MiLB Severs Ties with Jim Evans

New York Times Article:

For Umpiring School, a Staff Party Proves Costly

By ANDREW KEH

Published: February 9, 2012

Minor League Baseball severed ties with the Jim Evans Academy for Professional Umpiring after learning that employees had dressed up in costumes inspired by the Ku Klux Klan.

 

Preseason: Basic Umpire Mechanics

Practicing mechanics will make you a better umpire. Below is a list of basic plate mechanics to practice to prepare for the upcoming season. These basic mechanics can be practiced with minimal space in your home (so wait until your wife is out shopping and then scare the dog with your umpire voice!). This list is not exhaustive, and is meant to cover only common mechanics.

Practice proper plate mechanics while going through this list. That means footwork, stance, proper use of eyes, and good timing. Wear a hat and mask. A full length mirror can give you feedback with your mechanics.

Warm Up

1.                  Routine Safe

2.                  Emphatic Safe

3.                  Routine Out

4.                  Emphatic Out

Basic Plate Mechanics

1.                  "Time"

2.                  “Play”

3.                  Give Count (3-0, 3-2)

4.                  Called Strike

5.                  Swinging Strike

6.                  Called Strike Three

7.                  Swinging Strike Three

8.                  Batter hit by pitch and awarded first

9.                  Ball

10.              Foul Tip

11.              Foul Ball

12.              Balk

13.              Foul ball hits batter

14.              Fair ball contacts batter

15.              Check Swing Appeal Called Ball

16.              Check Swing Appeal Called Ball on Third Strike

17.              Check Swing Strike on Swing

18.              Dropped Third Strike

19.              Catcher’s Interference

20.              Batter’s Interference

21.              Umpire’s Interference

22.              Communication

a.       Outs

b.      Rotating to third

c.       Staying home

d.      Infield fly

e.       Tag up, take to third

Review of Mid-American Advanced Umpire Clinic

2011 Mid-American Advanced Umpire Clinic

September 15-18, 2011

Springfield, Missouri

Ramada Oasis Convention Center

Cost: $400.00

Being a good umpire requires proficiency in three areas: rules, situations, and mechanics. Rules training is a matter of hard work and study. Handling situations largely comes from experience.

Proper mechanics is acquired from sweat equity.

You can’t simply read about how to umpire, you have to get out and do it. That is why camps and clinics are so important to an umpire’s education. Being in position, employing good timing, and using proper mechanics are essential to good umpiring. These skills are not learned over night and must be drilled.

The Mid-American Advanced Umpire Clinic

The Mid-American Advanced Umpire Clinic is one of the elite college umpire clinics in the nation. Each year, the clinic draws college level umpires from around the Midwest for four days of training in Springfield, Missouri.

The clinic is headquartered at the Ramada Oasis Convention Center, indoor instruction takes place at the Hammons Field indoor training facility, and games are held at various sites around Springfield. The Ramada conference facilities were good. The Ramada offered a special room rate that included breakfast. A restaurant and bar located inside the Ramada was also very comfortable and the staff was friendly. The Hammons indoor facility is spacious and easily accommodated the entire group.

The Instructors

A camp or clinic is only as good as its instructors. At some clinics the instructors are mere figureheads. They may sit in the stands and watch while cracking a joke or telling a story. The instructors at the MidAmerican Advanced Umpire Clinic teach. They are very “hands-on” and provide each student with intelligent feedback.

The student-instructor ratio is around four to one. That is much better than you typically get at a weekend umpire clinic; however the real difference is in the quality of the instructor that you get. At the Mid-American Advanced Umpire Clinic, you have a 100% chance of being paired with an instructor who has worked the College World Series, or who has extensive experience in professional baseball. This really is an impressive list:

Dick Runchey - Five College World Series, first umpire inducted into the College Baseball Foundation Hall of Fame.

Joe Burleson - Four College World Series; 2008 Olympics;  Major League Baseball AAA Umpire Supervisor.

Jeff Henrichs - Three College World Series

Randy Bruns - Three College World Series; eight years professional umpire

Mike Morris – four NCAA regionals

Clint Fagan – Current AAA/MLB call up umpire. Clint was called up to work MLB games in Kansas City and Minnesota while at this clinic.

Chris Coskey – One College World Series

Greg Chittenden – seven years professional umpire

Along with the instructors, there were other umpires and assigners who attended the clinic:

Rich Fetchiet - three College World Series, Supervisor of Baseball Umpires for Big Ten Conference, Big Twelve Conference, Conference USA, Mid-American Conference, Missouri Valley Conference, Horizon League, Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, Great Lakes Valley Conference, North Coast Athletic Conference, Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association, Mid-Central Collegiate Conference, the Collegiate Baseball Umpires Alliance and is Co-Supervisor of the Big East Conference.

Rick Denny - Supervisor of Umpires for the MIAA (NCAA D-II) & KCAC (NAIA).

Assignor for several midwest colleges (NCAA D-I thru JUCO).

