Postscript - Part 1

So today Arizona was the first team knocked out of the Intermediate World Series.  They will have one more game as a consolation against the first team knocked out of the international bracket.  I do like that they do this now, everyone gets three games.  It's how Uganda played an American team last year that was a joy to watch and I'm sure it will be an experience for both teams to show that no matter the language, no matter the distance, something like baseball makes the world a smaller place and ties us together in a common language.

I friended a mom of one of the kids from Idaho that I got to know decently yesterday on Facebook.  They were the first people I met in Irvine.  I was out looking at the fields, starting to run through some game situation rotations in my head when this family walks up, mom, dad and a bunch of kids.  We get to talking and I find out they are from Idaho and Brady and Seth are on the team.  Well, they aren't twins so I ask about ages on the team.  Everyone was 13 except for Seth, who was 12 and Brady was the team catcher.  Cool.

We talk for about 45 minutes until Cal, the dad, has to run to get his affidavits verified and we part ways.  I finally run into Tamara who lets me know about the hotel and I go check in.  I get to the hotel at the same time that my roommate, Jerry from Turlock, gets there so I am saved from running my debit card which had almost no money on it as I am not planning on getting breakfast in bed or renting Land Before Time 52 on PPV.  Cool.

So my first game behind the plate was for the host team, Northwood Little League, verses Idaho.  Northwood won the game 12-3.  Cal came out and questioned a bat (the other game had a 2 hour, 17 minute delay about an illegal bat) I tell him it's legal, we get the crew together and we all say it is legal, he protests, which is his right, the Tournament Director says the bat is illegal so Mike, the manager of the other team wants to check with Williamsport at that point.  It comes back that the bat is alloy and legal in Intermediate.  Cal was very gracious and game goes on, 15 minutes later.  The other game was still in protest at that point.

Brady was a great catcher.  I didn't get hit once in two games behind him so I like catchers like that.  I also make it a point to talk to my catcher, get to know them a bit, and take care of them because they take care of me.  Brady was great.  We talked a bit.  They were from Fort Worth originally but took a 2 week vacation up to Idaho and ended up staying.  Long vacation.

I got to talk with Cal and Brady a couple more times during the week and it was always a pleasant chat. I am really glad I got to meet them.

So like I said, I friended Cal's wife cause I'd like to follow the career of Brady and Seth because they played with great skill and heart.  So I get a message today from Cal and I am in awe.  It is amazing the impact we can make in one week.  I'm glad I'm an umpire.  Here's the message (it's on my facebook timeline so it wasn't private):

Tony, by far my favorite umpire I have ever met! It was an honor and a privilege to have you umpire our games in Irvine. I appreciated your skill and commitment, but more so I greatly appreciated your humble attitude and your demeanor towards the kids. You are a class act all the way! Anytime you are ready to umpire some games in Idaho you let me know...you are welcome here anytime.

Hey, that play against Arizona you mentioned on your blog......it completely fooled me too. dang...they are good.

We were in over our heads, but you and the other umpires were great and made us feel like we belonged there....

Thank You Tony, You deserve every opportunity you get. Great job keeping up with the blog, I enjoyed reading it.

If you ever see Cliff and Matt, let them know they are second and third on my list..... I loved that crew when you were together. Great Job to your entire team.

Cal Bateman
Bonners Ferry, Idaho

---------

I'm glad they were there.  They belonged, not just because we made them feel that way but because they played the game the way it is supposed to be played.  Thank you for your kind words Cal.  It is nice to hear that the parents who are booing me (which really doesn't happen but it is an umpire rite of passage) aren't the only ones with opinions out there.

I had another blog planned for today but that will have to wait, so I guess I'm not done :)  Games start tomorrow out in San Bernardino -- my favorite time of the year is here!

Day 7: Championship 2nd Base

Any team can beat any other team on any given day.  That has been the best lesson of this tournament.

