As the season gets closer and closer, I have been racking my brain trying to think of ways to really help the youth umpire. To anybody that is or knows a youth umpire...if I were to post some video's on positioning and situations, would you find that useful?
Let me know.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
The Best Way I Know to Say Goodbye
This past week a coach/tournament director and all around good guy passed away. Rick Cox and I had lost touch over the last 6 or 7 years but we go way back. When I was 16 or 17, I had my first experience umpiring him. I can tell you that we didn't get along. I had rabbit ears and he wanted every call to go his way. Over the years, we battled each other over and over but we also built quiet a bit of respect for one another.
When I was 19, I took over the umpires at our local association. Later that year, Rick got signed up with Super Series Program and started running some small local tournaments. At the end of the year, he ran a huge week long tournament at my complex. He was told by the main people at Super Series that he shouldn't use a 19 year old to run him umpires for this tournament but he decided that he would stick with me. That always meant a lot to me.
The week was a hectic week and the weather was awful. We had two full days rained out but Rick and I figured out how to get almost all of the games in. We actually played the championship of the 14 year old boys at 3:30 in the morning. It was a blast.
After that week was over, Rick and I continued to work together in tournaments and argue with each other on the field. It was a great couple years.
After a few years, Rick backed away from the game (I have now found out it was due to health issues) and we lost touch. But I have never lost the respect for the man that really cared a lot of youth baseball in the St. Louis area. He was a very intense man, but he was also a very knowledgeable baseball coach and tournament director.
I have learned that the last few years of his life were not very pleasant. At least now, Rick is finally at peace and hopefully, kicking it with Babe Ruth and the rest of the greats.
Rick you will be missed and you will never be forgotten. Rest in Peace!!!!
When I was 19, I took over the umpires at our local association. Later that year, Rick got signed up with Super Series Program and started running some small local tournaments. At the end of the year, he ran a huge week long tournament at my complex. He was told by the main people at Super Series that he shouldn't use a 19 year old to run him umpires for this tournament but he decided that he would stick with me. That always meant a lot to me.
The week was a hectic week and the weather was awful. We had two full days rained out but Rick and I figured out how to get almost all of the games in. We actually played the championship of the 14 year old boys at 3:30 in the morning. It was a blast.
After that week was over, Rick and I continued to work together in tournaments and argue with each other on the field. It was a great couple years.
After a few years, Rick backed away from the game (I have now found out it was due to health issues) and we lost touch. But I have never lost the respect for the man that really cared a lot of youth baseball in the St. Louis area. He was a very intense man, but he was also a very knowledgeable baseball coach and tournament director.
I have learned that the last few years of his life were not very pleasant. At least now, Rick is finally at peace and hopefully, kicking it with Babe Ruth and the rest of the greats.
Rick you will be missed and you will never be forgotten. Rest in Peace!!!!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
It's Almost Time Baby!!!
You know, I hate the winter. The snow, the cold and this winter...THE ICE but there is one thing that helps me get through the winter, and that's knowing that baseball is right around the corner. Next week, my associations young umpires will report to our annual training sessions. This is the mark of the beginning of the end of this harsh cold. This is the light at the end of the tunnel. Baseball is coming, and it's coming soon.
This summer will mark the 21st summer I have been an umpire. A lot has changed since I was a scared little 12 year old strapping on the gear for the first time but, in many ways, many things have stayed exactly the same.
In my 21 years, I have worked just about every level of baseball you can work. I have done little league, high school, college and this past summer, I worked my first pro games in the Frontier League. I am not a perfect umpire. If I was, I would be able to make a living out of it. But I am a good umpire who works as hard as he possibly can to call a fair game.
Over the next few weeks, I am going to post my tips to the young umpire. I have posted them before but I believe that these are all extrememly important so I am going to do it again. I am also hoping to be able to put some video up this year so I can better explain positioning and situations. For those of you that read my blog...thank you, I am honored that you take the time to read it and please spread the word.