Shawn Vellek - Supervisor of Umpires for the Northern Sun (NCAA D-II); Assignor for several midwest colleges (NCAA D-I thru JUCO)

Bob Bainter - owner of the Oceanside Umpire Training Seminar and 10 years professional umpire

Jason Blackburn - owner of the Mid-American Umpire Clinic and college a umpire

My Experience

The first night at the clinic was a meet and greet at the Ramada, then off to the Hammons Field indoor training facility for cage work. Half of the students stayed at the indoor facility to work on plate mechanics. This was a time to get initially meet the instructors and fine-tune your plate mechanics. The other half of the group went to review and discuss video of special rule situations with Joe Burleson, Dick Runchey, and Randy Bruns. This was a great opportunity to sit and listen to how top flight umpires apply the rules in difficult situations.

The morning of the second day the entire group met at a local college field and ran through taking plays on the infield, and three man rotations. This is an advanced three man clinic, so umpires are expected to have a solid foundation in three man mechanics. The benefit of this clinic is not in learning the three man umpire system; its learning advanced three man mechanics. This on-field training was very good and included advanced techniques and hints for better umpiring.

In the afternoon of the second day we split into groups and worked college level games around Springfield. Instructors were assigned to the groups as evaluators, and each student worked innings on the plate, at first base, and at third base. The student’s work is video taped so he can review his performance at home. At the end of the innings the students receive a written evaluation.

While working the games, the instructor(s) give immediate feedback to the student. In many cases an instructor will move onto the field to make adjustments while the game proceeds. I have attended several clinics that use this same “instant feedback” method. This is the most common format for umpire camps and clinics, and frankly, it’s awful. Trying to umpire with an instructor in your ear is very distracting. In many cases the umpire’s attention is divided when he is trying to make a suggested adjustment while the game is occurring. Consequently, the student does not receive a fair and objective evaluation, nor is the instruction very effective.

Many amateur umpires attend clinics to be seen by assigners. This is unfortunate because the “instant feedback” method does not provide the assigner with an objective look at the umpire’s skills. Likewise, just working a few innings does not provide a good basis for a fair evaluation.

After working college level games on Friday, students and instructors met at a Ramada conference room for finger foods. The instructors told war stories and answered student questions. There was a cash bar, so the conversation was lively.

More college games were planned for Saturday, but then something wonderful happened. The rain-rain-rain came down-down-down all over the Springfield area and washed out all of our games for the weekend!

A rainout would cause a panic for many clinics. I attended this clinic with six friends from around the Midwest, and we all wondered how the rain would affect the clinic schedule. Some even discussed leaving early. I have been to clinics where an unexpected event throws the whole clinic out of whack.

Fortunately, clinic organizers Greg Chittenden and Chris Coskey were well prepared. The group moved indoors to the Springfield Cardinals indoor facility at Hammons Field.  Supervised games and evaluations were replaced with more detailed work in plate and field mechanics.

Some of the best instruction I have ever received occurred while it rained that weekend. Notably, Clint Fagan and Joe Burleson put on a graduate level umpiring seminar in taking plays at second base. This advanced instruction was extremely insightful.

I was also fortunate to have Dick Runchey supervise my case group. Dick gave us a situation and we performed the proper mechanic. For instance: “Runner on first. Bunted ball down first base line hits the batter outside the box.” Then the plate umpire performed the proper mechanic just as in a live game while Dick gave feedback and instruction.

Since this is an advanced clinic, the group discussed advanced topics like, “What makes a good partner?” Other topics included handling situations with coaches and players, and professionalism. These topics were especially educational since they were discussed by top flight amateur college umpires, and not current professionals who have a different perspective.

The Mid-American Advanced Umpire Clinic is working closely with the Collegiate Baseball Umpires Alliance, the major college assigning organization in the Midwest, to identify and develop quality umpires. During the clinic each umpire was registered, profiled, and placed into a CBUA database that is available to CBUA assigning officials.

Critique

My experience at the Mid-American Advanced Umpire Clinic was outstanding. However, I wonder if I would have felt the same way if it had not rained. I recommend that future clinics incorporate more consecutive innings for a proper evaluation, and dedicate more time for advanced instruction on the field and in the classroom. This weekend clinic is an excellent opportunity to learn advanced techniques from some of the best college umpires in the nation. That is the real value of the clinic.

Fair or Foul?

This is the best umpire clinic I have attended. The staff and facilities were excellent. The clinic is highly specialized and focused on the three man system for college baseball. Everything that was discussed was relevant and important to improving my ability to work college baseball games. I call the Mid-American Advanced Umpire Clinic absolutely FAIR!