Day 7: 2nd base

Arizona came out hot, Hawaii did not.  Hawaii had some really tough plays that they have been making all week but did not make yesterday, bobbles by the second baseman and shortstop.  The rest of the week, the middle infield have been vacuum cleaners, getting everything, throwing everyone out. They were still very good but they weren't making the plays they have been all week.  So Arizona went up in the first.  Hawaii kept it close.  So going into the top of the 7th, Arizona was up 5-3.  Hawaii got runners on second and third with some very timely hitting then scored on a beautiful suicide squeeze, making it 5-4.  Next batter comes up and and hits a sacrifice fly, making it 5-5.  Third out and Arizona gets to bat.  First batter hits a screamer to center field where the runner circles first and comes to second.  The throw comes in and... huge SAFE call.  My biggest call of the day in the biggest moment of the game to that point.   Strike out.  Passed ball gets runner to third.  Batter walks.  Runners on first and third, one out.  The batter is given the sign for a suicide squeeze (we were told after the game) so the runners were off on the pitch.  The batter missed the sign and swings away and bloops one behind the shortstop to end the game.  Arizona goes crazy, the batter runs halfway to first then turns around to start celebrating and then gets told to get to first base and touch so the game ends.  Even if he never made it to first and they threw it down, it was only the second out (although that would be an interesting situation --if they tag the runner past second on his way to celebrate then throw to first for the force, then no run would score and the game would continue -- that would be a huge Merkel replay.)

So the semi-finals and finals of this regional tournament was really some of the best baseball I have ever seen.  I am glad i was able to be on the field to be part of it.

Some of the things that our evaluators said was it was amazing to see the growth of our umpire crew between last Friday and yesterday in regards to our teamwork and rotations.  I will say that I grew so much this week as an umpire.  One of the biggest things is that all my hard work this season paid off -- this tournament showed me that I can hang with some of the best umpires out there and hold my own.  I performed well in high-pressure situations (although I thought the Alta Loma Sub-Division game behind the plate was more pressure for me than everything but the championship yesterday) and I wasn't afraid to call the tough outs and the tough safes.  My strike zone was better this week than it has been all year.  This tournament really has been my best work if I say so myself -- the results of 5 months of way too many games during the regular season and post season.

That sounds egotistical but I don't mean it that way.  Everything just clicked this week.

Right to Left: Scott (Right Field A), Jerry (First Base), Matt (Plate), Me (2nd Base), Dave (3rd base),
Ken, (Left Field A), Clif (Left Field B), Hussein (Right Field B)

So after the game, we sat down and the evaluators (Paul and John) said, "Ummm... we got nothing."  Everyone had an important call yesterday, even the outfield lines.  Everyone was in the action.  Everyone performed stellar and most important, everyone was invisible for the game.  The kids decided the game, not any one of our calls.  Matt did a fantastic job behind the plate.  I am proud to have been part of this crew and wish Arizona luck as they take on the world next week.  Enjoy Disneyland today though. You've earned it.  Me, I've earned going home and reuniting the family as we spent the week in three different parts of the country.  Can't wait.

I'm sure there will be at least one more blog with further thoughts but the games are done. Thank you for your encouragement and support this season.  Thank you to my wife for letting me make her a baseball widow way too much this season. I love you!

Day 6: Semi-Final 1st Base

Day 6: First Base

Ok, I want to start with an event that happened in yesterday’s game that is really funny – two actually.  I don’t think I mentioned either one.

First game yesterday and I am at first base.  I had the chance to ask the right fielder if they had a team pin.  He confirmed they did and I said I’d love to trade one.  He said he would bring one out in the next inning.  Next inning he says, “oh, I forgot.”  No problem, you can bring it out next inning.  By the way, here’s my pin.  Cool.

