Second Year Park League Ump

[wolfe_man]

21 hours ago, Velho said:

I'm interested in this... what scenario are we talking about? On a swinging 3rd strike or called 3rd strike?

Swinging 3rd strike - sure. Nothing much is needed. I give a little out same as a BR out by 10 feet.

Called 3rd strike - I've thought about this and can see both sides since it's against batter but for pitcher but have settled into a punch out that is natural for me that I've toned down a bit over the years.

I have done this as well.  When I was a younger umpire, I thought you needed to sell it more, but now with age and experience building up I have toned it down considerably. 

I normally throw up my right-hand (open, not fist) and call at the same time (HIKE) - then take one step-back and arrow-pull across my chest with RH while L arm goes out straight in fist and call THREE.  It's quick and everyone knows I called the batter out, but nothing showy or overly loud.

 

[Velho]

1 hour ago, wolfe_man said:

I normally throw up my right-hand (open, not fist) and call at the same time (HIKE) - then take one step-back and arrow-pull across my chest with RH while L arm goes out straight in fist and call THREE.  It's quick and everyone knows I called the batter out, but nothing showy or overly loud.

It's like looking in a mirror.  That's exactly what I do. It's what has naturally developed.

The degree of energy in the left hand out and right hand coming back ("chainsaw" people have called it) varies with players age & intensity of the moment.

[wolfe_man]

36 minutes ago, Velho said:

It's like looking in a mirror.  That's exactly what I do. It's what has naturally developed.

The degree of energy in the left hand out and right hand coming back ("chainsaw" people have called it) varies with players age & intensity of the moment.

Yes, I like it as it's very natural and looks clean. Plus, no umpire ego showing. 😇 

I try to keep my ego off the field at all times.  It's challenging sometimes when people are being jerks, but I'm doing better all the time with that too.😈

I just realized I have not welcomed our new member. @BuschLeague welcome to the team!  We're always thankful for new members. You won't find a better website out there for this purpose. And even if you could, you'd have a very hard time finding better people anywhere.  Stay humble and take advice and you will be surprised how much you can learn in a short amount of time!

Most of all - have fun out there!

[Ump Nick]

On 1/19/2022 at 6:53 PM, MadMax said:

 

Indeed. A plate umpire is never hit by “foul tips”, and if he/she is aware of the location of the baseball, should never be getting hit by “wild throws”. 

Am I being pedantic? Sure. But details matter. 
 

Now, wild pitches and foul balls / backs (colloquial term) are a whole different bag of hurts. Ouch. Feel for ya. 

Yes pedantic! But on point brother! 

[SeeingEyeDog]

@BuschLeague, regarding 2-man mechanics...in addition to consulting the resources that others have posted above, I would also encourage you when you are U1 to think every pre-pitch, "What am I doing if the ball is batted fair?" and "What extra calls might I have on this play?"...and then once the ball is batted fair and you have made the first call...get yourself into a position to make the NEXT call.

A common example would be with R2 (runner on second base), you would start in the C position (3rd base side of the mound, halfway between the mound and second base on a gig line that touches the right side of the mound and ends at the point of the plate). Batter hits a ground ball and the defense is attempting to make a play at 1B. You face your chest to the ball and gain as much ground as you can as the ball is thrown to 1B. You stop and lock in when the ball is halfway there. Meanwhile, once the throw is released, R2 breaks for 3rd base but, you can't see that because your focus is on 1B. (Hopefully, your partner has vocalized to tell you R2 is headed to 3rd base...) You make the call at 1B, the runner is out on the force by 5 steps. As you make that call, you make crossover steps back across the field towards 3rd base. Maybe the defense tries to make a play on that runner into 3rd base, maybe they don't...but, if you are "stuck in the cement" after the call at 1B, you will not have as much credibility on a call at 3rd base as you could have, had you put yourself in motion after that out at 1st base.

And there are a million more...always be ready for the next call!

~Dawg

[lawump]

On 3/18/2022 at 9:15 AM, ArchAngel72 said:

 

You have never seen a little leaguer swing and miss at a spiked ball?

 

OR for that matter Swing and connect and get a base hit on one?  

 

Come on man.. They can be called strikes..

 

Since this thread has been revived from the dead, I will tell this very true story:

In 2010, I had a high school game in which the same batter hit two separate homeruns on pitches that bounced in front of the plate.  

In 33-years I have never umpired a no-hitter, perfect game, had an unassisted triple play, or had a batter hit for the cycle.  But, at the same time, I have never met another umpire who can say that they had a game where the same batter hit two out-of-the-park homeruns on pitches that bounced in front of the plate.  

[FWIW: this batter's team went on to win the state championship...the only one in their school's history.  It was just that school's year, I guess.]

[ArchAngel72]

19 hours ago, lawump said:

Since this thread has been revived from the dead, I will tell this very true story:

In 2010, I had a high school game in which the same batter hit two separate homeruns on pitches that bounced in front of the plate.  

In 33-years I have never umpired a no-hitter, perfect game, had an unassisted triple play, or had a batter hit for the cycle.  But, at the same time, I have never met another umpire who can say that they had a game where the same batter hit two out-of-the-park homeruns on pitches that bounced in front of the plate.  

[FWIW: this batter's team went on to win the state championship...the only one in their school's history.  It was just that school's year, I guess.]

Seen it happen with Major League batters but a HS batter golfed one over the fence DANG..

[BigBlue4u]

 I was working a high school league back in Virginia.  It was opening day and a I had the bases.  Just after the catcher threw the ball down to second after the last warmup pitch the plate umpire said a few words to the catcher.  The catcher then laughed.  After the game I asked him what he said to the catcher.  "See these plate shoes?" he asked the catcher.  "They're brand new and this is the first time I have worn them. If you step on one of them, I'm going to bust your balls!"

[834k3r]

18 hours ago, BigBlue4u said:

 I was working a high school league back in Virginia.  It was opening day and a I had the bases.  Just after the catcher threw the ball down to second after the last warmup pitch the plate umpire said a few words to the catcher.  The catcher then laughed.  After the game I asked him what he said to the catcher.  "See these plate shoes?" he asked the catcher.  "They're brand new and this is the first time I have worn them. If you step on one of them, I'm going to bust your balls!"

I feel seen.

Last year I was working the plate for a Legion game wearing my brand new NB patent leather shoes. Top of the first, first batter, catcher drops into a hybrid stance at puts his molded (thankfully) cleat right on top of my shoe. I apologized for being too close, but cursed at the catcher in my mind.

On the upside, I learned that a light coat of vaseline on the blemish will hide it. I do that now as I'm getting dressed.