2012 NCAA Baseball Umpire Clinics Announced

The 2012 NCAA Baseball Umpire Clinics have  been announced. Beginning January 7, the NCAA will host four clinics at locations across the country. The sites are:

Irvine, California

January 7, 2012

Marriott John Wayne Airport

18000 Von Karman Avenue

Irvine, CA 92612

949/261-2020

NCAA Room Rate - $94.00

Cut Off Date – December 15, 2011

Division I Conferences expected to attend: Big West, Mountain West, Pac-12, WAC, West Coast

Chicago, Illinois

January 14, 2012

Westin Hotel O’Hare

6100 River Road

Rosemont, IL 60018

847/698-6000

NCAA Room Rate - $99.00

Cut Off Date – December 23, 2011

Division I Conferences expected to attend: Atlantic 10, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, C-USA, Horizon, Mid-American, Missouri Valley, Mountain West, Southland, Summit

Atlanta, Georgia
January 21, 2012

Hyatt Regency Atlanta

265 Peachtree Street NE

Atlanta, GA 30303

404/577-1234

NCAA Room Rate - $139.00
Cut Off Date – December 20, 2011

Division I Conferences expected to attend: ACC, Atlantic Sun, Big South, Colonial, MEAC, OVC, Sun Belt, SEC, Southern, SWAC

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

January 28, 2012

Philadelphia Airport Marriott

One Arrivals Road

Philadelphia, PA 19153

215/492-9000

NCAA Room Rate - $109

Cut Off Date – January 6, 2012

Division I Conferences expected to attend: America East, Atlantic-10, Big East, Colonial, Ivy, MAAC, MEAC, Northeast, Patriot.

For more information on the NCAA Umpire Clinics, visit the NCAA Central hub at https://ncaabaseball.arbitersports.com/front/105039/Site/Posts

Review of MLB Umpire Manual

The 2010 edition of the Major League Baseball Umpire Manual (MLBUM) is 79 pages, the same number of pages as my edition of Sun Tzu's The Art of War.

Coincidence?

The MLBUM may be small, but it packs quite a wallop. It is not comprehensive, and unlike the PBUC Manual it does not deign to teach its reader the rules, customs, or courtesies. It is an elaboration on certain rules, a collection of interpretations that every MLB umpire needs to know to survive at the highest level.

New Professional Umpire School at Vero Beach Sports Village

Amateur umpires aspiring to a job in professional baseball now have a third option for formal training. Minor League Baseball recently announced the formation of The Umpire School, a four week all-inclusive professional baseball umpire school at the Vero Beach Sports Village (VBSV) facility in Vero Beach, Florida. The Umpire School will conduct its inaugural class in January 2012.

According to Justin Klemm, Executive Director of the Professional Baseball Umpire Corp. (PBUC), "Creating this school is a natural extension of Minor League Baseball’s ongoing efforts to enhance umpire training and development." Klemm added, "PBUC Staff will be tabbed by VBSV to drive the curriculum, instruction, training and development portions of the school." MiLB Vero Beach, LLC owns and operates The Umpire School, and PBUC oversees the training and employment of umpires in the Minor League Baseball system throughout the United States and Canada. Both MiLB Vero Beach, LLC and PBUC are subsidiaries of Minor League Baseball.

The Umpire School is the only all-inclusive professional baseball umpire school and is state licensed by the Commission for Independent Education, Florida Department of Education. Students at The Umpire School pay one price for housing, dining (3 meals a day, seven days a week), and instruction, all at one location with no hidden costs. The VBSV is a 67-acre complex previously used as the spring training venue for the Brooklyn and then Los Angeles Dodgers, and famously known as "Dodgertown." Minor League Baseball took over day-to-day operations in 2009 after the Dodgers relocated their spring training operations to Arizona.

While the focus of the school is to recruit, evaluate, and train umpires for the minor league system, The Umpire School is open to any umpire regardless of skill level or experience. Klemm says that students will be instructed "directly out of the PBUC Red Book, The Virtual Umpire Camp and the Official Baseball Rules. The PBUC Umpire Manual will be used to supplement our lesson plans. Our goal is to provide a professional umpire training program that optimizes the potential of each student and prepares them to meet the challenges of an umpiring profession regardless of their skill level or aspirations. We will continuously seek and implement new and improved training methods through the professional and amateur umpire community in order to maximize The Umpire School’s effectiveness."

Klemm advises professional umpire prospects "to be fully committed to the process and methods we employ to prepare our students to succeed." He says The Umpire School intends to use "situational training with the potential to implement live game experience into the curriculum."

Honor graduates from The Umpire School are sent on to the PBUC evaluation course, also held at the VBSV. There top students will compete against honor graduates from the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring and the Harry Wendelstedt Umpire School for umpire jobs in minor league baseball. Klemm says there are no plans to increase the numbers of total students invited to the evaluation course. The evaluators at the PBUC evaluation course are the same instructors at The Umpire School.

Anyone interested in attending The Umpire School, a State of Florida licensed school, should log onto TheRightCall.net. The Umpire School can also be reached at 877-799-UMPS (8677), or by email at info@TheRightCall.net.

How to Improve As An Umpire During the Off-Season

My season just ended here in the Midwest and it is time to settle in for the fall and enjoy the upcoming holidays. For ol’ Pete there is nothing better than using this time for umpire study. So for this article I want to give the aspiring umpire a suggested reading list for the off-season.