So next inning, I’m at first and the kid comes up to bat.  His coach gives him the pin and tells him, “You’ve got to reach first somehow to give it to him.”  So the kid strikes out but the third strike is in the dirt.  Problem is that first base is occupied so as he is running down to first base, I am pounding him out with a “he’s out, he’s out, he’s still out.”  He runs to the base and stops in front of me, pulls out the pin, hands it to me and runs back to the dugout.  Everyone got a kick out of that.  Good thing the game did not affect the semi-finals as Oregon and Northwood were both out of the picture by this point.  It was probably the second funniest thing to happen to me this tournament.

The first happened when I was at the plate.  It was the top of the third inning, first pitch of the inning.  The curve ball was so beautiful that I began my strike three call, caught myself and put the hammer up for strike one.  For the most part, nobody by my base umpires and the announcer caught it but we all had big smiles on our faces after that.  Not even a two-strike punchout, a one pitch punchout.  First time I’ve ever done that.

So on to today.

The game was Northern California vs. Hawaii.  In my mind, Hawaii was going to win the game, probably in 5 by mercy.  That is why we play the game though.  The pitcher for Northern California was throwing bb’s.  Hawaii couldn’t really hit him at all today.  So Northern California scores one in the first.  In the bottom of the first, Hawaii has 1 out and a runner on 2^nd and third.  The batter hits a pop fly to center that looks like it is going to be a nice sacrifice fly.  Centerfielder winds up and guns it home, beating the runner by a couple of steps for the third out at the plate.  So the game goes scoreless through 4.  In the bottom of the 5^th Hawaii finally pushed a run across.  So it is 1-1 through 6.  Through 7.  Through 8.  In the bottom of the 8^th, Hawaii has 2^nd and 3^rd, 2 outs.  The catcher bobbles a ball behind the plate and the runner on 3^rd begins charging home.  The catcher throws to third and now has the runner in a pickle.  The runner is daring the players to throw the ball and gets tagged by the pitcher on the way home.  Inning over.  In the 9^th Hawaii starts off the inning with a kid hitting a blast to centerfield.  He starts his homerun trot with hands extended and thumbs up when the ball gets pushed by the wind and stays in the field.  He has to book it and slides into second base, safe only because the shortstop cannot handle the throw from center.  Well, Hawaii works him over to third and he scores on a passed ball.  Game over.  9 innings, 2-1.  Best game of the entire tournament.

Second game I was behind the gate watching.  Arizona played their heart out and sent Lennox home.  Ultimately, today proved that this is why you play the game.  So tomorrow’s game is Arizona vs. Hawaii, a rematch of the game I had behind the plate on Sunday.  Tomorrow the game is at 11 am and I am on 2^nd base for the championship game.  I am humbled to be there with so many great umpires at this tournament.  Matt French is behind the dish and will do a fantastic job.  He is  a great umpire and will do us all proud.

This has been a great end of my favorite year of umpiring yet.  The kids, the coaches, the tournament staff and my fellow umpires have all been great – not a single ego on the umpire staff that gets hurt.  We all love doing this so I love working with this crew.  I am excited to work tomorrow and send one of these teams off to Livermore.

Day 5: End of the Pool

Day 5: Plate and 1^st Base

Today was the last day of pool play.  What a great day for baseball in Irvine.  The weather was perfect with a warm sun and a chilly sea breeze.  The games were quick but not at the same time.  I couldn’t believe the clock when we walked off because the first game seemed so much longer.  Let me get into the games.

First game: Idaho vs. Hawaii, Plate

Hawaii is a very solid team.  When they played against the host team, the manager said that they lost the game during warm ups.  Not only are they the most disciplined team out here both offensively and defensively, they are one of the best teams out here based off of sportsmanship and attitude.  They played Idaho today, a team I have talked about before.  As part of my pre-game, I started off that I have really appreciated both teams and their attitudes, both being some of the best out here.  Of course, I have done 2 plates for Hawaii and 2 plates for Idaho so I have seen both of them.

