Words of Wisdom
or
The Best Thing I Was Ever Told Was ....

compiled by Brent McLaren

Don't Make It Hard!

Ironically, both pieces of advice came in the same year - my 13th as a high school and college umpire. Number one came from an umpire - "Every pitch is a strike until it convinces you it's a ball" Number two came from a coach - "This is a simple game - don't make it hard." Both these came at a time when I was questioning whether to continue my chosen avocation. Since then I have had a ton of fun!!! Bob Glaza from Veradale, Washington

The Game Is Yours

Mike Landsman of White Plains, New York writes on "Presence": When you walk on to the field that game is yours. You are in control of the tempo and mood of that game. Keep things moving! You will have a nightmare of a day if you let things drag on. More errors, more arguments for no reason. Keep things fresh and moving and the play of the game will be much sharper making for a better game and more enjoyable day!

The Catcher Is Your Best Friend

The catcher controls the defense, so if you control the catcher ... get the point. I start from moment one to talk to the catcher. I explain what I like to see, no fishing around with the glove (first marginal one in that is held rock solid gets called strike!), find out what the pitcher has for pitches, let them know I work slow and that he can expect to hear me say "ball." I tell him I will go up the line for assistance if he even thinks of asking and at the first sign of problems I use him as a messenger. Do you have a pitcher almost balking? Tell the catcher about it and let him talk to his buddy on the mound. Don't like the language in the dugout, tell the catcher between innings or send the catcher over to talk to the coach as a first line of defense. Pitcher loosing it, boiling over? Tell the catcher you are calling time so the two can talk for a few moments and things can settle down. Now to figure out the offense .... (BDM)

Don't Look For Praise

Andy McDermott from Rochester, NY comments: I think one of the best pieces of advice I was given came from one of Joe Brinkman's instructors, Jeff Nelson. He talked about the "craving" umpires have to be recognized as being good officials and warned that praise from a coach or a player is like a drug that you have to resist, because once you start looking for it, you need it and it owns you. Coaches and players will even go as far as to attempt to divide you from your partner with statements like, "you're really good, but your partner.......". Don't look for praise from anyone else. You know in your heart if you've done a good job or not. Trust that.

If You Have To Talk To A Coach Pull Your Lineup Card

Several times during major tournaments I have had to deal with picky points, usually one coach complaining about this or that. Minor points but justified and correct. When you have to make one of those walks, pull the lineup card out of your pocket and glance at it as you walk over. The pressure is off. The crowd does not get on anyone's back, it looks like a lineup check. The coach knows you are not trying to upstage him and you do not come across looking like and feeling like an errand boy. (BDM)

Call Strikes

My supervisor gave the best advice ever. It was, "ALL coaches love umpires that call strikes. Have as big a strike zone as you can. This means calling the outside and inside very well. Neal from Winchester, VA

Arrive Early!

Randy Parker of Auburn, CA comments: Get to the park AT LEAST 30 minutes prior to game time. Better yet, if possible, get there one hour before game time. This allows you time to walk the field, check equipment, have a thorough pregame conference with your partner, stretch, dress, and mentally prepare for the game. There is nothing worse than getting to the game 5 minutes before start time - rushing onto the field - and then having a whacker at first base for your first call. At the same time, there is no better feeling than to walk onto the field knowing you are prepared for a great game!

Make The Call!

Matt Hordyk of Circle Pines, MN comments: In one of Ron Luciano's books, "The Umpire Strikes Back," he states that on every play, make a call, right or wrong. I have adhered to that statement throughout my career and it does wonders for establishing rapport with coaches, because now they don't have a legitimate reason to ask you anything (and possibly ride you if you don't answer the question to their liking): "Hey, blue, what was it? Safe or out? Whaddya mean..." In addition, the vast majority of the time, you make the right call anyway.

Come To A Full Stop

Wil Simpson of Washingtonville,N.Y.comments: "When I started to umpire, I was taught by my instructor to come to a full stop after running towards a play and then, make the call! The call definitely will be projected with total command and will help to reduce any possible questions regarding the call."

Bye Bye :-)

Ryan Lloyd of North Bay, Ontario adds this point of humor, "Pull the hook on any coach who refers to you as umpy!"