The Official Rules of Major League Baseball
This book is the bible of our sport. It is the mother of all other baseball rulebooks. But who actually reads it? You! You should read it! Once you know the rules of professional baseball, learning any other baseball rulebook is simply a matter of learning the differences. Read a couple rules each day. It is only a couple hundred pages and it will help you more than any other book in learning the rules. Make it a goal this season to read it cover to cover.

The Official Rules of Major League Baseball can be purchased for $10.00 from Jim Evans' store or from Amazon.

The Rules of Professional Baseball: A Comprehensive Reorganization and Interpretation by Chris Jaksa and Rick Roder

The rules of professional baseball are poorly written and full of contradictions. The Rules of Professional Baseball is a recognized authority in the interpretation of the rules and will help you understand the complexities of the rules. This book requires study and a commitment from its reader. However, what you get back from your effort is a better understanding of how and when the rules should be enforced.

The Rules of Professional Baseball: A Comprehensive Reorganization and Interpretation can be purchased for $39.95 from the ABUA Website

Maximizing the Two Umpire System by Jim Evans and Dick Nelson
As reviewed here, I think that Maximizing the Two Umpire System is a treasure of umpire literature. The two umpire system is umpiring mechanics for every level except high minor leagues, major leagues, and Division I NCAA. Read this book cover to cover and you will learn the two man system. Of course, there is no substitute for on the field experience, but study of the mechanics and responsibilities of umpiring will put you head and shoulders above your peers.

Maximizing the Two Umpire System can be purchased for $69.95 from Jim Evans' store.

If you read these books during the off-season, I guarantee that you will be a better umpire.

And now a word from our sponsor. . .
Need to learn the rules? We all need to study the rules. Midwest Ump and Umpire-Empire have jointly developed the Baseball Rules Seminar. This on-line seminar studies the rules of professional baseball and provides a solid foundation for understanding baseball rules. The Baseball Rules Seminar is currently offered an introductory rate of $99 for the eight week seminar. Check it out!

Review of Maximizing the Two-Umpire System

Umpires are often isolated and universally despised. We are expected to be calm islands, towers of strength, and impenetrable fortresses of impartiality. It is mentally challenging to be an umpire. We never get to relax and just enjoy being at a game. Add to this the requirement of complete knowledge of the rules, knowing the correct application of the rules, knowing how to handle situations, and knowing how to physically perform the job of umpiring. Well, that’s a lot of “knowing!”

The rulebook tells us that the “[m]ost important rule for umpires is always “BE IN POSITION TO SEE EVERY PLAY.” Even though your decision may be 100% right, players still question it if they feel you were not in a spot to see the play clearly and definitely.” Rule 9, General Instructions to Umpire.

There are not many resources available that teach this “most important rule.” Teaching umpire mechanics is a small, niche market. Some umpires don’t consider the study of correct mechanics to be that important (what?! “THE most important rule,” remember?). Add to it that umpires tend to be a conservative group and also conservative with their dollars. While there are many cutesy books on the baseball rules written for coaches and fans, there are very few books that instruct an umpire on proper mechanics.

The Jim Evans book Maximizing the Two-Umpire System is a treasure of umpire literature. It is the most important book for an umpire to own after the rulebook. Perhaps I am overstating my point?

No. This book is outstanding.

Maximizing the Two-Umpire System is 283 pages long. That is 283 pages you need to study to learn the two umpire system. This is the same instruction given to students at the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring. This book is meant to be comprehensive and teach the reader how to umpire on the field.

Mission accomplished, Mr. Evans.

Maximizing the Two-Umpire System is authored by Jim Evans, Dick Nelson, former field supervisor for Major League Baseball's Umpire Development Program, and with special thanks to umpire Jason Klein. The book devotes 17 pages to a glossary of umpiring terms. The reader is introduced to basic umpiring concepts that are explained in direct and clear terms. Pause, Read and React; Watch the Ball, Glance at the Runners; Ninety-Degree Theory. You may know or think you know these terms, but the Maximizing the Two-Umpire System breaks the concept down and allows you to learn it the right way.

The second chapter summarizes the umpire’s basic responsibilities which are organized into a Pre-Game Checklist. Does Evans really expect umpires to use this 14 page pre-game checklist? YES! This is important stuff and can mean the difference between getting the call right and handling your situations, and dealing with a sh*t house.

Evans provides his Seven Laws of Umpiring:

1. Anticipate all play possibilities but not their outcome.

2. Proper positioning is defined by proper angle and distance.

3. Proper angle is primary to distance.

4. Proper positioning is a function of time.

5. There are three possible positions for every play.

6. The call is a mental process and the signal is physical.

7. No play can be considered routine until it is over.

Do you want to get better? Learn the laws, live the laws. Not because Evans preaches it, but because these concepts are fundamental. Heed the laws and strive to perfect your mechanics on the field.

Evans provides diagrams and explanation for eight runner situations. The reader is shown the proper position on the field and the responsibilities for the plate umpire and the base umpire for each base runner scenario. Tips and tricks are provided to help the umpire attain the proper position and anticipate play possibilities.