Ok, I think that about covers it for today. Until next time, remember that ties are outs and the black is NOT part of the plate......PLAY BALL!!!!!
This summer will mark the 21st summer I have been an umpire. A lot has changed since I was a scared little 12 year old strapping on the gear for the first time but, in many ways, many things have stayed exactly the same.
In my 21 years, I have worked just about every level of baseball you can work. I have done little league, high school, college and this past summer, I worked my first pro games in the Frontier League. I am not a perfect umpire. If I was, I would be able to make a living out of it. But I am a good umpire who works as hard as he possibly can to call a fair game.
Over the next few weeks, I am going to post my tips to the young umpire. I have posted them before but I believe that these are all extrememly important so I am going to do it again. I am also hoping to be able to put some video up this year so I can better explain positioning and situations. For those of you that read my blog...thank you, I am honored that you take the time to read it and please spread the word.
Ok, I think that about covers it for today. Until next time, remember that ties are outs and the black is NOT part of the plate......PLAY BALL!!!!!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Is this a Balk?
I know that the angle isn't great but let's see what you guys think. Is this a Balk?
Monday, November 29, 2010
RIP Mr. Nielsen!!!!
On the first day of Umpire School, we watched this video. Leslie Nielsen was one of the funniest men I have ever seen!!! He will be missed. Rest in Peace!!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
A moment to say Thank You
Growing up in the western suburbs of St. Louis, MO, I was not exposed to the military too much. Sure, every once and a while, someone from the neighborhood would have a family member for joined the Army, Navy or Air Force. Outside of that and movies, I really did not understand what that meant. I know my parents tried to teach me but being the stubborn kid I was, I didn't pay any attention.
On September 11th, I got my first taste of why these people need to be saluted more than once a year. As I sat in the living room of my apartment watching the horrors unfold in PA, NY and Washington DC, I finally understood how fortunante I had been to enjoy the freedom that this country provides. I'm sure that there had been other moments where I had seen just how great this country is but it really wasn't until that moment, that I truely respected it. I'm not proud of that, I was just a dumb kid with too much time on his hands.
When I met my wife, I knew I was marrying into a military family. Her father has been involved with the Air Force in one aspect of another since the age of 18. I respect the hell out of him. Since starting my relationship with my wife and getting closer to her family, I have really learn to understand the sacrefice and committment it takes from entire families to be in the military.
On this Veteran's Day, I wanted to take a break from posting about baseball and umpiring to say thank you to all the men and women in the United States Military. I also wanted to say thank you their families for the sacrifice they make. I am proud to be an American and I get to say that because of all the men and women who serve this great nation. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for all that you do to protect the freedoms that we sometimes take for granted. We could never repay you for the committment and sacrifice you give but we should always try. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!!!
God Bless America!!!
On September 11th, I got my first taste of why these people need to be saluted more than once a year. As I sat in the living room of my apartment watching the horrors unfold in PA, NY and Washington DC, I finally understood how fortunante I had been to enjoy the freedom that this country provides. I'm sure that there had been other moments where I had seen just how great this country is but it really wasn't until that moment, that I truely respected it. I'm not proud of that, I was just a dumb kid with too much time on his hands.
When I met my wife, I knew I was marrying into a military family. Her father has been involved with the Air Force in one aspect of another since the age of 18. I respect the hell out of him. Since starting my relationship with my wife and getting closer to her family, I have really learn to understand the sacrefice and committment it takes from entire families to be in the military.
On this Veteran's Day, I wanted to take a break from posting about baseball and umpiring to say thank you to all the men and women in the United States Military. I also wanted to say thank you their families for the sacrifice they make. I am proud to be an American and I get to say that because of all the men and women who serve this great nation. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for all that you do to protect the freedoms that we sometimes take for granted. We could never repay you for the committment and sacrifice you give but we should always try. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!!!
God Bless America!!!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Are you sure you want me to call every balk?
