I'm going to go ahead and move this discussion to a separate thread:
If we are serious about this, then I would definitely consider being home plate umpire next Sunday. But, only if there are others who will confirm their willingness to follow suit in the future. I don't want to give up a whole game if it's going to be the only time we have it.
So, who else would also consider doing it? I'll volunteer if we can get, say, three or more others to put into a rotation.
With better umpiring we'll all enjoy the live games more, and maybe we could play more of them. I think we all aspire to play full-on rules, don't we?
Live game umpiring
Live game umpiring
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I'd be into umpiring a game, definitely. I know Nick W. is into doing it as well.
Let's really do it though and have the adequate umpiring system. Why go halfway? That would be unfulfilling to have more consistent calls on balls and strikes, but not see any improvement at all on safe/out calls on the basepaths. It would be great (and a time saver) to have that field up right there, making an instant call on a play at 3rd, 2nd, or 1st.
So let's definitely think of this experiment from the 2 ump system viewpoint.
Let's really do it though and have the adequate umpiring system. Why go halfway? That would be unfulfilling to have more consistent calls on balls and strikes, but not see any improvement at all on safe/out calls on the basepaths. It would be great (and a time saver) to have that field up right there, making an instant call on a play at 3rd, 2nd, or 1st.
So let's definitely think of this experiment from the 2 ump system viewpoint.
"Baseball is like church, many attend, few understand"
- Leo Durocher
- Leo Durocher
I think the field umpire is going to be really quite bored a lot of the time, unless the umpires switch off after each inning. That does somewhat reduce consistency, though. We'd have consistency intra-inning, but not inter-inning, see?
Plus, I think it puts too great a strain on the pool of people we have who will be willing to umpire. So far we only have three: You, Nick and myself.
Hey, how about this: the field umpire can be drawn from the batting team, the last guy to make out from their previous inning. That way very close calls will most likely go to the runner, as they should anyway.
Having the same guy at home plate all throughout the game is what we want for the most consistent calls. This seems like a good comporomise to me.
Plus, I think it puts too great a strain on the pool of people we have who will be willing to umpire. So far we only have three: You, Nick and myself.
Hey, how about this: the field umpire can be drawn from the batting team, the last guy to make out from their previous inning. That way very close calls will most likely go to the runner, as they should anyway.
Having the same guy at home plate all throughout the game is what we want for the most consistent calls. This seems like a good comporomise to me.
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We don't need to consider compromising yet... the idea has only been online for a few hours. Let's see if others would be willing to umpire for a game at some point.
From my years of experience I can tell you that there is plenty for the field umpire to do at all times. This is why I'm envisioning a tutorial for those willing to ump. The field ump has to above all, be in position! This is why you need to know where to position yourself depending on whether there are runners on base or not. The field ump has to watch the pitcher for balks, and has to be in communication with the plate ump regarding whether or not it's an infield fly situation.
It's all very easy to do. But, yes, my point is that there will be plenty of things for the field ump to do, to stay busy. Actually, that's one of the most things about umpiring, is being the field ump and reading where a ball is hit, then knowing where to position yourself to make the relevant call.
This way, the home plate ump can focus solely on ball/strike and fair/foul, the calls he has the best vantage point to make.
From my years of experience I can tell you that there is plenty for the field umpire to do at all times. This is why I'm envisioning a tutorial for those willing to ump. The field ump has to above all, be in position! This is why you need to know where to position yourself depending on whether there are runners on base or not. The field ump has to watch the pitcher for balks, and has to be in communication with the plate ump regarding whether or not it's an infield fly situation.
It's all very easy to do. But, yes, my point is that there will be plenty of things for the field ump to do, to stay busy. Actually, that's one of the most things about umpiring, is being the field ump and reading where a ball is hit, then knowing where to position yourself to make the relevant call.
This way, the home plate ump can focus solely on ball/strike and fair/foul, the calls he has the best vantage point to make.
"Baseball is like church, many attend, few understand"
- Leo Durocher
- Leo Durocher
you can throw my name into the hat for the umpire rotation.
oh, and I agree with both Paul and Scott, I agree that there should be a field ump, but I'm worried that it will be a bit of a strain for those of us who are willing and able to umpire.
We need to have at least 6 guys willing (and able) to fulfil the duties... Of course, the more the merrier, but 6 should be enough to get it done, and I do think we should be able to get at least 6 umps for the rotation.
oh, and I agree with both Paul and Scott, I agree that there should be a field ump, but I'm worried that it will be a bit of a strain for those of us who are willing and able to umpire.
We need to have at least 6 guys willing (and able) to fulfil the duties... Of course, the more the merrier, but 6 should be enough to get it done, and I do think we should be able to get at least 6 umps for the rotation.
OK, so I didn't want to do it yesterday, but to be fair I never promised to. For the next live game though, I will definitely be home plate ump if that is agreeable. I will make sure to go to the gym or something on Saturday, so I won't feel like I'm missing out on my only exercise for the week! (This was a big reason why I didn't do it yesterday)
As Nick and Scott were saying, if we had the same guy at home plate all game, we could expand the strike zone a little, which would arguably make for a better game.
