Eliminating the Noise

[834k3r]

I'm a pretty good umpire. Not great, but not a "I only have navy" guy either. I've been told that by those with whom I've worked games, by area UICs, by our HS evaluation committee members. Sure there are things I need to work on, but we all do.

My biggest struggle is with the loving comments we all receive from spectators, coaches, and players alike--all with much better rules knowledge and view on a play than we do.

Still I struggle with some comments. Warning:  I'm about to enter into "touchy feely" territory.  For those familiar with the book "The 5 Love Languages," I'm very high on the "words of affirmation" scale--which means that I take negative comments very personally and badly. I focus on the game, but after some particularly biting comments, I struggle. It can throw my whole game off, and then it's a self-licking ice cream cone (one of my favorite sayings from my military career). Just like calling the low and away area of the strike zone from the slot, it's an area I in which I need to get better.

All that said, how do you eliminate/ignore the noise or minimize its effects?

[BLWizzRanger]

I am waiting in anticipation for any responses here as I think it will be beneficial to me as well.  Thanks for asking the question.

However, I wanted to commend you on your excellent use of blue text.  Very nice.

[Scissors]

I think a lot of it has to do with the tone of the game and the tone of your day. I've had a couple bad games this year where I came to the game agitated (work, school, traffic) worked the game agitated (bad strike zone), and was hearing it from fans (made the zone worse). While on other days I can work a plate with all the confidence in the world and just laugh to myself about the dumb comments. I really do think it depends on the level of play and your attitude for the day. Comments in a high stakes, intense varsity game? Hey, I'm trying my best and I know I'm focused and working hard. But 13U is a whole other story. Those ones grind at me. YMMV.

[ErichKeane]

I DEFINITELY have the same problem, particularly when working solo.  I had a weekend of 9U and 10U that the fans were rough enough I almost quit... but the next weekend I got a really good partner who keeps me grounded.  So... that?

[ArchAngel72]

"clear the mechanism"

 

Yeah I been there have good games and bad games.  I do feel it can and will vary greatly depending on what's going on with you just before you get there.  I try to listen to some pump me up music on the way to the field to get me out of any foul stuff and usually it works but yeah somethings sometimes stuff will come back.  ( PS I use "Welcome to the Jungle", It has another inference for me related back to my College Fraternity days during pledging ) But yeah pic something that will get you in a mind set that you feel is proper for your game.

Me I been told to find something else cause I can get TOO amped up with WttJ. /shrug.

Yeah sorry Im not a Kenny G guy or whatever you need to get Mellowed out but yeah I do need something better.

So anywho I find that when I am having a game and I feel better about the game Yeah I'm gonna call a bad pitch and I know it. When I do note it and then let it go.  If I make 5 bad pitch calls that I know I did whatever It does not hurt me at all.. and at that point where I am into the game the fence goes away.  I have been told by a partner once "Jeez did you here the guy in the stands that said XYZ about that close one with the 2nd batter in the inning."  Nope I will say never heard it.. and its true I can and will turn off the noise from the fence pretty dang easy. When I am "in the zone"

I hear you though when your not there in that spot the fence can seem A Lot louder than it is. At that point I force myself to stay in the game and just let it slide off my back like water off a ducks behind. 

[Thunderheads]

Strange this comes up.  I've been 'fairly' sensitive to what I hear from time to time, depends ...but I just focus knowing that what I'm hearing is a 99.9999% chance of coming from someone who doesn't know what they're talking about.

Last night, ... conference rivalry varsity match-up at a field I've never been to.  All turf, nice right?  Hang on:  The backstop/wall/net is probably 15 feet behind me (might be closer)....I mean, ridiculous!  You could hear the fans breathing! Nuts!   Anyhow, ...first pitch of the game, nice pitch, just a touch outside (but it's high school) ... I ring it up.  Instantly- "nice take Billy, that's off the plate" .   I think to myself, you've GOT to be kidding me, here we go!   In between batters I notice a guy just to the right of home plate w/ a cell phone (recording his son I assume) ...great!     Well, I just said to myself, ...ok, bear down, let's see how locked in and good I can get today w/out getting the comments.    IT WORKED!   After an inning or 2, the comments stopped, and I felt really good/seeing the ball well, locked in!

