Major Brain Faht

[Sut'n Blue]

This one hurts.

I'm plate, high school fall ball, top of 7th, home team up 3 to 2, R1. R1 goes as batter swings at one in the dirt, I watch F2 as he bobbles it a bit but scoops it and comes up ready to throw but doesn't because the batter is standing squarely in the left-handed batters box pretty much at a stand still and F2 has no throw because the batter is in his way. I have nothing but DC was very professional in asking about a possible BI so I check with my partner who also has nothing. My explanation to the DC: "he was in his box and did nothing to hinder" is accepted cordially and we go on. So far so good, right?

Batter then hits a double scoring the now R2. The batter, then R2, gets knocked in to make the score 4 to 3 and we end up starting the bottom of 7th with the 4 to 3 score. Home team fails to score and visiting team wins.

Driving home I'm thinking about the game and have a major oh $hit moment.... The batter on whom I didn't call the BI on bats right-handed. What a $hitty moment that was. While I was watching the catcher scoop the ball the batter swung, spun around, and ended up standing nice and still in the left-handed batter's box.

To make it worse, I didn't even catch it when he got ready to take the next pitch from the right-handed box. 

So now I'm sitting here with the distinct pleasure of knowing I screwed up and may have cost the HT the game. I suppose I can take solace from the fact that it seems I'm the only one who knows how badly I kicked it but that doesn't help much. 

The only thing I can do now is promise myself that I will learn from this. I guess that's something.

I

[stkjock]

DC missed his chance to correct your comment of "in his box" by pointing out he was in the opposite box.  

[Replacematt]

This one hurts.

I'm plate, high school fall ball, top of 7th, home team up 3 to 2, R1. R1 goes as batter swings at one in the dirt, I watch F2 as he bobbles it a bit but scoops it and comes up ready to throw but doesn't because the batter is standing squarely in the left-handed batters box pretty much at a stand still and F2 has no throw because the batter is in his way. I have nothing but DC was very professional in asking about a possible BI so I check with my partner who also has nothing. My explanation to the DC: "he was in his box and did nothing to hinder" is accepted cordially and we go on. So far so good, right?

Batter then hits a double scoring the now R2. The batter, then R2, gets knocked in to make the score 4 to 3 and we end up starting the bottom of 7th with the 4 to 3 score. Home team fails to score and visiting team wins.

Driving home I'm thinking about the game and have a major oh $hit moment.... The batter on whom I didn't call the BI on bats right-handed. What a $hitty moment that was. While I was watching the catcher scoop the ball the batter swung, spun around, and ended up standing nice and still in the left-handed batter's box.

To make it worse, I didn't even catch it when he got ready to take the next pitch from the right-handed box. 

So now I'm sitting here with the distinct pleasure of knowing I screwed up and may have cost the HT the game. I suppose I can take solace from the fact that it seems I'm the only one who knows how badly I kicked it but that doesn't help much. 

The only thing I can do now is promise myself that I will learn from this. I guess that's something.

I

First thing to learn--avoid tunnel vision.

[DVA7130]

First thing to learn--avoid tunnel vision.

His eye was on the ball where it was supposed to be, the mind just made the assumption that he was lefty. Optical illusions happen all the time.

[Replacematt]

His eye was on the ball where it was supposed to be, the mind just made the assumption that he was lefty. Optical illusions happen all the time.

If he didn't have the batter in his vision, his eyes weren't where they were supposed to be. 

[DVA7130]

If he didn't have the batter in his vision, his eyes weren't where they were supposed to be. 

You're right, I remember the instructor at the last clinic saying keep your eye on the batter. I'm sorry I forgot.

[Replacematt]

You're right, I remember the instructor at the last clinic saying keep your eye on the batter. I'm sorry I forgot.

I'm assuming you're being sarcastic?

[Replacematt]

Anyway, back to the issue...

As PU, you have a bunch of things that you have to watch for, and there is an order of prioritization. Ball/strike is at the top, and a batter hitting the ball with a foot out of the box is at the bottom. After the pitch, you also have priorities, of which BI is near the top. Here's the great thing--if you watch the ball properly coming in, your head won't move, and you'll still be able to see the batter in your external vision...that being said, umpires that are relatively new to doing tracking tend to overfocus on the ball and they end up starting at the glove or ball for a split second too long instead of looking at all the activity around the dish--which I think may have happened here.

The other thing that may have happened here was you not letting the game come to you...overthinking, if you will. I think if you had been a bit more relaxed, the little voice in your head would have triggered a "something's not right here" thought...and it could have led to you realizing what had happened in the moment instead of after the game.

[Sut'n Blue]

 

I could have been a little clearer in that I had to clear the catcher as he scrambled around to gather up the ball but still, no excuse (if anything this should have put me more on alert). The DC is new to coaching so maybe yes, a more experienced and knowledgable coach may have been able to point out my mistake so I could make it right but still, no excuse. 

Matt, you hit the nail on the head about letting the game come to you. Thanks, this can't be said enough. One of the slogans I try to practice is a favorite saying of Augustus Caesar: "Festina Lente" which means "make haste slowly."

 

[Replacematt]

One of the slogans I try to practice is a favorite saying of Augustus Caesar: "Festina Lente" which means "make haste slowly."

 

Oh, I thought that was this Italian girl my brother dated...