If someone wants to volunteer to be field ump, that would be great.
As Nick and Scott were saying, if we had the same guy at home plate all game, we could expand the strike zone a little, which would arguably make for a better game.
If someone wants to volunteer to be field ump, that would be great.
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So let's hear some umpire nominations.
Who umped for an inning in some game you were at and did a good job? Who should I ask to put their name in the ump pool?
We've seen tons of people umpire at this point. There's the people in this thread who have put their names in the pool, but also: Will, Ahmer, Rich, Tai, Daniel, Chris, Shaun, Dave L, Brian C, plus others.
Oh, and let's not go off about how someone sucks. Just let me who you thought was the best (accuracy, form).
Who umped for an inning in some game you were at and did a good job? Who should I ask to put their name in the ump pool?
We've seen tons of people umpire at this point. There's the people in this thread who have put their names in the pool, but also: Will, Ahmer, Rich, Tai, Daniel, Chris, Shaun, Dave L, Brian C, plus others.
Oh, and let's not go off about how someone sucks. Just let me who you thought was the best (accuracy, form).
"Baseball is like church, many attend, few understand"
- Leo Durocher
- Leo Durocher
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Baseball=Life
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Too bad, Scott, we always benefit from your rules knowledge. I just took a 15 question rules quiz on that website you posted, and did not do well! I think I got 8 right. I will work on my rules knowledge when I can, but for the immediate future I have to be limited to home plate ump only, and focus on ball/strike, fair/foul calls. That seemed like the plan anyway, though.
Regarding others, so far I have been most impressed by Will, he is vocal, and very confident in his calls. I try to be the same way.
Regarding others, so far I have been most impressed by Will, he is vocal, and very confident in his calls. I try to be the same way.
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Not to be a total party pooper but I think umpiring an entire game is a *huge* sacrifice. It would be torture! To have to watch an entire game without playing?? There's not much fun in umpiring that I can see. Sure, having a single, dedicated umpire would be optimal. But man, we're all there to *play*! Not to watch.
I say we encourage anyone who happens to be on the DL to do it if possible. Or even chip in and pay a kid. But I'd prefer inconsistent calls to not playing... Anyone feel the same?
But sacrifices that I'd feel it's our duty to share in are things like setting up and tearing down the bases, field maintenance, buying new balls, stuff like that.
I say we encourage anyone who happens to be on the DL to do it if possible. Or even chip in and pay a kid. But I'd prefer inconsistent calls to not playing... Anyone feel the same?
But sacrifices that I'd feel it's our duty to share in are things like setting up and tearing down the bases, field maintenance, buying new balls, stuff like that.
Baseball is 90% mental, the other half is physical --Yogi Berra
Hey, sometimes you have to take one for the team. And for the love of the game. But you're right, it is going to be really tough missing a whole game, which is why I only committed to doing it on the condition that there were at least two others who would follow suit. Scott and Nick, and I think Ken too, said they would. So I will miss at most one live game out of three.
I will be taking the opputunity to use a slightly expanded strike zone, and hopefully it will be a more enjoyable game because of the faster pace that will result. Fewer walks, more strikeouts.
Good point about the other ways in which we can contribute.
I will be taking the opputunity to use a slightly expanded strike zone, and hopefully it will be a more enjoyable game because of the faster pace that will result. Fewer walks, more strikeouts.
Good point about the other ways in which we can contribute.
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Dave, no doubt it's fun to play, but I think you might be underestimating how fun umpiring is. When you are in there for an entire game, and can therefore establish a pace, a groove, a comfort zone, etc., it's really a lot of fun to run the game.
And then of course there's Paul's point, which I'll alter and expand upon: if we have 6 willing to umpire (Ken, Paul, Scott, Nick, X, X), then that means only having to miss one live game out of three. So if we played 1 live game a month (12/year), you'd only miss out on playing a game four times a year. (While Paul's considering a one-ump system, I'm talking about the two-ump system.) So with the 3 crews (6 umps), you'd still be playing in 75% of the live games (8/12).
Further, you'd only be making roughly half the calls, ie either you'd be the home plate ump or the field ump.
And if we could get 8 people who would ump, then you'd only be umping three games, thus playing 9/12.
If we had 12 people, you'd only have to ump twice in a year, thus playing in 10/12.
And then of course there's Paul's point, which I'll alter and expand upon: if we have 6 willing to umpire (Ken, Paul, Scott, Nick, X, X), then that means only having to miss one live game out of three. So if we played 1 live game a month (12/year), you'd only miss out on playing a game four times a year. (While Paul's considering a one-ump system, I'm talking about the two-ump system.) So with the 3 crews (6 umps), you'd still be playing in 75% of the live games (8/12).
Further, you'd only be making roughly half the calls, ie either you'd be the home plate ump or the field ump.
And if we could get 8 people who would ump, then you'd only be umping three games, thus playing 9/12.
If we had 12 people, you'd only have to ump twice in a year, thus playing in 10/12.
"Baseball is like church, many attend, few understand"
- Leo Durocher
- Leo Durocher