Finally, the last chapter of Maximizing the Two-Umpire System explains umpire communication and signaling.

If you have read this far you will think that I was either paid to write this article, or I am somehow good friends with Jim Evans. I have never met the guy and I am not paid to write this review. I personally think very highly of Mr. Evans for what he has done for “my profession” (as Doug Harvey calls it) I think he should be praised. Thank goodness we have people like Jim Evans to help us be better umpires.

Maximizing the Two-Umpire System is available at the following on-line retailers:

Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring - $69.95

ABUA Website - $69.95

Fair Or Foul?
This book goes yard. It is absolutely fair, no video review necessary. It is simple: if you want to be a better umpire, first study the rules. The second thing to do is buy Maximizing the Two-Umpire System and read it cover to cover.

Umpire Study: Jaksa/Roder Manual

And another requisite of an umpire you’ve got to know that rule book from one end to the other and know when and how to apply the rules to the situation

-Cal Hubbard, Hall of Fame Induction Speech, 1976

Umpiring requires many things: poise, confidence, the ability to communicate, knowledge of proper mechanics, presence. . . but the most important thing is knowing the rules and how and when to apply them.

The baseball rulebook is certainly imperfect. It is vague, incomplete, and reading it often leaves you more confused than before you started. In order to correctly apply the rules of baseball the umpire must study both the rulebook and interpretations of the rulebook. Fortunately, there are a few authorities for interpreting the rules. While it is fortunate that we have these resources, it is unfortunate because sometimes these authorities can conflict.

One of the most respected authorities for rules interpretation is The Rules of Professional Baseball: A Comprehensive Reorganization and Interpretation by Chris Jaksa and Rick Roder. The Thirteenth Edition of the Jaksa/Roder Manual (as it is commonly called, or the "J/R Manual") is a complete rewrite of the Official Rules of Major League Baseball. It reads more like a textbook than a rulebook, which is not surprising since it was designed as a classroom textbook for the Joe Brinkman Umpire School (the Brinkman School was later aquired by Jim Evans).

I recently read the J/R Manual from start to finish. No, that's not exactly right. I didn't so much read the J/R Manual as study it from start to finish. The writing style is simple and direct and it can be read from cover to cover, but understanding the rules requires some work and takes study. I found very little ambiguity in the writing, although sometimes I had to focus on the material to understand the rule interpretation. Nearly every section has multiple examples that aid the student in understanding how the rule is applied in a real game situation. The J/R Manual is neatly organized into topics, such as:

Part IV: The Pitcher
16. Positions of Windup and Stretch
17. Pitching Proscriptions
18. Balks
19. Substitute Pitchers

I find the J/R manual incredibly insightful and useful. As an amateur umpire some of the information is inapplicable, but knowing the OBR is a solid foundation for any rules deviations in amateur baseball. Thankfully, the Jaksa/Roder Manual incorporates the rules differences in NCAA, NAIA, and NFHS rulebooks and elaborates on these amateur rules in an Appendix. My J/R Manual is full of hand written notes concerning the high school and college rules differences.

The J/R/ Manual is available for $39.95 from the ABUA website.

The Bottom Line: The Jaksa/Roder Manual is well organized and well-written. It is easy to comprehend and the many examples give the reader the opportunity to process each rule at the reader's own pace. I highly recommend the J/R Manual.

Columbia College Offers Professional Certificate in Umpiring

Columbia College has a growing reputation as a progressive college. It is very active with military members, and in offering internet based college degrees. Now Columbia College has partnered with Major League Baseball to offer a professional certificate in umpiring, available to students on-line.

The certificate is offered through the Columbia College Education Department, and requires completion of 18 hours of college coursework including: COMM 203, Understanding Human Communication; PSYC 260, Introduction to Applied Psychology; SOCI 430, The Sociology of Sport; MTKG 480, Sports and Events Marketing; and SOCI 270, Minority Cultures and Relations. The final course is a three hour physical education class (PHED 499) at the MLB Umpire Camp (MLBUC) held each November in Compton, California.

Columbia College reports that the cost of the certificate is $4,500, which includes all coursework and MLBUC fees. Currently MLBUC tuition is $1,299 which includes a double-occupancy room at the Holiday Inn Long Beach Airport, manuals, breakfast, lunch, cap, T-shirt and transportation between the Holiday Inn Long Beach Airport and the MLBUC training facility. That would make the remaining 15 hours of classes around $213 per credit hour (which is actually cheaper than the published undergraduate tuition rate at Columbia College of $220 per credit hour).

For more information, visit the Columbia College website.

***UPDATE***

As of 4FEB10 the Columbia College website notes:

**At this time the certificate is available only to U.S. Marines stationed in Southern California.**

How to Umpire Including Knotty Problems by Billy Evans

How to Umpire (Including Knotty Problems) by Hall of Fame Umpire Billy Evans is available on-line at the Internet Archive. This classic is available in pdf and a few other formats.

