I was asked to jump onto a game tonight at Baysox Stadium (Orioles AA Affiliate), working a three man with two umpires I'm very good buddies with. No pay, but no problem. Three man crew at a minor league park was all I needed to hear. The season is over, and I haven't worked in a week. I had an itch that I needed to scratch!
Anyways, I later found that it's a high school futures game. As their website describes, "The Maryland Cup is a 3 game series consisting of 2 teams of 26 players from the state of Maryland selected from the MSABC Junior Classic to represent the state of Maryland." Time to get focused!
My initial post was going to be in regards to getting focused for a game and locking in when you know a LOT of eyes are going to be on you. I've been known to be very....honest....in expressing my emotions before a game (I genuinely feel bad for my Facebook friends, and it's a miracle more haven't removed my connection as their friend as a result!) While this is certainly a post I will make it to in due time, I figured with this being the beginning of the blog, I should share this story now.
One saying that always seems to work it's way into my pregame repertoire is "Let's go put on a _____ clinic."
If you aren't an umpire, you definitely don't know the sentimental meaning behind this. If you are umpire, you only may know the sentimental meaning behind this. So here it goes.
I never knew Officer Grant Turner. But I feel like he is a well-known friend. When I first began umpiring, the first games I ever worked were in the Annapolis Open, a tournament that drew teams as far as Canada (NOTE: Then in it's third year, the seventh annual tournament was held this past March. The tournament continues to expand and grow). The earliest amateur tournament of the year in this area, the tournament is put on in honor of Officer Grant Turner, who at the age of 24, collapsed of an enlarged heart after completing a 5k in honor of a fellow fallen officer. The Turner family formed a scholarship that is presented to high school students throughout Anne Arundel County, and the funds are raised through the 180 team tournament.
I'd like to point out that the Turner family is the warmest, most accepting family one could ever have the pleasure of meeting. They are the definition of genuine and constantly give more than they receive. After meeting the entire Turner family, it's no wonder why everyone speaks so highly of Grant.
An umpire who began around the same age as me, Grant has played just as influential a role in my five years as an umpire as anyone I know. He has introduced me to my Cooperstown Dreams Park Crew, who are like family to me. Grant serves as an inspiration and a reminder...not only because he was a genuine, good-hearted person who lived his life the right way, but because he passed entirely too young, reminding us all that life is too short and can be taken from you before you get a chance to blink or say goodbye.
Grant is with me every single time I walk onto the field; his number, 17, is written on the inside brim of all of my caps. Many guys who knew Grant honor him in some way. Some wear a pin on their caps. Some write "17" in the dirt before the first pitch. Some break the plate conference, when us umpires shake hands before running out, by saying "For Grant." There are plenty of Grant stories worth sharing, and they'll trickle out as I continue writing this blog.
Anyways, around the age of 18 I believe, Grant went up to umpire at Cooperstown Dreams Park. Grant worked a game and, long story short, completely (unknowingly) hung his partner out to dry. When he came back to the bunkhouse, he busted through the door and, on cloud 9, exclaimed, "Man, we just put on a f'ing clinic out there!" Well, low and behold, his partner (who wasn't in the same barrack as Grant) stormed in about 30 seconds later. A fire cracker from down south, he began on a "Where is that ******???....etc....etc...." Everyone got one heck of a laugh out of it, as the pendulum drastically swung from a flawless game to a pissed off partner (in regards to yesterday's post, Grant broke a "top of the funnel" rule that he had never been taught, and definitely learned a lesson because of it!)
And that's part of the legend that is Grant. Grant put on a clinic.
So, to me, "Time to go put on a clinic" isn't cocky. Isn't silly. Isn't stupid. Isn't pointless. It's a tribute to one of the most influential people in my life.
An umpire buddy of mine that I had the pleasure of catching up with the other day had a conversation with me regarding this one-liner. And we basically concluded that, "You know, no matter how much you explain, if you're not an umpire, you're just not going to get it." And that is probably true. Umpiring is my other fraternity, and my other family, and unless you've been a part of that, you just don't get it. Grant is every bit a part of that family, and then some, and we all know that when we walk out on that field, we have a brother of ours at our side.
Some of you won't get it, and most of you will still continually poke fun at me as I spam your Facebook walls, which is fine. I could try for hours to put in to words the meaning that Grant has played in my life, but unless you have some background, you simply won't understand. But, at least now you understand why it's not just a silly saying, but something that reassures and puts me at ease, putting life into perspective and reminding me that our crew will always carry one more than listed on the official scorecard.
To read more about Grant, follow the link below
http://www.mdta.maryland.gov/Police/hero_turner.html
Saddle Up: The Experiences Of An Aspiring Umpire Who Knows Way Too Little, But Seeks To Know Way Too Much
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Improving: For Umpires Young And Old
Recently, I was having a conversation with a non-umpire friend of mine involved in my collegiate fraternity. I used the funnel analogy, quickly realizing I had only ever used this with fellow umpires.
I've come up with the "funnel analogy" in lieu of one of my organization's emphasis on training, peer evaluations, feedback, and everything else of the sort.
When an umpire first begins, the feedback they need is big and broad - the top of the funnel. Umpires providing this feedback need not focus on nit-picky details, because the young-bucks are still learning the basics. In my opinion, the most basic lesson of all is "Preventative Umpiring." Preventative Umpiring is something that I learned very early on, and have carried with me for five years. It simply boils down to not setting yourself up on a tee. First year guys? Are they there early? Are their shoes shined? Pants pressed? Shirts clean and free of stains? All of these are basic lessons that should be learned year one and carried out until an umpire hangs them up. You could take the best umpire in the major leagues, put him on an amateur field with faded heather pants and dusty shoes, and no matter what game he calls, he will be EATEN. ALIVE. Absolute fact. Avoid situations - confrontations, heckling, and ejections - by presenting yourself properly. PREVENT a situation from occurring. The very top of the funnel. Without this, there's no reaching the bottom of the funnel.
