Do you sometimes suddenly feel like you’re struggling at the plate? One game, you’re fine, and the next you’re just … off? Take a quick inventory of yourself. If you ever feel yourself struggling at the plate, it is typically due to one or a combination of three things:
Positioning.
Tracking.
Timing.
Let’s break it down.
Positioning
Are you attacking the slot? I see many umpires “hiding” behind the catcher. Sometimes they may have their feet in a good position, but their upper body leans toward the catcher and away from the slot. This position not only puts your head in the danger zone from foul balls but also hurts your ability to see pitches due to the catcher’s head blocking more of your view. Try getting your nose halfway between the batter’s chest and the catcher’s ear.
Are you too far back? This can make it difficult to see that troublesome low, outside pitch. If you can’t see the whole plate, you need to adjust. If you have trouble getting close to the catcher because your knee hits him in the back, try turning your non-slot foot out as you drop into your stance. This will cause your knee to go horizontally behind him instead of straight into his kidney, allowing you to get closer.
Are your feet “flat” or possibly even inverted (a common problem when a left-handed batter is at the plate)? Check and make sure your slot foot is forward, at least heel to instep.
Are you moving as the pitch comes in, so your positioning is in flux? Lock in and track the ball with just your eyes. It’s hard to focus on a moving object when your head is also moving. After a few pitches, you can tell what the catcher does pre-pitch. Some have late movement. If that is the case, don’t set up too soon where you can’t adjust. For example, many catchers will move forward just as the pitcher starts his delivery, so if you have already dropped in, you will be too far back and unable to see the whole zone.
Tracking
Perhaps the most crucial element: Are you seeing the ball all the way into the catcher’s mitt? A common problem is losing the pitch out in front of the plate shortly after it enters the dirt circle — right before it enters the critical area of the strike zone.
You must track the ball into the mitt and keep your eyes there until the catcher transfers the ball to his throwing hand. You should be able to tell what brand of mitt he is using. Keep your head still and track the ball only with your eyes. Don’t let your eyes wander, even after the pitch is caught.
A good way to develop eye discipline is to take a balled-up sock, put on your mask and throw the sock in the air while lying on your back. Track it all the way to your hand as you catch it, making sure not to blink.
Timing
This is the most common mistake. Good, slow, deliberate timing is an umpire’s best friend. Quick, hasty, rushed timing is an umpire’s worst enemy. You must allow yourself time to replay the pitch in your mind before you make your decision — not just before you make your call, but before you make the decision.
Good, slow, deliberate timing is an umpire’s best friend.
We know that we verbalize “ball” while still down in our stance and that we first stand up before making our mechanic for strikes. Plate timing begins when the ball hits the mitt. It doesn’t end with the call; it ends with your first movement or utterance. As soon as you say anything or make any movement, timing is over — even if you take five more seconds before calling, “Strike!”
Stay down and locked in while you process what you saw, then say “ball” or come up and make your mechanic. It may seem like forever to you, but it isn’t as long as it feels. Besides, it adds an element of drama and anticipation to the game, leaving everyone on the edge of their seat waiting to see what you will call. Give them their money’s worth and do your part to make the game more exciting.
Some pitches don’t require much processing. Use those to your advantage and go even slower on them. Nobody needs you to make that call because it was so obvious, so take the opportunity to build up the balance in your bank of credibility for when you do need to take time to process. They don’t know what is happening inside your head — whether you are debating the viability of calling that borderline pitch a strike or simply telling yourself, “Oh yeah, that’s a strike all day long.”
By taking your time on the easy ones, you establish your timing so that when you do have to take a bit longer to think about a pitch, it doesn’t seem any longer — thus avoiding the comment that “he had to think about it.”
Read the Catcher and the Batter
Observing how the catcher receives pitches is another tool to help when you’re struggling. But to do this requires tracking the ball all the way into the mitt and timing that allows you the opportunity to take all this information in to make a decision.
If a pitch is near the edge of the zone, watch how your catcher handles it. Did he stick it to show you a strike, or did he have to stretch all the way across his body? Did he immediately throw it back to the pitcher without hesitation, thinking it wasn’t anywhere close? These are subtle cues that can help reinforce your calls.
The same applies to batters. With two strikes, did the hitter immediately start walking toward the dugout before you even made your call? Sometimes even the batter will tell you it was strike three. But the only way to pick up on these messages is to maintain good timing — stay down, process and let the play unfold before making your call.
We all have that occasional game where things suddenly don’t “click.” Don’t get down on yourself and fall into quicksand — the more you dwell on your mistakes, the more mistakes you make. Practice having a positive mindset. You are what your brain tells you that you are, so don’t tell yourself how bad you’re struggling. Instead, tell yourself that you’re a good umpire, qualified to work this game and that you’ve got this.
If you’re struggling at the plate, it’s usually positioning, tracking or timing — or all three.
By staying mindful of these three fundamentals, you’ll be able to identify problems on the fly and make the necessary adjustments mid-game. Struggles happen, but the best umpires don’t let them define their game. They recognize, adapt and improve. Keep your timing sharp, trust yourself and work through the tough moments. The best umpires don’t just call the game — they master it.
Bill Ward, Madison, Ala., officiates in seven college conferences and remains active in high school umpiring.