This book, published in 1917, offers very practical advise to the modern umpire, such as:

Never lose sight of the ball. If you know where it is at all times, you are not going to lose very many plays. It is worse for someone to pull the hidden ball trick and the umpire not to see it, than it is for the player who has been trapped.

Don't turn your head and look the other way after you have given a decision. A lot of things can happen while you are looking in the opposite direction.

Show a little "pepper" in your work. If the umpire is always on the alert, the players invariably get the spirit. If the umpire is content to have the game drag, the players seldom offer any objection.

A lot of people say umpires are not human. They are wrong. It is human to err, and umpires err. If they made as many mistakes as most fans insist they do, they would indeed be very human.

Enjoy this terrific book from a umpire legend!

Review of The Virtual Umpire Camp

Today it is my pleasure to review The Virtual Umpire Camp from Immersion Media. My thanks to Rick Perko, president of Immersion Media, for sending a copy and allowing me to use video from the product in this review.

The Virtual Umpire Camp is billed as:

"a unique, interactive CD-ROM for umpires to learn the mechanics and signals for umpiring. Containing more than 100 animations, this product is a must-have for any current or future umpire. It's the only such product licensed by both Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball."

Honestly, I expected The Virtual Umpire Camp to be full of slick graphics and poor content - you know "full of sound and fury signifying nothing."

Boy, was I wrong.

The Virtual Umpire Camp is actually very simple, but delivers a powerful punch. It is the equivalent of a searchable and animated umpire's mechanics manual. The CD-ROM covers 2-, 3-, and 4-man mechanics. The bottom line is that The Virtual Umpire Camp is your printed mechanics manual, only better! Click on the video below to get a sample of three-man mechanics, runner on first:

The actual video within the program is much larger and contains a text transcript, so you can pause the video and read the description - just like your print mechanics manual. As you can see, The Virtual Umpire Camp gives you the basic mechanics in an easily understandable format. This format is both audial and visual, increasing the learning process. The viewer follows the umpires' rotation while listening to the explanation of the positioning. You can pause the video, read the description, and study the rotation while learning at your own pace.

One drawback to the product is that you must have an internet connection in order to register the product. The Virtual Umpire Camp sells for $29.99 and is available from the Immersion Media website.

I highly recommend The Virtual Umpire Camp as a useful learning tool. This product is not sexy, or slick, or high-tech. Instead, it is easy to use and provides all of the vital mechanics information you need in one source.

Safe or Out?

Jackie Robinson makes his famous steal of home in the eighth inning of game 1 of the 1955 World Series. The Yankees won the game 6-5, but the Dodgers won the series. Catcher Yogi Berra disagreed with umpire Bill Summers. Below is the video. You make the call!

Batter's Box

Today let’s discuss the batter’s position in the box. First, since the lines of the batter's box are often obliterated during the course of a game, it is important for the plate umpire to know the box dimensions and be able to draw those lines in the dirt if the need arises. The MLB box dimension diagram is below.

My shoe is roughly 12" toe to heel, so I am able to step off the needed dimensions. I have seen other umpires use the players bat to approximate 36".

Second, Rule 6.03 states:

The batter’s legal position shall be with both feet within the batter’s box. APPROVED RULING: The lines defining the box are within the batter’s box.

Many batters are instructed to move closer to the plate and some will take a position where a foot or both feet are over the line and within 6” of the plate. This is an illegal position and the batter should be instructed to take a legal position in the batter’s box.

Third, Rule 6.06 states:

A batter is out for illegal action when—
(a) He hits a ball with one or both feet on the ground entirely outside the batter’s box.
Comment: If a batter hits a ball fair or foul while out of the batter’s box, he shall be called out. Umpires should pay particular attention to the position of the batter’s feet if he attempts to hit the ball while he is being intentionally passed. A batter cannot jump or step out of the batter’s box and hit the ball.

Note that the batter is out by hitting the ball regardless whether the hit results in a fair or foul ball. Note also that the MLB rule makes no reference to the batter’s foot touching the plate.

Review of The Rules of Professional Baseball: A Comprehensive Reorganization and Interpretation by Chris Jaksa and Rick Roder

Rick Roder’s Preface to The Rules of Professional Baseball: A Comprehensive Reorganization and Interpretation likens The Official Baseball Rules to the U.S. federal tax code. You can read the book’s Preface here. Reading many of the baseball rules, just like many sections of the tax code, takes a considerable amount of effort simply to decipher the “plain meaning.” Other baseball rules may seem clear enough on the surface, but the rules as written turn out to be vague, incomplete, and in some cases misleading from the way the rules are enforced on the diamond.

The Rules of Professional Baseball: A Comprehensive Reorganization and Interpretation, also known as the “Jaksa/Roder Manual,” is billed by its authors as “The World’s Only Complete Rewrite of Baseball’s Official Rules.” Chris Jaksa and Rick Roder set out to interpret the elusive meaning of the Official Baseball Rules ("OBR") in clear and practical terms.

