Working games solo...do you work from the plate? Behind the mound? The air-conditioned comfort of your car? Someplace else?

[Simply The Best]

Plate.

Solo? I get my absent partners pay. Otherwise, see ya'!

P.S. I used to work solo and only on a rare occasion did the coaches take my obvious limitations to heart and back off the criticism. Worse game I ever called...it cured me...was a solo Southern Baptist Church ladies slow pitch...God, they were awful...from behind the mound (their request). The swearing and harassment was unholy lol. Game called in 1.5 innings. Unbearable and many of the players were neighbors.

[beerguy55]

Only reason to work behind the mound is if you've been suckered into helping out a couple of teams where the scheduled ump didn't show up and you don't have any gear with you, because you were just going to chill and watch a friend play.

I have, many moons ago, done men's leagues where the home team provided an ump, usually one of the players, and we did it from behind the mound.

THAT is the cost of a shortage of umpires.

[BrainFreeze]

Twice during games I've moved *out* to the mound, both times it was from catchers who literally could not catch the ball. 

Barring that, I would not ever choose to work from behind the mound. 

[BigBlue4u]

On 6/24/2023 at 10:14 AM, StatsUmp said:

My biggest peeve this spring was the coaches who know there's only one umpire and want to complain about the safe/out call on a steal of second base. Sure, solo umpires generally do their best to hustle and get the best possible look and angle. However, they can't MSU and guess on an out call from 127 feet away.

On the times I have had to work solo, I make sure that at the pregame meeting to tell the coaches to please understand, I may not be able to get in the best position to make a call. But, I'm going to do the best I can and I will hustle.  After that, if you DO hustle during the game, it's been my experience that the coaches will pretty much leave you alone.

[ErichKeane]

1 minute ago, BigBlue4u said:

On the times I have had to work solo, I make sure that at the pregame meeting to tell the coaches to please understand, I may not be able to get in the best position to make a call. But, I'm going to do the best I can and I will hustle.  After that, if you DO hustle during the game, it's been my experience that the coaches will pretty much leave you alone.

I find the same.  I typically say something like, "I know there is just one of me, but I'm going to get to every call I can so I can make the right call. For the rest, you can blame my partner."  They chuckle, and the game starts.   First close play at 2nd where I've got my face right in it (usually some kid stretching a single to a double), I get a "nice hustle blue", and don't get any more issues rest of the game.

[BigBlue4u]

1 minute ago, ErichKeane said:

First close play at 2nd where I've got my face right in it (usually some kid stretching a single to a double), I get a "nice hustle blue", and don't get any more issues rest of the game.

Very good!  🙂

 

[GerryB]

Oddly this summer, in a college/former pro summer league, I've had to work solo. First time, two weeks ago my assigned partner had a medical emergency on the way to the game so I did three innings before a replacement arrived (city curfew the show must go on). Second time last night in the first inning, my partner took an untouched inside fastball breaking his thumb for the second time, in a different place, this season and he was wearing padding (aren't catchers awesome these days?).

Normally I would go behind the plate, but I had tendon transfer surgery for my thumb (extensor rupture) in March. Good outcome, 12 weeks OT and rehab. I've been really hesitant to get back behind the plate (see above). So I went behind the mound. 

Both games went fine, two situations were problematic for me though. Check swings - being instinctively in base umpire mode I focussed on the bat in a bunt check swing situation. Ugh, "ball" was out of my mouth before timing could save me. The other was bases loaded hit to the outfield. I could cheat towards home but really couldn't commit there until the cutoff made his throw. Had a close play I would have preferred to take at home but could only get inside the mound area. Thankfully it was a throw to the inside of home so I could see the tag.

And yes I agree ball/strike wise the high breaking ball was a challenge. One pitcher said to me "not having someone behind the catcher is really freaking me out!".

[Vegas_Ump]

Behind the plate!

Steal of 2B?  You are not that far from the play.  Besides, you are still closer than the managers in the dugouts!  If they claim to be able to see it from there, then you can certainly call it from behind the plate!  🙂  🙂  🙂

LOL!

Mike

Las Vegas