The game was out of hand in the first inning.  Hawaii scored 8 in the first.  Idaho didn’t have a runner through 3 innings.  It was 13-0 after 3 and a half (Hawaii is the visiting team.)  In  the bottom of the 4^th, the first batter got on and then the catcher, Brady got a hit.  They ended up scoring 4 in the 4^th.  Great heart.  Hawaii ended up scoring more and the final score ended up being 22-4 but Brady Batemon went 2 for 3.  I told him if Hawaii ends up winning the World Series, he can say he went 2 for 3 against the best team in the world.  Of course, Hawaii has to win Regionals first and then get past everyone else to get there so we’ll see.  The game ended up going 5 innings mercy in 2:15 minutes but it sure seemed like a 3 hour game. 

Things worked on:  I spent more time down before standing up after calling a ball, working on my timing.  My strike zone is good from everything I see.  My timing has been my downfall and I think I made major steps today.  What I need to work on more is working from point-of-plate and moving from where the ball comes from.  I was grossly out of position on one call at the plate today.  I got it right but it could have been an easier sell if I was in the right position. 

Second game:  Host team, Northwood LL, District 55 vs. Oregon, first base.

Mike (Northwood manager) and Phil (Oregon manager) were two of the most personable managers out here for this tournament.  The game was well played but ended up being lopsided. Northwood won 7-0 but Oregon had a great attitude today.  I had a good time on first base though.

Things worked on:  I spent more time waiting to call out and safe calls at first, double-checking the catch to verify it isn’t off in right field.  I did take major steps on that today.  I also spent more time going through situations in my head as to where I would move if the ball is hit here, here or there.

I received my evaluation today and I got very good marks.  I received 2 2’s (1’s are best, 5’s are worst, nobody really gets ones or fives) – one in something I forgot and the other in attitude.  They said I was I took constructive criticism well.  Best part is that I did well enough to qualify for a World Series tournament when I apply for it.  They told us all today that usually you can say there are the top 2 or 3 umpires, the middle ground, and then the bottom 2 or 3 umpires.  With our crew, the difference between us was minimal (although in my opinion Cliff is the gold standard).  I could really tell though that we have a great crew and it has truly been a pleasure to be part of this inaugural crew.

Tonight, Dave, his wife and his grandson took me out to dinner to a place called Gulliver’s.  Talk about absolutely amazing food.  Holy cow!  It must have been because that was some of the best prime rib I have ever tasted.  I went to umpire school with Dave and his grandson David and I have really liked working with him. I have been taking him back and forth from the hotel each day so it was his way of saying thank you.  It was more than I ever expected.  Thank you Dave for dinner.  I am still in awe of the meal.

So tomorrow, I am at 1^st base for the Hawaii/Northern California game.  The game is at 10:00 am.  The 1:00 game is Southern California and Arizona and I will be behind the gate in umpire evaluations.  I have been joking about announcing but I’d really like to – I’ll have to bribe Danny to let me do it some.

Tomorrow and Friday.  That’s it.  I think I blinked too many times.

Day 4: 2nd and 3rd

So yesterday, Monday, was a rain day in case we had make up games, which we did not, so it was a day off.  It was nice having a day off to do laundry, relax, and get up to San Bernardino to watch some Major Softball games.  It was relaxing.

Game 1: 2nd Base

I started my new rotation today.  I got to stay with Cliff and he is still amazing.  My new crew members are Matt, a 19 year old guy with a lot of experience and a great umpire, and Dave Raney, a ** year old guy with tons of experience.  Both of them are on their district staffs, so they help coordinate umpires, train umpires, and be professional.  They are great.  Matt was behind the plate for the Hawaii/Oregon game.  Hawaii ended up winning 19-1 and put the breaks on in the 4th inning, but they were pouring it on a bit after the Oregon team started using their catchphrase in a sarcastic manner.  It was in fun I think but it fired up a slow starting Hawaii team to score a ton of runs in the later innings.  Hawaii had a pretty good attitude through it all though.  Matt really is a fantastic umpire.

