I've umpired before. It's a tough gig. I think you definitely have the right frame of mind when you say you aren't doing it for the money. That was my downfall. I was looking for ways to make money and imo, that's one of the best part-time jobs you can get. The pay is good and it's usually in cash. I remember as part of training they bring you to a room and there are a bunch of other umpires in there and they talk about what it's like. Every one of them said that they weren't doing it for the money. I'm sitting there thinking these mfers are crazy, that's the only reason I'm here. But when it was all said and done, I could see that they were right. If you do it strictly for the money, you probably won't last long. You definitely have to put up with a lot of shit. Good luck on your journey man. Hope it works out well for you.
I umpired youth baseball for a few years about 20 years ago, give or take. I was great on the basepaths, saw everything, had that eye.
I sucked behind the plate, I could see the corners and the high zone fine, I absolutely had no idea what was going on in the low zone. When I tried to compensate to get a better read, I lost the corners and the high zone.
So I didn't work the plate much
I also had no problem admitting if a I didn't see something. I remember an AAU coach screaming at me because he said the batter missed first base. I was watching a diving play on the ball hit into the deep gap. I told the coach I can't call the batter out, I didn't see him miss first base. The coached laughed and went back into the dugout
I sucked behind the plate, I could see the corners and the high zone fine, I absolutely had no idea what was going on in the low zone. When I tried to compensate to get a better read, I lost the corners and the high zone.
So I didn't work the plate much
I also had no problem admitting if a I didn't see something. I remember an AAU coach screaming at me because he said the batter missed first base. I was watching a diving play on the ball hit into the deep gap. I told the coach I can't call the batter out, I didn't see him miss first base. The coached laughed and went back into the dugout
I umpired for a few years when I was in high school.
i don’t miss those days behind the plate when it was hot as hell outside.
as I mentioned above, i was a soccer referee as well. When I watch my kids play soccer, I try to stay silent to the refs when they blow calls (I only speak up when I fear a kid’s safety). However today a ref blew an offsides call on my son and daddy knight wasn’t happy!!
i don’t miss those days behind the plate when it was hot as hell outside.
as I mentioned above, i was a soccer referee as well. When I watch my kids play soccer, I try to stay silent to the refs when they blow calls (I only speak up when I fear a kid’s safety). However today a ref blew an offsides call on my son and daddy knight wasn’t happy!!
I remember umpiring slo-pitch a few years back where you had to hit the board for a strike. (Pitch 6-12 feet height) Anyhow it just finished raining so the board was a little dirty at times. The pitch comes in, loud thud when it hits the board, I call strike and the batter goes nuts claiming it did not hit the board!?!?!! I looked at him incredulously, and he continued arguing! I pointed to the circle on the board where the ball had landed, and mentioned the loud thud! He continued and I pulled a McEnroe "You cannot be serious!" and tossed him!! My first and only ejection in two years of umpiring. I couldn't handle such stupidity!!
Today I reffed a game that was coached by an NBA world champion. What a thrill.
I'm sitting in my ref chair on my phone and one of the other refs mumbles something about ESPN and Kendrick Perkins. The guy rambled a lot so I just ignored him. I'm reffing the next game, and 30 mins later I realize it is Kendrick coaching. He now lives in the Houston area and coaches select teams. He didnt say a word to the refs, and was nice enough to complement us after the game (of course his team kicked ass). I got my picture taken with him. And being a huge Celtic fan, was a thrill. Very nice guy. He's put on quite a few pounds since his NBA days.
I'm sitting in my ref chair on my phone and one of the other refs mumbles something about ESPN and Kendrick Perkins. The guy rambled a lot so I just ignored him. I'm reffing the next game, and 30 mins later I realize it is Kendrick coaching. He now lives in the Houston area and coaches select teams. He didnt say a word to the refs, and was nice enough to complement us after the game (of course his team kicked ass). I got my picture taken with him. And being a huge Celtic fan, was a thrill. Very nice guy. He's put on quite a few pounds since his NBA days.
