Newbie here

Sure. Fire away. You may get answers from some guys who don't ump but have good game knowledge. I might suggest to you to go onto the umpire empire web site to ask questions. They have a newbie section that may fit your bill.

I've been watching tons of instructional videos on how to do this and that. One of the things that struck me as odd was the balls and strikes and the mechanics. Some coaches say to slow it down. Other have them make the signs immediately. What is the better way to go?

Btw, thanks for the heads up about the other forum. Can't wait to dive into all that reading.

 

You can't call anything until you know what it is. Calling pitches means tracking the ball with your eyes from the time it leaves the pitcher's hand until the catcher catches it. Then make your mental decision. Then make your call.

Welcome to the site.  I'll be the guy Forest warned you about  As a coach, I appreciate an ump who takes a second to make sure but nothing is more irritating than an ump who uses a protracted delay on every pitch (2-3 seconds) before signaling.  If we are sending in pitch calls, we have to wait that much longer to get the process going based on the call.  I felt that way as a player and I feel that way as a fan as well.  It makes the game feel like it is getting dragged out.  It also comes off as an attention grab.

I've umped 3 games so far in my life. All of them being my son's games(age 9) I never delayed unless it was a borderline call that I had to really think about. Kids are wicked wild at this age. Lots of fun to watch though.

I found it best to look at some senior umps and their style / mechanics.  Then pick what you like of each and implement them.  The best advise I heard was from my main assignor... a good ump is never noticed on the field.  If after the game, the coaches can not remember your name, you did your job.   The guys that make it a show and have an authority complex often invite trouble.    And you are right, the young kids are wild.. the best you can do is be consistent.  Maybe a little high and a little wider than the book rule, but as long as you are consistent the kids adjust.

Trevor - If you are serious about calling games look for the local association and find out if they do any instruction.  If it is a good association they do continuing training for their guys especially the new guys coming in. 

 

I was amazed to discover how intricate calling a baseball game really is - especially if you have to do it with another umpire.  Guys that are good at it make it look much easier than it really is. 

I'm going to facepalm a bit here...

 

Doing your job as an umpire means that sometimes you do get noticed. If you never get noticed, that means that you aren't managing your games properly and are hiding when things need to get done. When things happen, you need to be able to assert your authority.

 

Also, coaches should know your name. It's a sign of respect. Nothing impersonalizes an umpire more than being called "Ump" or "Blue."

Im with cabbage on this.  I appreciate an ump who takes a quick second to ensure he has made the proper call but I can't stand the ump who takes forever.  

 

Also, a little on mechanics for you, please make sure you have a very pronounced way of making sure I know you've called a strike vs a ball.  Its really difficult to keep track of balls and strikes when coaching, or keeping the book, with the umps who pull out their counter after every call and use the same arm motion as a strike when they pull the counter out and bring it up to their face to make sure they are clicking the proper button.  We can't always hear you in the dugout and sometimes have to rely on your motions to know what you called.  Hard to explain but hopefully you understand what I am saying here.  

And that's why you want to "delay" on even the obvious calls.  Then, when you need to take an extra .1sec to replay the borderline pitch, it's less obvious what you are doing.

 

Baseball is a game of rhythms, and the umpire needs to have a consistent rhythm, too.

Thanks for all the replies. Appreciate it.

Trevor,

 

Congrats on have the guts to put on a mask and get behind the dish.  Matt is right on the money.  If you track the pitch with your eyes all the way to the glove, your timing will be correct and consistent on every pitch.  If you are still watching the ball when you hear the pop, your timing will be just right.  When making calls on the bases (or at the plate) give yourself a chance to see the play, then replay it in your mind, then call it.  That timing will give everyone a chance to see the play and then find you to see you make the call.  If you are making the call at that moment, it's perfect.  If you have already made the call before their eyes find you, it's too fast.  Lastly, always give the player time to drop the ball or pull their foot before you make the call.

 

The proper mechanic is to keep the indicator in the left hand - for that exact reason, I assume.

timing timing timing.....

 

this is an acquired skill.....too fast, will bite you....too slow, might be annoying to some, but rarely bites back......find that medium that ensures you see the whole play or pitch then use a good crisp signal.....

 

I cringe when I see umpires with sloppy signals...it cost nothing to do it right......plus the fact a good crisp signal with an authoritative call reduces confusion and grief......

 

I'll echo Matt here on the "best umpire is the one you don't notice" issue.......I don't go into any game wanting to be "noticed", but I sure as heck cant disappear....Ive got 300 ball strike calls to make, plus fair/foul/safe and out, all of which will have someone disagree with.....  

 

Don't mistake this for accepting a showboating clown as the example I'm talking about but I need a partner who can make the tough call at the tough time and live with it....if they are worried about being noticed, then they aren't doing the job correctly. If you call a good square game, you don't worry about "being noticed".....