Well, ... the home team starts making a come back, and as they're within 1 run of tying it up (they wound up winning by 1 run btw) the chirps start from the home team fans/parents.   "That's on the batters box line",  It's the letters, not the neck" ...blah blah blah ...me and the visiting catcher were having a laugh ...he says .... "geez blue they're brutal" ...and I say, "tell me about it ...these are strikes!"  He's like, "sure are!"

All of the above for this:   YOU are in control of your game, call 'em and know whatever you're hearing from fans is VERY likely hogwash.  Yesterday I learned to ignore it, and focus more and shut it down by my performance, ...it worked for me!    Remember, FOCUS ON YOUR GAME, BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!!

The first photo is from 2018 (not me) ...taken FROM the wall/netting!  The second photo is from the home team's twitter account that caught me a little bit (you can't really tell from this angle how close the 'backstop' is ...but trust me!)

[BigBlue4u]

To all of the above:  Here's a headline. We are all going to have bad games once in a while.  Want proof?  Here's a sampling of games and missed pitches from selected Major League umpires:

Alfonso Marquez:  11-9-9-23

Chris Guccione      8-8-4-13

Marvin Hudson      8-11-7-20

Erich Bacchus        8-7-19-22

And remember, these are Major League umpires.  So, how does a ML umpire go from one game to missing nearly three times more pitches the next game? The point is, don't beat yourself up over a bad game.  It's going to happen.  What you need to do after you do have a bad game is to try to find a reason.  There will be a reason, you just have to find it.  

 

 

[SeeingEyeDog]

@834k3r...yeah, it's tough out there and lonely sometimes, even if you are not working the game solo. As the game wears on, as the games pile up and our experience grows, our minds and our bodies learn to accept that this is the job. It doesn't make what is done and said to us ok, but we learn how to live with it. As always, if it's prolonged, profane and or personal talk to the coach. If he doesn't address it to your satisfaction, get the AD. We know that we are ALL going to make mistakes and blow calls, etc. So, you HAVE to have a plan for how you are going to deal with that so, when those things happen, you reach into your mental toolbox and reset yourself. Ask senior guys in your association, "How do you reset after you make a mistake out here?"

It sounds corny and it sounds like something people who handle life stakes much, much larger than baseball umpires do would say but, it applies to our Craft, too. Let the game come to you and let your training and all the positive and constructive feedback you have gotten take over and fill you up. Push out what happened and focus on what is about to happen. Win the next pitch! Win the next play! Did you win that pitch? Did you win that play? How many pitches and plays can you string together between now and the end of the baseball game? Think about when you saw a partner kick a call...how did they reset? The best ones will come right back and win the very next pitch. For players, they talk about The Game is full of failure, followed by second chances and redemptions. How many times have we seen a batter strike out to end a big rally and then come right back and make a key defensive play in the next half? Or boot a ball and then rake a bomb in his next A-B? Umpires get those opportunities, too.

How are your mechanics and timing? Are you still snapping out those pointed and hammered strike calls? Are you loud and clear on your calls and not allowing any doubt to manifest itself in your voice? Is it, "Ball!" and "Strike!" definitively? Or are you guessing with, "Ball?" and "Strike?" Fans, players and coaches ALL have a biased, vested interest in how the calls go. We, as umpires, do not. That's why we are there.

Watch MLB and NCAA baseball games and watch those umpires. Stuff happens to those guys, too. Stuff is said to them, too. How do they respond? Are they doing anything overt to self-correct? What are they doing? Is that something you could be doing?

Finally, do not let these kinds of thoughts fester or allow you to doubt yourself for one moment. Flush any concerns you have with any of this by chatting here on U-E, but also with your partners immediately after the game.

~Dawg

[wolfe_man]

Well, I had a rough one tonight - did this jinx me?

I had an EJ in a HS Varsity game that didn't matter (non-league make up game from a prior rain-out, standings are in, playoffs are seeded, games already scheduled) and now the HC will miss the first two games of the state tournament as a result.

The play that brought all this up was a pickoff at 1B, runner never made it back to bag.  VT HC asked for help as he could see from his vantage point that I had a better angle (U2 was in deep B behind the mount and blocked out by the play - whereas I was unobstructed).  My partner came to me and we overturned the call to an out.  The runner knew he was out, the AC at 1B knew he was out, the fans knew he was out - but the HT HC was all mad because he didn't think I could see from behind the plate when I was unobstructed. We tried to explain, we can see pulled foot from this view - but nothing was good enough.  He eventually had to go for prolonged arguing after warning, restriction - then EJ.  All this was textbook with no issues...  but then it happened.