To further emphasize the funnel, a rookie is not going to learn that, in a two man system, if the batter runner is pushing a triple, the umpire can kick outside of the foul line and take the play at third from the outside of the bag, like a play at the plate. This is a VERY advanced mechanic, due not only to the athleticism and poise to be ahead of the runner, but the awareness to react, kick outside and THEN adjust to the incoming throw...essentially the equivalent of "rimming" in a three man. Obviously, this is further down the bottom of the funnel.
One of the organizations that I am a part of rates umpires as 1 through 5. 5's are the top of the funnel. 1's are the bottom. 1's are guys that are evaluating and should be teaching. They don't need much in terms of a post-game....they certainly shouldn't be there for 90 minutes being told what they did wrong. The feedback they receive (nobody's perfect!) should be minimal, and very refined...the nitpickiest of nitpickiest details.
Where are you in the funnel? If you're in the middle, what can you do to advance to the bottom? Remember, you're not as good as you think you are. Always ASK! When you get off the field, ask your partner, "Did you have anything for me?" If they say no, you walk away with a smile on your face. If they give you a few things, you should walk away smiling, knowing that a veteran took the time to help improve your game. Win-win. No matter how straight forward or candid this post-game may be, it certainly isn't personal. It's served to make you a better umpire, and frankly, it's the only way you'll get better. And you'll earn the reputation as an umpire eager to learn and improve; a very good reputation to have. Constructive criticism may sting for a short while, but constantly being told to fix something, or not being assigned games that you aspire to work, will hurt a whole lot longer.
If you're at the bottom, are you continuing to do everything that originally allowed you to earn that spot? More importantly, what are YOU doing to help the top of the funnel become the bottom of the funnel? Remember, there's plenty of stuff that you can share with the gentlemen at the top of the funnel....you could probably be there for four hours....but you're only going to confuse them and run them in circles, thus turning them off and frustrating them. Keep the feedback appropriate to the level of baseball being worked, and the level that umpire currently sits. Give them a couple of things to work on, and provide tangible means in which they can implement those suggestions into their game. It will only serve to help that umpire and the organization as a whole.
I've been blessed to have many umpires take me under their wings and teach me these lessons. I sit somewhere in the middle, and I hope one day I'll be at the bottom of the funnel!
I've come up with the "funnel analogy" in lieu of one of my organization's emphasis on training, peer evaluations, feedback, and everything else of the sort.
When an umpire first begins, the feedback they need is big and broad - the top of the funnel. Umpires providing this feedback need not focus on nit-picky details, because the young-bucks are still learning the basics. In my opinion, the most basic lesson of all is "Preventative Umpiring." Preventative Umpiring is something that I learned very early on, and have carried with me for five years. It simply boils down to not setting yourself up on a tee. First year guys? Are they there early? Are their shoes shined? Pants pressed? Shirts clean and free of stains? All of these are basic lessons that should be learned year one and carried out until an umpire hangs them up. You could take the best umpire in the major leagues, put him on an amateur field with faded heather pants and dusty shoes, and no matter what game he calls, he will be EATEN. ALIVE. Absolute fact. Avoid situations - confrontations, heckling, and ejections - by presenting yourself properly. PREVENT a situation from occurring. The very top of the funnel. Without this, there's no reaching the bottom of the funnel.
To further emphasize the funnel, a rookie is not going to learn that, in a two man system, if the batter runner is pushing a triple, the umpire can kick outside of the foul line and take the play at third from the outside of the bag, like a play at the plate. This is a VERY advanced mechanic, due not only to the athleticism and poise to be ahead of the runner, but the awareness to react, kick outside and THEN adjust to the incoming throw...essentially the equivalent of "rimming" in a three man. Obviously, this is further down the bottom of the funnel.
One of the organizations that I am a part of rates umpires as 1 through 5. 5's are the top of the funnel. 1's are the bottom. 1's are guys that are evaluating and should be teaching. They don't need much in terms of a post-game....they certainly shouldn't be there for 90 minutes being told what they did wrong. The feedback they receive (nobody's perfect!) should be minimal, and very refined...the nitpickiest of nitpickiest details.
Where are you in the funnel? If you're in the middle, what can you do to advance to the bottom? Remember, you're not as good as you think you are. Always ASK! When you get off the field, ask your partner, "Did you have anything for me?" If they say no, you walk away with a smile on your face. If they give you a few things, you should walk away smiling, knowing that a veteran took the time to help improve your game. Win-win. No matter how straight forward or candid this post-game may be, it certainly isn't personal. It's served to make you a better umpire, and frankly, it's the only way you'll get better. And you'll earn the reputation as an umpire eager to learn and improve; a very good reputation to have. Constructive criticism may sting for a short while, but constantly being told to fix something, or not being assigned games that you aspire to work, will hurt a whole lot longer.
If you're at the bottom, are you continuing to do everything that originally allowed you to earn that spot? More importantly, what are YOU doing to help the top of the funnel become the bottom of the funnel? Remember, there's plenty of stuff that you can share with the gentlemen at the top of the funnel....you could probably be there for four hours....but you're only going to confuse them and run them in circles, thus turning them off and frustrating them. Keep the feedback appropriate to the level of baseball being worked, and the level that umpire currently sits. Give them a couple of things to work on, and provide tangible means in which they can implement those suggestions into their game. It will only serve to help that umpire and the organization as a whole.
I've been blessed to have many umpires take me under their wings and teach me these lessons. I sit somewhere in the middle, and I hope one day I'll be at the bottom of the funnel!
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