Wear Long Underwear or Compression Tights

Not your woolly type but the light cotton professional undergarments that are available from many suppliers. After one season of having every buckle on my leg guards leave uncomfortable impressions deep into my skin an experienced ump introduced me to +POS-tec-ALLs. I bought a pair that included the protective cup pouch and would never go back. They increase my comfort behind the plate and because they wick sweat away from the skin I actually feel cooler on the hottest days. If you are on plate this is the only way to go. (BDM)

Keeping You Under Your Hat

Wil Roach from bslnet.com wrote: A regular base hat will fit under the newer mask. Yes, don't put your hat on backwards, that's bush!!! When wearing a base hat with brim forward, to pull the mask off, hold the bottom of the mask and pull outward and up and the mask will come off with pulling the too. Practice this tech and you'll look better on the field with a regular base hat than a combo hat or plate hat. Yes I have two regular base hats one for base and one for plate. I buy a new one every year and last year's hat is my plate and my new one is my base hat.

Flyball Coverage

Andy Rieman from Jackson, MI adds, "I was working second base in a four man crew for the final game of a local tournament. The third base umpire was a former AAA crew cheif, and he watched me run my tush off trying to cover a flyball down the right field line that the first base ump didn't move to watch. After I blew that coverage, he gave me this piece of advice: When covering flyballs, make the decision to take the play or not based on the reaction of the key outfielder. For example, in the situation mentioned above, I should've looked at the right fielder. If he had turned toward me, the call would've been mine; since he didn't, the first base ump takes the play. The only thing that changes about this play is the key outfielder, depending on the crew size and the game situation."

Looking One's Best

Umpires need to be in control, look their best, and be prepared at all times. An umpire needs an extra pencil, note pad, a coin to flip, sunblock, lip protection, a stop watch etc. An umpire with heart problems needs his heart medication, an umpire with asthma needs his inhaler, and umpire with an open wound needs to carry band aids to help protect himself from a bloody object that might carry the aids virus. What about his car keys, wallet, change? The best advice and words of wisdom I can give to help an umpire keep organized is to check out my home page at http://www.ump-attire.com and learn about the most popular ball bag on the market today. Beulah Hester from Stanford, KY

Maintain Control

Luke White of Bloomington Minnesota notes: "Listen up! I'm the umpire and I'll make the calls around here!" Never let the fans take control of the game.

Tie Rarely Goes To The Runner

Gerry Bradley from Lake Mary, FL breaks the old myth by noting, "If the play is clean and as you are looking to first base for the throw the nature of Physics now come into play. If the sound of the ball hitting the glove registers at the same time you see the runner hit first the runner is out.

Sound travels alot slower than light so if you hear and see something at the same time than the sound had to begin before the visual. Sound confusing?...but it works. Oh, by the way, sell the call !!!!"

Work With One Partner

Michael Proszkow, Troy, MI comments: "I've worked high school and younger players leagues for about 6 years now, and the best advice I can give is to work with your partner. During those 6 years, I've had the same partner. We've burned our signals in to our heads, and cover the field without thinking twice about it."

Never Stop Learning

Charles F. Traber out of Pennsylvania notes: "The best thing I was ever told was, "Never stop learning". Since I became an amateur sports official (baseball, basketball and football), I hav kept that piece of advice in mind. One can never know enough. There are several umpires who have been umpiring for decades and still enforce rules that have changed or have become non-existent. Some of the umpires I am affiliated with take rulebooks and throw them away the day they receive them. I, on the other hand have kept every source of rule, umpire and sports officiating I have accumilated. The greatest feeling in baseball umpiring, is calling a play that no one else but you (and hopefully your partner) know the correct ruling. And, by the way, the rulebook makes great potty reading! "

An Important Job

Brian Marchand of Woodbridge, VA wrote, "After graduating from the Joe Brinkman Umpire School but not making the cut, I had the opportunity to talk to American League umpire Durwood Merrill. During the discussion he said, "You and I are in the same profession, except you work with kids and I work with adults. But your job is alot more important." It put things in perspective and I have never regreted staying with youth baseball."

A Sweet Spot For The Crew Chief

"I recently attended the Sun Belt Umpire's Camp in South Carolina. I had the pleasure to learn a whole lot of great stuff from American League Umpires Eddie Hickox and Rich Garcia. One interesting item I learned was the protocol of having a ball autographed by a professional umpire. As I handed Eddie a nice new AL baseball, he inspected the ball then asked me, "Are you going to have Richie sign this ball?" "Yes," I replied. At that point he handed it back to me and explained to me that I have to let Rich autograph it first so he can take the sweet-spot, or any other place on the ball he wants. "Always get the crew cheif or the senior man's autograph first, then I'll sign it where ever he leaves me a spot write!" was Eddie's words of wisdom. " Richard B. Siegel