HT fans really poured it on after the EJ - it's for the kids, come on blue, you've got to be bigger than that, etc. - and I broke a cardinal rule.  I told an old gentlemen who was being particularly loud to "shut up" and then sent someone for the AD.  It really got to me as I never talk to the fence, but I did this time.

I completed that inning amid much fanfare from the stands - and then apologized to the fan for being out of line.  I told him there was no excuse, I simply cannot do that as a man, a Christian or as an umpire.  To my surprise, he graciously accepted it and we moved on, but the vitriol and hatred continued to rain on me the remainder of the game from the HT fans.

I was followed to my car by several loudmouth fans.  For the first time in 8-9 years of umpiring, I truly feared for my safety and left the game fully dressed in my plate gear. 

This was my last scheduled HS game of the year and it honestly has me questioning if I want to come back next year.  It was that bad.

(Update: Picked up another game tonight 5/15- and it'll be my 4th plate in a row. HS Varsity. I've done 17 plates to 11 fields this season to date. I had practically 10 cancels this year due to weather.)

 

[The Man in Blue]

1 hour ago, wolfe_man said:

I was followed to my car by several loudmouth fans.  For the first time in 8-9 years of umpiring, I truly feared for my safety and left the game fully dressed in my plate gear. 

 

As somebody who had this happen to him earlier this year, I hope you reported this to the school and immediately filed a report with the state association.

While I know you mentioned a partner, I just want to add: THIS is why NOBODY should EVER be accepting solo contracts.

Take the time off @wolfe_man ... reset, refresh, recharge.

[The Man in Blue]

The original question ... Here is my take:

I've been been married 30 years.

I have four kids (three girls, one boy).

I spent virtually all of my working life in customer service positions.

I spent nearly two decades working in public relations.

I've been an elected official.

Now I teach at an inner-city school.

I don't hear anything I don't want to hear.  😁

 

 

[Jimurray]

13 minutes ago, The Man in Blue said:

The original question ... Here is my take:

I've been been married 30 years.

I have four kids (three girls, one boy).

I spent virtually all of my working life in customer service positions.

I spent nearly two decades working in public relations.

I've been an elected official.

Now I teach at an inner-city school.

I don't hear anything I don't want to hear.  😁

 

 

Good advice, eff the fence, but do listen for anything that can bring  humor to mind, otherwise it's coming from a mindless species behind the fence.

[Thatsnotyou]

I used to be somewhat the same way with fans. Then I started telling myself that these are just the same idiots that yell at (insert MLB team in your state here) games at MLB umpires…they are clueless. So I started to find them more amusing than aggravating. Once you can start to internally laugh at them, you’re golden. But it took me many years to get there. Some of that may be getting confidence. It sounds like you’re there, more or less. You know you’re good. Try to find the fans adorable with their ignorance. 

 

This works to some degree with players/coaches. 

[StatsUmp]

On 5/12/2023 at 2:12 PM, Scissors said:

I think a lot of it has to do with the tone of the game and the tone of your day. I've had a couple bad games this year where I came to the game agitated (work, school, traffic) worked the game agitated (bad strike zone), and was hearing it from fans (made the zone worse). While on other days I can work a plate with all the confidence in the world and just laugh to myself about the dumb comments.

For me, this week was one of ups and downs. Monday, I had to do a freshman baseball doubleheader solo. Surprisingly, both teams had decent pitching for that level and both teams wanted to hit the ball. I felt confident with my zone in both games and completed both six-inning games in just over 3 hours including the break between games.

Today, I had a single seven-inning freshman game that went 2:15 and I just wasn't feeling it behind the plate. I don't know if it was the heat, the week's schedule as a whole, or what. All I know is today was one of those days where it felt like the game couldn't end fast enough for me. Parents and fans did chirp some but not enough to reach the point I had to address it.

To address the original OP question, I tend to ignore fan noise unless it reaches a point that it absolutely needs to be addressed (personal attacks, profanity, etc.)