The Jaksa/Roder Manual is well organized and uses clear language. The J/R Manual is sectioned into topical chapters that beg to be read and digested as a whole and assist the reader in understanding both the meaning and context of the OBR. The chapters cite the OBR by number and terms are defined with exacting language to avoid ambiguity. The J/R Manual also incorporates 2008 Major League Baseball and Professional Baseball Umpire Corporation interpretations in its discussion of the rules. Although the focus and emphasis is on the professional rules, NCAA, NAIA, and NFHS rule differences are also annotated within the J/R Manual for easy reference. The J/R Manual also contains a very useful index for quick reference.

So how useful is the J/R Manual? Co-author Rick Roder acknowledges in the Preface that the J/R Manual is only one resource for the aspiring umpire. Rulebooks, casebooks, and supplemental books like the J/R Manual and the Baseball Rules Differences by Carl Childress are vital to understanding the rules at the various professional and amateur levels. While the J/R Manual is an authoritative interpretation of the Rules, it is only one helpful resource for interpreting the Rules.

The importance of these authoritative interpretations is that it aids the umpire in understanding the rules, but ultimately it is the umpire’s own interpretation of the Rules that matters. To illustrate this point, consider the (in)famous voluntary release play during game 4 of the 2008 American League Divisional Series between the Angels and Red Sox. Jason Veritek recorded an out by tagging the Angels Reggie Willits during a run down after a botched squeeze bunt. However, after the tag Veritek lost control of the ball. Third base umpire Tim Welke called the out even though the ball was lying on the ground.

Was Welke right? Well, that depends on who you ask.

OBR Rule 2.00 defines a “TAG” as “the action of a fielder in touching a base with his body while holding the ball securely and firmly in his hand or glove; or touching a runner with the ball, or with his hand or glove holding the ball, while holding the ball securely and firmly in his hand or glove.”

This definition is only a starting point in interpreting the Veritek play, and tells us nothing about control after the tag. So let’s look at some authoritative interpretations on when a tag occurs:

The Official Baseball Rules Annotated by Jim Evans determines a tag by “the status of the ball at the time the runner or base is touched and not on the final proof of possession."

The J/R Manual states that for a tag the player must have “complete control of the ball during and after the touch.”

The Wendelstedt Rules and Mechanics Manual states that for a tag to occur the player must show “complete control of the ball during and immediately following the touch of the runner.”

The foregoing makes clear that an interpretation of the rules is simply someone’s opinion, but isn’t that the point of umpiring? As arbiter of the game an umpire is compelled to give an opinion, so the prudent umpire will study the rules, read the casebooks, and pore over the authoritative interpretations in order to formulate his or her own opinion (of course an opinion based upon and within the rules). Authoritative interpretations are based upon the game’s traditions, common sense, and the author’s experience (and sometimes biases).

The bottom line is: an authoritative interpretation of the OBR like The Rules of Professional Baseball: A Comprehensive Reorganization and Interpretation is a necessary element of an umpire’s education in order to understand and apply the rules of baseball.

Available at the ABUA website for $39.95

Don't Do That

Below are a few great video examples of how to get yourself into trouble as an umpire. Click on the picture to start the video:

First, don't ever touch a player:

Second, don't instigate an argument:

Third, don't get caught being a spectator:

And finally, don't take bribes:

MLB Umpire Ed Montague. What a ham!

Review of Jim Evans Balk Video

When it comes to the subject of balks everyone is an expert. Well, at least anyone who has ever played high school baseball or watched the movie Bull Durham more than twice is happy to offer a balk opinion at least once a ballgame.

Today I have the good fortune to review Pitching Regulations and Balks by Jim Evans Training Systems. Special thanks to Jim Evans and Jason at the Jim Evans Academy who were kind enough to provide a copy for review. The byline of this DVD states “A ‘must have’ for serious umpires.” After viewing this video I have to agree. Without question every umpire should own this DVD.

The “Balk Video” (as it is commonly referred to) is professionally produced and full of insight. Jim Evans has a degree in education from the University of Texas and that is very evident while viewing this DVD. The do’s and do-not-do’s of pitching are presented in simple and understandable terms with clear explanations and visual examples from Jim and uniformed players. At times the pitching action is slowed down on video to give a clear understanding of the act. Legal and illegal actions include reviewing various pitching positions (with special emphasis on contact with the rubber), motions associated with the delivery, feints and trick plays, and unusual situations. There is also a review of the mechanics of calling a balk.

The run time is about 60 minutes and includes an examination section in which the viewer is asked to apply the information contained in the DVD. Jim presents a pitching action and the viewer is asked to determine whether it is a “balk” or a “legal action.” The DVD is organized into sections for easy access of the various moves and pitching actions (i.e. “Feinting a Throw” or “Initiating the Delivery”) so the owner can review Jim’s illustrations and explanations.

I highly recommend this DVD. Pitching Regulations and Balks by Jim Evans sells for $39.95 from Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring.

Is calling balls and strikes an art or a science?