As youth umpires, we have all been there. Stuck doing a game where the skill level isn't very good. Sure, it's still better than sitting at a desk but there are times it isn't very fun. Now, I take every game I do very seriously. I try to be the best umpire I can be every single time I step on the field. But, let's be honest, we all let certain things go in these games. We might expand the strike off the plate a little bit. We might give the fielder the benefit of the doubt on some bang bang calls and we might not call every single balk we see.
Two summers ago, I was doing a Boys 13 game and it was not a very good game. Both teams were very weak and not very skilled. I was in the field and in the top of the first, the pitcher stepped on the rubber, took the ball out of his glove and then looked in to take the sign. The visiting team coach started screaming for a balk. I ignored him and thought it was over. Well after the inning, he pulls me aside and asks me why I didn't call it. I was completely honest and told him that if I called every balk I saw, it was going to be a long game. I have used that line before and it worked fine but not today. He demanded that I call every balk. I asked him if he was sure and he told me that he was.
Well, the first pitch his pitcher threw, he was about two feet off the rubber when he threw the ball. So, I called an illegel pitch. Now, I can't lie, I was looking for something but the pitcher did make it easy for me. The coach went absolietely nuts. He asked me why I would call that. I told him that he asked me too. He didn't llike that and went off and was ejoected about ten seconds later.
To prove my point, I told him he could go down the first baseline and watch the game. In that game, I called 45 balks and let about 20 go. And I called them on both teams (The home team manager wanted them all called to but wasn't quite as big of a jerk about it)
After the game, the coach I ejected walked up and told me he was sorry. I told him it was forgotten but I only did what he asked me to do. He said that he knew and maybe he needed to work with his pitchers a little bit.
Long story short....coaches when you ask for something, be prepared to get it. Umpires do not like to be showed up at any level. And for you coaches who are coaching teams who really aren't that good, it might be a good idea to spend some more time coaching instead of insulting the umpires.
The season is over but that doesn't mean that I'm flying south for the winter. I will continue to add stories, tips and rules questions as I think of them.
Here is the trivia question for the day:
Pitcher steps on the rubber. As he is coming set, he drops the ball which hits his foot and rolls past the third baseline into foul territroy. Whats the call?
Two summers ago, I was doing a Boys 13 game and it was not a very good game. Both teams were very weak and not very skilled. I was in the field and in the top of the first, the pitcher stepped on the rubber, took the ball out of his glove and then looked in to take the sign. The visiting team coach started screaming for a balk. I ignored him and thought it was over. Well after the inning, he pulls me aside and asks me why I didn't call it. I was completely honest and told him that if I called every balk I saw, it was going to be a long game. I have used that line before and it worked fine but not today. He demanded that I call every balk. I asked him if he was sure and he told me that he was.
Well, the first pitch his pitcher threw, he was about two feet off the rubber when he threw the ball. So, I called an illegel pitch. Now, I can't lie, I was looking for something but the pitcher did make it easy for me. The coach went absolietely nuts. He asked me why I would call that. I told him that he asked me too. He didn't llike that and went off and was ejoected about ten seconds later.
To prove my point, I told him he could go down the first baseline and watch the game. In that game, I called 45 balks and let about 20 go. And I called them on both teams (The home team manager wanted them all called to but wasn't quite as big of a jerk about it)
After the game, the coach I ejected walked up and told me he was sorry. I told him it was forgotten but I only did what he asked me to do. He said that he knew and maybe he needed to work with his pitchers a little bit.
Long story short....coaches when you ask for something, be prepared to get it. Umpires do not like to be showed up at any level. And for you coaches who are coaching teams who really aren't that good, it might be a good idea to spend some more time coaching instead of insulting the umpires.
The season is over but that doesn't mean that I'm flying south for the winter. I will continue to add stories, tips and rules questions as I think of them.
Here is the trivia question for the day:
Pitcher steps on the rubber. As he is coming set, he drops the ball which hits his foot and rolls past the third baseline into foul territroy. Whats the call?
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