As for minimizing the effects, other replies so far have made good suggestions. As it happens in real time, sometimes all we can do is take a deep breath and focus on getting the next play right (and the next one, and so on).

Honest post-game self-reflection helps too. If I feel my zone, timing, or something else wasn't the greatest, I'll think about it on the way home and ask myself what within my control can I do differently so that I'm ready and confident for the next game day.

On 5/12/2023 at 11:07 PM, Thatsnotyou said:

I used to be somewhat the same way with fans. Then I started telling myself that these are just the same idiots that yell at (insert MLB team in your state here) games at MLB umpires…they are clueless. So I started to find them more amusing than aggravating.

I have to agree it's amusing when parents and fans don't know the rules the think they know. For me, it's been fans who somehow believe NFHS rules require runners to slide on a close play and seeing them end up flabbergasted when nothing gets called in those situations because no such rule exists.

[dumbdumb]

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[BigBlue4u]

On 5/12/2023 at 11:28 AM, ErichKeane said:

I DEFINITELY have the same problem, particularly when working solo.  I had a weekend of 9U and 10U that the fans were rough enough I almost quit... but the next weekend I got a really good partner who keeps me grounded.  So... that?

I have done something that helps me get through games where the fans are "rough."  My thinking goes like this:  If fans spend a Saturday (or whatever day) getting on the umpires with abusive language, etc., I wonder what the rest of their week is like.  It can't be very good.  That approach works quite well.  I just feel sorry for them.

[BLarson]

I got my buddy into umpiring last fall/this spring&summer after coaching the last 5 years together.
I tell him the things coaches/parents yell:
"That's not you Billy"
"He's got a big zone" (especially in the first inning)
"He's calling the outside pitch"
"Good take, that's xxxxx"

Aren't really directed at you as the umpire, it's just stuff coaches and parents think they need to say to keep their players from getting discouraged.

You know when they are directing their comments TO you.

[834k3r]

2 hours ago, BLarson said:

I got my buddy into umpiring last fall/this spring&summer after coaching the last 5 years together.
I tell him the things coaches/parents yell:
"That's not you Billy"
"He's got a big zone" (especially in the first inning)
"He's calling the outside pitch"
"Good take, that's xxxxx"

Aren't really directed at you as the umpire, it's just stuff coaches and parents think they need to say to keep their players from getting discouraged.

You know when they are directing their comments TO you.

I absolutely agree, and those are easy to ignore. It's the "where was that pitch last inning" statements that bite me.

Last year, I got one of the best compliments I could ask for from a spectator (even though it wasn't intended that way). 5th inning, I call a strike at the bottom outside corner of the zone. Batter looks frustrated; a spectator (his dad?) says "you gotta adjust; he's been calling that pitch all game!"

[ArchAngel72]

Oh man this thread is a curse.

 

Last night game was humming along got thru 1st ok 2nd inning VT has a close play at the plate. I saw the ball come into the catcher and the runners foot touched the plate a half second before the catcher got the ball down.  I mean Bang bang close and runner was safe.

Catcher named "E" at the plate I have worked with him for probably 4 years at least being behind him at the plate. He and I have always had a good time chatting and talking game and me dropping a technique helping comment or answering a game question for him.  No issues, EVER. Kid has been a good catcher always improving and doing a good job.  

So anyway that play happens and his Dad says from beyond the fence as I am sweeping off the plate.  " Don't worry E you had him.  "G" just hates you is all."

 

That comment made me stop and whip around to face him... I felt like someone stabbed me in the chest.

To tell a catcher I hate them.. not just say "the ump"  but called me by name. 

I as a LL ump do whatever I can to help shape and mold the catchers into better players so that you guys at the higher levels do not take the 75 to 90 mph pitches to the arms and other soft spots.  I have never done anything but be encouraging and nice and "teaching" as much as I can be to the 8-12U kids ( usually by 12U they do not need it ) But man what a gut wrenching stab at me personally.

The game ended up having probably 10 bangers and I know I had 9 correct for sure and I am 2nd guessing 1 at 1st last night. But its like I saw what I saw and heard what I heard and well I still would say he was safe at 1st.