Rule 2.00 of the OBR defines a Strike and the Strike Zone

A STRIKE is a legal pitch when so called by the umpire, which—
(b) Is not struck at, if any part of the ball passes through any part of the strike zone;

The STRIKE ZONE is that area over home plate the upper limit of which is a horizontal line at the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants, and the lower level is a line at the hollow beneath the kneecap. The Strike Zone shall be determined from the batter’s stance as the batter is prepared to swing at a pitched ball.

The OBR also provides this picture.

However, the picture is misleading. From the literal meaning of the rule the strike zone is (1) the area over home plate; (2) which passes any point from the midpoint of the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants, and the hollow beneath the kneecap. That is a three-dimensional area that should been seen more like this:

According to the black letter reading of the rules, the roundhouse curve that passes through the strike zone at the midpoint line at the very back tip of the plate is a strike. Sometimes the catcher may stand up on that pitch.

According to the rule, the nasty splitter that passes through the strike zone at the hollow beneath the kneecap and over the front edge of the plate is a strike. That pitch likely bounces in the dirt.

While not a professional umpire myself, I have heard from major league umpires that they do not consider the above examples to be pitches that “pass through the strike zone” even though the rule specifies that it is a strike if any part of the ball passes through any part of the strike zone. The reasons for this depend on who you ask and all are based on perception and custom.

The New York Times has recently reported that “[a]n improved camera system to monitor umpires’ calls of balls and strikes will be used in all 30 major league stadiums starting opening day.”

“The new system, called Zone Evaluation, relies on pitch-tracking data already collected by cameras in all 30 parks and distributed through applications on MLB.com and iTunes. Zone Evaluation software will rate umpire performance more quickly and accurately than QuesTec, according to Mike Port, baseball’s vice president for umpiring.”

So will the strike zone change because of technology? There is no doubt. The real question is whether it will change for the better. And what about that high round house curve or the low splitter? Will these pitches become more widely used because umpires will be encouraged to call these “strikes?” How does this improve the game? It sure makes the calling of balls and strikes more controversial. I can't imagine this being a good thing.

NFHS Baseball Rules and Rulebook

I have been asked a few times if the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) baseball rulebook is available online. The answer is yes, but you must be a member of an NFHS Professional Association or state staff member in order to access it. As a HS umpire registered with my state's activities association I was able to register with the NFHS and log on. The link for the rulebook is:

https://www.nfhs.org/custom/resourcelibrary/Ajax/Action.aspx?action=download&fileid=%2fbrjOESE61Q%3d

The baseball casebook is also available online at the same site.

Umpire Teacher Review

The first thing you notice when visiting Mike “Bugsy” Segal’s Umpire Teacher website is that Mr. Segal is a man of vision in the field of training future umpires. His vision corresponds to the changing way people learn and obtain information in this age of computers.

The second thing you notice is, and I mean this with all sincerity: Bugsy is nuts! Umpire Teacher is charged with an energy that is infectious. It comes straight from the top, from Bugsy himself. He obviously has a passion for umpiring and teaching. Bugsy’s high energy style keeps the student actively engaged in each lesson (as well as entertained).

Umpire Teacher is the first umpire instructional website to use video and message boards for feedback. Students view video lessons and can ask questions directly to Bugsy, retired MLB umpire Vic Voltaggio, or to the “power team” members which includes professional and veteran amateur umpires.

During the video lessons Bugsy likes to emphasize the important points and adds his comments. The insight is terrific and really drives the point home. The best thing about the video lessons is that you can return to the lesson for reference at a later date. The first lesson I reviewed was a beginning lesson about the strike zone that featured a discussion by the late John McSherry while at Bugsy’s camp a few years back. A sample of this lesson is provided free at the Umpire Teacher YouTube site.

After discussing the basic mechanics of the strike zone and positioning, I moved on to the advanced strike zone video. These videos are terrific in teaching the large and fine points of calling balls and strikes. The mechanics are broken down into simple, easy to follow instructions. The video is clear and smooth, and the audio is exceptional. All lessons are instructive and insightful for both the beginner and the veteran umpire.

The price plans are reasonable for the information provided. For example, $9.95 per month gets you in the door as a paying member (AA Member Level), while $124.95 gives you total access for one year (Big League Level). The price difference mostly involves a larger video screen (which makes sense because of the increased bandwidth. Larger bandwidth means a greater cost to the company). I would recommend trying the site out at the $9.95 level before upgrading as the entry level video is very acceptable.

Umpire Teacher is very generous in offering free content that I encourage you to check out. First, Umpire Teacher has a YouTube site with free video samples. Also check out the Tips of the Week. Finally, Bugsy writes a newsletter that you can signup for here. Some past newsletters are archived here.

Online continuing education is an idea that all umpires should get behind. Continuing education is a real problem for most umpires during the season largely resulting from a busy schedule and burn out. Self study can be tedious. However, the Umpire Teacher website is open 24 hours a day with all lessons available anytime, and trust me, Bugsy is never tedious. Do yourself a favor, skip two fun meals at your local burger stand and pay the $9.95 for this training.