The crew did really well.  Matt ended up believing by the end of the game that Cliff and I were the good luck charms as both of our games ended before the other field, like every other game this week except one have done.  It is pretty funny that way :)

 Dave was behind the plate for the District 55 Host team and Arizona game.  Arizona beat them pretty handily, 11-1 with the 11th run coming across in the bottom of the 5th for an anti-climatic ending.  Dave went to Western Regional Umpire School with me back in 2012 with his grandson who umpires also.  He didn't think he did well with his game management but he did very well and kept the game moving.  I really, really like working with this crew as we have years and years and years of umpiring experience and the youthful exuberance of a 19 year old kid ready to take on the world with his immense talent and personality.

Saturday night, Dave shared that an umpire who went to umpire school with us, Bob, passed away in May.  Bob was the life of the school, with his energy and friendliness.  I really, really liked working with him on our team and I was heartbroken to hear of his passing.  The world lost a great man and a fantastic umpire.

Tomorrow I am on the plate for the Hawaii/Idaho game at 9 and then on first for the Oregon/District 55 game at 12:30.  Last day of pool play.  I'm ot ready for it to be done but I need to spend the next 5 months to be with my family before umpire season starts again.  Next year won't be the non-stop umpiring it was this year but I will miss it when I put the gear away on Saturday.

Day 3: First and Plate

Day 3:
First game was Idaho and Oregon.  Idaho came out big and won in 7, 12-4.  Both teams played well, had good attitudes and were a joy to work with.  I have been spending the last couple of days saying what I have been doing wrong and how it is going to affect me in the future but I wanted to spend today telling you about what I have enjoyed today.  Occasionally I get to connect with a kid playing for a moment or two and it makes it that much more enjoyable.  In this game I was on first base and outside the fence were two kids and their dad.  The older of the two, probably 3 years old, was calling out to me in between pitches and I'd turn and smile.  Between innings I did the major no-no and went and talked to him, asking about his trucks and talking about his shirt that had a firetruck on it.  It was a short 30 second talk but it was great to do.  The dad looked happy and I think the kid is going to have a positive outlook of umpires for a while.
One of the players from Idaho is the substitute (they have 10 players).  He pitched yesterday so I told him he did a good job out there.  Today there was a homerun hit over his head.  We talked in between innings and he mentioned that he wanted a ball hit to him but not one like that.  I told him that Oregon was making fun of their center fielder yesterday for not being able to jump 25 feet to catch those homeruns.  Nice moment.
One of the things they told us today was to take a moment to smile, to take a moment and turn around and enjoy the beauty.  Me, I am the type of guy to enjoy the moment as it is so this was something I do.  I have enjoyed working as an umpire in the biggest tournament of my life thus far but I think I have enjoyed most working with great umpires and working two games a day for a week which has been amazing.

The second game was one of the premier games of the tournament, Arizona and Hawaii.  I was on the plate for this one.  The game lived up to the hype as it started off 3-2 Arizona, then a one run shot to make it 3-3, then a 3 run shot by Hawaii to make it 6-3 and ending 7-3.  The game was extremely competitive and well played, high on emotions but also high on good sportsmanship.  I had good report with the catchers, talking with them, taking care of them as they took care of me.  The Arizona catcher asked me what I felt about the hotel as he has seen me there in the pool so we talked about that for a bit.  I enjoy talking with my catchers and calling them by name (it is on the lineup card usually) and treating them like young adults. 

So at one point today I had one of the coaches from a team come up to me and say that I was probably his favorite umpire that he has met all year and that it was great having games where he didn't have to worry about the umpires because they were doing their job.  I don't base my abilities off of what coaches say because those opinions change from call to call but it is really nice to hear we are appreciated. 