The next half inning E got a double, stole 3rd and then on a ball hit to the SS tried to make it home.  The catcher got the ball and blocked the plate with his foot and E slid into it a good 8 to 10 inches shy of the plate the catcher tagged him out. Well the 3B coach ( the team Mgr)  comes flying down the line hollaring about how could I miss that call.  I showed him the point where his slide was halted and explained that he never reached home plate.  He kept on.. at this point I should have run him.. ( yep I had a reason and I did not) 

Stupid stupid stupid...

Cause the game got worse after that I would hear things about strikes and balls from both sides and then I hear E's dad from the stands in the top of the 5th they were down 3 to 2, a player from there team comes in from 3rd and the relay from right field comes in from that side the catcher having to catch it 1st base side whips around backwards and to my amazement gets the glove to the corner of the plate as the player steps towards home kicking the glove and then stepping short of the plate as the glove knocked his foot back. ( if the runner had slid he probably would have been in there and been safe. 

I call OUT and immediately E's Dad yells "Thats 5 bang bang plays in the game and you called every single one of them against our team."

Hmm not true it was more closet to 10 and they went both ways.. but yeah.. 

I sat there and actually contemplated  getting both Managers and standing them in front of that fence and dressing them down about Why Umpires are getting harder to find. And then telling them for the next 2 weeks they would be finding another umpire cause I quit.

But I grit my teeth and brushed off the plate and went back to being behind the catcher...

But I was close...

Very close to just saying effe it. I can go get a job at MC Donalds and make 16$ an hour and take less abuse.

 

[834k3r]

4 minutes ago, ArchAngel72 said:

Oh man this thread is a curse.

 

Last night game was humming along got thru 1st ok 2nd inning VT has a close play at the plate. I saw the ball come into the catcher and the runners foot touched the plate a half second before the catcher got the ball down.  I mean Bang bang close and runner was safe.

Catcher named "E" at the plate I have worked with him for probably 4 years at least being behind him at the plate. He and I have always had a good time chatting and talking game and me dropping a technique helping comment or answering a game question for him.  No issues, EVER. Kid has been a good catcher always improving and doing a good job.  

So anyway that play happens and his Dad says from beyond the fence as I am sweeping off the plate.  " Don't worry E you had him.  "G" just hates you is all."

 

That comment made me stop and whip around to face him... I felt like someone stabbed me in the chest.

To tell a catcher I hate them.. not just say "the ump"  but called me by name. 

I as a LL ump do whatever I can to help shape and mold the catchers into better players so that you guys at the higher levels do not take the 75 to 90 mph pitches to the arms and other soft spots.  I have never done anything but be encouraging and nice and "teaching" as much as I can be to the 8-12U kids ( usually by 12U they do not need it ) But man what a gut wrenching stab at me personally.

The game ended up having probably 10 bangers and I know I had 9 correct for sure and I am 2nd guessing 1 at 1st last night. But its like I saw what I saw and heard what I heard and well I still would say he was safe at 1st.

The next half inning E got a double, stole 3rd and then on a ball hit to the SS tried to make it home.  The catcher got the ball and blocked the plate with his foot and E slid into it a good 8 to 10 inches shy of the plate the catcher tagged him out. Well the 3B coach ( the team Mgr)  comes flying down the line hollaring about how could I miss that call.  I showed him the point where his slide was halted and explained that he never reached home plate.  He kept on.. at this point I should have run him.. ( yep I had a reason and I did not) 

Stupid stupid stupid...

Cause the game got worse after that I would hear things about strikes and balls from both sides and then I hear E's dad from the stands in the top of the 5th they were down 3 to 2, a player from there team comes in from 3rd and the relay from right field comes in from that side the catcher having to catch it 1st base side whips around backwards and to my amazement gets the glove to the corner of the plate as the player steps towards home kicking the glove and then stepping short of the plate as the glove knocked his foot back. ( if the runner had slid he probably would have been in there and been safe. 

I call OUT and immediately E's Dad yells "Thats 5 bang bang plays in the game and you called every single one of them against our team."

Hmm not true it was more closet to 10 and they went both ways.. but yeah.. 

I sat there and actually contemplated  getting both Managers and standing them in front of that fence and dressing them down about Why Umpires are getting harder to find. And then telling them for the next 2 weeks they would be finding another umpire cause I quit.

But I grit my teeth and brushed off the plate and went back to being behind the catcher...

But I was close...

