asked your opinion about a specific play ("Did I get that whacker in the 4th inning right?"). Debating judgment calls is as pointless in post-game as it is with coaches, since nobody ever became a better umpire by winning a pissing contest.
5. Understand that, overall, they did a good job for that game (or their assigner wouldn't have hired them for it).

[Stan W.]

I'm really bad at doing this, that's why I cannot watch any games I'm not umpiring, I'd argue too much with the umpire.  I'm in trouble when my kid starts too play ball lol

 

 

I watched my boy from age 5 through 4 years of NCAA ball, here is my advice........go to the third base line beyond the stands.....watch your boy from there.....stay out of the stands, once the parents know you are an umpire they will ruin any enjoyment you could ever have watching your kid play.......

Edited January 20, 2015 by Stan W.
clarity

[Jimurray]

With a throw coming from the imaginary box shouldn't you bust inside to a 90 to the throw (keep your distance). You can call RLI if you see it but PU has primary.

[Majordave]

 

I'm really bad at doing this, that's why I cannot watch any games I'm not umpiring, I'd argue too much with the umpire.  I'm in trouble when my kid starts too play ball lol

 

 

I watched my boy from age 5 through 4 years of NCAA ball, here is my advice........go to the third base line beyond the stands.....watch your boy from there.....stay out of the stands, once the parents know you are an umpire they will ruin any enjoyment you could ever have watching your kid play.......

 

 

@Stan W.

 

I have to echo you.  I attended games at the high school where I was a teacher on days I wasn't working games as an umpire in a neighboring region.  The players' fathers and other fans would not leave me alone with questions about the calls from the umpires.  I wouldn't say anything about them publicly but I was burning the plate guy down in my head.  He was new, inexperienced and way over his head working a varsity district contest.  He couldn't manage the game and it affected every close call.  He wanted to talk with the base umpire between every inning and you could tell it was seeking reassurance on how he handled calls on close plays and his positioning.  He had both head coaches eating him up and both of them should have been ejected but he never did.  The base umpire was very experienced but he did not interject even though you knew he wanted to.  

 

I quit sitting in the stands after that. I went into the press box or way down the line or stood above the fray on the hill.  Just didn't socialize with the fans or parents anymore.  

 

When in class I often had my students who were baseball players ask me about rules and calls from their games the night or weekend before.  I did not bash the umpires just tried to teach rules.  It was, and still is, amazing to me how little the coaches and players know about the rules of the game.

[blue23ll]

I try to avoid going to games where people might know me as an umpire. If I do go, I do not sit anywhere near other people, I'm far down the line or back away from the field. I have gone to watch other's umpire, and I say hi to them and then leave them alone until after the game. 

[acpar72]

Do you always look for running lane violation from that position?  As far as what he said...fine whatever.  Sounds like he was saying it because he saw potential in you, almost like a "you know better than that" criticism 

[KenBAZ]

@acpar72, I took it that he expected me to be better. As far as the RLV, I was working with a buddy who a know has not paid attention to this in the past. We've talked about it a few times but I let my concern over getting the RLV take my focus off my priorities.