Overall, this was a day to appreciate the opportunity, look at the bright side and enjoy the moment.  I appreciate Dave for recommending me, Western Region for choosing me and Paul and John for hosting a great tournament.  I can't wait to start back up on Tuesday!

Tuesday schedule, I have 3rd base at 9 am, and 2nd base at 12:30.  On Wednesday, I have the plate at 9 and 1st base at 12:30. Thursday, I'm not sure what I will have since those are the semis and it will be determined after Wednesday.  It's coming too fast.

Day 2: Third and Second

Day 2:

First game was Butte verses Northern California.  I was at 3rd base.  Originally we were heading down to the other field to do the Northwood (Host team) vs. Hawaii game but our plate umpire is from the host district and having him on the plate for the game usually is not that kosher.  So we switched.  The game was good.  Northern California beat Butte pretty handily but the Butte guys had a good attitude.  I always like that. 

My bad:  There was a rotation that I completely missed 2nd to last play of the game.  I was at third base and we had a pop fly to the fence that the ump on second chased out.  I had a runner at 3rd I was watching the tag for but the fielder really wasn’t close so I should have been to second base to watch the throw in.  I wasn’t until the throw was on the way and I started saying, oh man, that’s my call, that’s my call to myself as I frantically started towards 2nd.  4 man mechanics are killing me.  The play wasn’t close so no harm but I sure felt stupid.  Next play the ball is hit to the shortstop and the runner runner collides with the shortstop right after the throw.  I call “That’s Interference” but the shortstop was able to get the runner out at first so nothing was made of the call.  It was the right call though so I bounced back quickly.

Game 2 was Arizona verses Idaho.  I still really like the attitude of the Idaho players.  Arizona jumped all over Idaho in the first few innings and it was obvious that Arizona just had the bigger bats today but the Idaho players still had fun, still played hard, and never said a bad word about anyone except for the centerfielder who couldn’t jump 25 feet high to catch those homerun balls.  I was at second base for this game and got pretty good reviews for it.  I was not upset with my work out there but feel like I can definitely use more study on the proper rotations while at second.  I also need to work on my timing as I had a safe call that if I would have gone the other way, I would have been in trouble as the ball ended up trickling past the second baseman on a pickoff that I didn’t see until it was 5 feet behind him.  I need to make it a habit to use the same timing I need on out calls as I do on safe calls.  No need to hurry.

The really bad:  I had a pickoff from the catcher from Arizona that the shortstop and second baseman had been working on for a while.  The second baseman goes to the bag to catch the ball on the runner from first.  Meanwhile the shortstop comes in front of the bag and pretends to catch the ball to keep the runner on third from going.  The second baseman catches the ball and applies the tag.  So I’m in the middle of this, the shortstop comes behind me and I catch him out of the corner of my eye as I am following the ball.  He slaps his glove and to me it sounds as if he caught the ball.  I hear this and miss the catch at second and the applied tag.  I turn to look at the SS and the second baseman says, “I have the ball” and shows it to me.  I’m dumbfounded at this point and have nothing else to say but “Then he’s safe.”  I sold it but I had no clue whether the ball beat him there or not.  Between innings, Cliff told me that I got it right so that was some consolation but tracking the ball is muy importante.

Speaking of Cliff, I am really, really enjoying working with him.  He is one of the most sound, consistent and professional umpires I have ever seen (Outside of Dave Burt (My UIC (Kissing up))).  Just watching how he handles things is making me reconsider my mechanics and adjusting them to be more like him because if I get more like him, I’ll be a better umpire. 

Tomorrow, I have first base at the 9:00 am game for Idaho and Oregon and then the 12:30 pm Arizona and Hawaii game.  Both 12:30 games are powerhouse games – Arizona has been dominant so far and Hawaii totally dominated their game today while the other game is the traditional rivalry game of Southern Cal vs. Northern Cal.  All four teams look really good and any of these four could win the whole thing and head to Livermore.  My plate should be a real exciting, well-played game.  Hope I live up to the hype :)