Found myself on Youtube

[grayhawk]

Boras Classic in SoCal last Wednesday.  This was in the bottom of the seventh, with the home team down 4-3.  This dinger tied it and then they got a bases-loaded soft grounder to F5 who fielded it and got bumped by F6.  No throw to the plate - game over.  

Couple of things I noticed:

(1)  A little bit of head movement on the outside pitches.
(2)  I appear to be set up a little high, but F2 was small and squatted very low.  I feel my head height is normally where it needs to be.

Thoughts?

 

[Kevin_K]

1 hour ago, grayhawk said:

(1)  A little bit of head movement on the outside pitches.
 

They weren't outside. Nice work

I got nothing. Just like usual.  

[Tksjewelry]

I feel very short now. I'd have to be on my tip toes to see over that kid!

Sent from my SM-G920P using Tapatalk

[maven]

Your zipper's down. Otherwise, looks good!

[grayhawk]

They weren't outside. Nice work

I got nothing. Just like usual.  

Didn't mean they were outside the zone (except for the 3rd pitch). The parents for the defense thought I missed that one, but I knew it was out.

[ricka56]

Do you know why your head moves on the outside pitches ? When I had that issue, it was because I was unsure about B/S on that knee high, outside (money) pitch. The adjustment I made was moving my slot foot forward more. That brought my eyes forward more into the slot where I could see that borderline pitch better. And if F2 is giving me plenty of room, that slot foot is a lot further up (probably even with F2's feet). I see that money pitch so well. Being forward in the slot also alleviated the need to be so high (I don't need to see over F2 anymore). I got lower (eye height at the top of the zone) and presented a smaller foul ball target. I can't do this all the time though. If F2 wants inside, I'll move back/up where I used to work or adjust somehow.

But all this is a matter of preference for an experienced umpire. What works for one ain't another's cup o tea...YMMV. 

. 

[grayhawk]

27 minutes ago, ricka56 said:

Do you know why your head moves on the outside pitches ? When I had that issue, it was because I was unsure about B/S on that knee high, outside (money) pitch. The adjustment I made was moving my slot foot forward more. That brought my eyes forward more into the slot where I could see that borderline pitch better. And if F2 is giving me plenty of room, that slot foot is a lot further up (probably even with F2's feet). I see that money pitch so well. Being forward in the slot also alleviated the need to be so high (I don't need to see over F2 anymore). I got lower (eye height at the top of the zone) and presented a smaller foul ball target. I can't do this all the time though. If F2 wants inside, I'll move back/up where I used to work or adjust somehow.

But all this is a matter of preference for an experienced umpire. What works for one ain't another's cup o tea...YMMV. 

. 

It's interesting because I'm normally farther up, but not on this batter.  I have a plate on Saturday and will have to pay special attention to keeping my head still.

[ElkOil]

Hm. I imagined you'd be shorter and not as handsome.

And I also wasn't sure if you were real. But now with video evidence, there's no question.

[udbrky]

5 minutes ago, ElkOil said:

Hm. I imagined you'd be shorter and not as handsome.

And I also wasn't sure if you were real. But now with video evidence, there's no question.

Allegedly. Pretty sure he should have still turned around and held up a newspaper for that day and a spoon as proof.

[goody14]

Do you wear glasses?

I was taped last year and noticed a slight outside drift as well. I figured out I was doing this so the ball would go from inside to outside the lens as it went low and away. I got slightly bigger lens and this helped.

And coincidentally, I had an evaluator tell me almost verbatim what @ricka56 put in his post about the slot foot. It has helped me quite a bit.

[kstrunk]

8 hours ago, ricka56 said:

moving my slot foot forward more. That brought my eyes forward more into the slot where I could see that borderline pitch better. And if F2 is giving me plenty of room, that slot foot is a lot further up (probably even with F2's feet).

I think I've heard this referred to as 'the super slot' position? Anyway, I learned it here on U-E a year or two ago, and it works fantastic! 

[ricka56]

43 minutes ago, kstrunk said:

I think I've heard this referred to as 'the super slot' position? Anyway, I learned it here on U-E a year or two ago, and it works fantastic! 

The first person that mentioned the term "super slot" gave an entirely different description from the adjustment that I made (but that came from a highly unreliable source). So I really don't know what "super slot" means. I'm just in the slot further forward than I previously was...not a super adjustment... just an effective one for me...YMMV. 

[Thunderheads]

solid Steve ....... 

[indianaumpire15]

On 4/5/2016 at 7:47 AM, goody14 said:

Do you wear glasses?

I was taped last year and noticed a slight outside drift as well. I figured out I was doing this so the ball would go from inside to outside the lens as it went low and away. I got slightly bigger lens and this helped.

And coincidentally, I had an evaluator tell me almost verbatim what @ricka56 put in his post about the slot foot. It has helped me quite a bit.

Now that you got moved up and those new glasses, you are going to be the man 'round these here parts my friend.

 

On another note, you look good Steve.  I have always fought the drift.  I changed my lock mechanism and really drop my rear when I get set, helps me keep from drifting and when I do I can feel it.  That pitch in a game when you realize you drifted and you smile a sly smile behind your mask and fix it.