Very close to just saying effe it. I can go get a job at MC Donalds and make 16$ an hour and take less abuse.

 

The personal ones are the hardest for me. This pales in comparison to your game, but I worked a LL game last night and one of the teams was coached by a guy I have umpired NFHS games with. He wanted to intentionally walk a batter. "Okay," says I. I walk to the official book and tell her to add three pitches to the pitcher's pitch total (the count was already 1-0). The attitude and response from the coach (who, again for emphasis, was an NFHS umpire this year!) was disappointing and hard to take for me.

[BLWizzRanger]

8 minutes ago, ArchAngel72 said:

Very close to just saying effe it. I can go get a job at MC Donalds and make 16$ an hour and take less abuse.

 

You sure about that?  With the videos going around, there is no respect anywhere anymore.

 

[ArchAngel72]

Just now, BLWizzRanger said:

You sure about that?  With the videos going around, there is no respect anywhere anymore.

 

flipping burgers on the grill in the back.. no customer interaction...

[urout17]

It took me a few years when I started officiating to not listen to the comments.  I had some great mentors and the one I still hear in my head to this day....(pick your call)....It's still a strike....or....He's still out.  Just do the best you can. Nobody on the field is a professional and 9.9/10 won't be.

[Vegas_Ump]

Here are a few situations:  [Assume Youth ball.]

1.  Pitcher does not get the strike he was expecting.  Coach says, "Looked good!  Looked good!"  Is he arguing?  No!  He's trying to show his pitcher he still has confidence in him.  That's baseball!

2. Same sitch but it's a parent.  Well, same idea!  He's still proud of his kid.

3. You hear constantly from the dugout:  "Where was that pitch, blue?"  I personally don't think I am obliged to give the manager and analysis of every pitch or call.  But I'll tell the catcher, "It was outside!" so now he knows what to work with.  How many times are you willing to listen to that?  Are you hearing that that whole game?  Is the voice level getting louder?

4.  On any pitch or call:  You hear it from the stands.  Well, the moment gets everybody.  But does it continue?  How long?  Is some parent having an aneurism for the next 15 minutes over your integrity?  You might need to have the manager work this problem for you.  Note that you do not have authority outside the fences.

5.  Manager says, "You got to call them the same for both teams!"  Automatic ejection in my book.  He's challenging the integrity of officials.

6.  Continued howling from the stands.  You can suspend the game.  Might have to call the sheriff.  [I have seen that happen!]  The League has a problem.  Don't be Barney Fife!  Let the League handle it with your UIC/assignor. 

7.  Continued castigation of your ability or integrity.  Quit!  That's what I did after 34 years.  Deportment has deteriorated!  We don't know civility as we used to.  You don't need to allow you blood pressure to go up.  [Especially if you have been a volunteer umpire for 34 years!]

Mike

Las Vegas

[SeeingEyeDog]

I worked with a guy a few weeks ago who has been umpiring minor leagues down for 50 years. Like...that's longer than I have been alive, man. I have never seen this mechanic before and have been considering adding it to my own. On ANY close putout, he calls it loudly and definitively, "He's out!" with a punch out mechanic that could cut an onion and then he adds in a slightly lower volume, "No question!"

This one I have added...when it's a tag play, I will move to a spot close to where I saw the tag and then point to the area in space where I saw the tag. It could be up on his head or it could be his shoelaces, etc...and after pointing say, "Tag! Tag! He's out!" and then giving a punch out mechanic. I have had fewer coaches come out on me when I do this. We are telling everyone at the ballpark why the runner is out and where we saw the tag. That doesn't necessarily mean we get every call correct but, you are significantly reducing the room for negotiation.

@ArchAngel72, you know you missed an ejection there when you allowed him to come down like that. Just cut him off. Come to the edge of the dirt circle and hold up your hand and say, "Coach, please return to the coach's box or the dugout. The runner is out and we are not discussing this." If he does not return to the box or dugout, "Coach, if you continue, you will be ejected." And again, followed by an ejection if he doesn't return to the box or the dugout. When it's a rule interpretation or an application of the rules, we give them a bit more leash. When it's judgement...no leash. And of course, the key is to remain calm while he has a meltdown...easier said than done.

Please do not pursue a career in the restaurant industry. We need umpires and you're a good one.

~Dawg