ja 16 Long Talk

It was a long talk from the site.

Meanwhile, I threw the baseball folks a tease of what I was up to.

But, after reviewing an umpire site last night, I can see that there is so much in lacking in the how to.

I'm just trying to turn the corner on this.

I'm tryin' to take them out to the ball game.


Overview
Describe your book in two or three paragraphs (500 words or less). What is the title and subtitle? Who is the target audience and what makes your book unique and worthwhile for them? Think of this as the copy that would go on the back cover of your book or in the publisher's catalog, or as the brief review that you hope to see in Publishers Weekly or the NY Times Book Review.
This 22 chapter book, The Complete Guide for Successful Umpiring: How to Survive Little League Baseball and the Soccer Mom, solves a problem and answers a big question: why can't we find any good umpires? While there's literally millions of youth baseball and softball games worldwide, but of not enough skilled umpires to meet the growing demand of youth baseball and softball worldwide. As more and more youth ball games—ramped up by the phemon of travel teams—fill diamonds around the country, the problem of finding good umpires is huge.
I've umpired well over a 1000 Huggyville (ages 7 to 12, approx.) baseball games off and on for more than ten summers. The way I umpire now as to how I did then is huge. I feel confident, as well as protected. By going to umpire meetings through the winter, watching other umpires, and looking after the game's end how I could have made the call differently, or "sold" it better, both my skill and comfort level steadily increased. However, while there might be well over 400 umpires who do Huggyville ball through the season here in the Omaha Metro area, only 50 or so, due to other commitments, attend the meetings.
That means that there's at least 350 umpires who had little exposure to the training. Of course, after a few games, they no doubt got themselves comfortable behind the plate, where Blue spends most of his/her time—working alone, that is—and so, by hook or by crook, by trial and error, New Blue becomes Vet Blue. Only, one has to ask, it is always a clear line from point A to point B?
And, quite frankly, I also was an infrequent attendee, maybe making but one or two appearance out of 12 or so—not nearly enough, as I found out—and my umpiring skills suffered accordingly. This winter, getting an idea to put a How-to book together for Huggyville Blue (coda for amateur umpire), I thought I would attend each and every meeting, study the rules book religiously, talk to veteran umps. Now, going out on the diamond, I feel comfortable with the job I'll do behind the plate or on the bases.
I've also found that if you break it down to two main sections, the Zen Strike Zone and the Right Right Angle, you can go along ways to mastering the intricaties of America's favorite pastime after it is broken down in both logical and sequentional fashion.
Target Audience
Given the national scope, it is my feeling that major publishers such as Wiley (Dummies series) and Penguin Group (The Complete Idiot's Guide series) would like to take a look. Moreover, university presses would be interested in a never-before-written book on a How-to book for young umpires, adding to their collection of books that cover the usual bases of all-time greats, quirky managers, players and owners..
Overall, the market for this How-to umpiring book could be huge. Of course, the logical readers would be those umpires who are just starting out, who maybe want to hone their skills. While the fact that there are well over a million ball youth baseball and softball games being played from early spring to late summer in the country, as well as gaining popularity around the world, especially Japan, means that many games and that many umpires would be a reach, if this book becomes part of the umpire primer, thousands of the book would have a ready audience.
Secondary are the tournament organizers, athletic directors, and affiliates who promote and sustain the drive for getting youth to step out on the ball diamond, whether the rec leauge, the YMCA, Little League Baseball or USSSA. For the most part, the last question that seems to be asked, if a 10-field, 45acre complex is in the works, “Where will we get the umpires?”
Third, coaches and fans will have a delight in reading the travail the umpire goes through. Like me, they will come across not a few surprises. Quickly, they will see that the task of umpring a routine six-inning game—the usual number for virtually all Huggyville games—can quickly fill itself full of more complexities than herding cats. Then, there will be a nedw appreciation of the umpire, the challenges he/she faces as they step out onto the Field of Dreams.
The best ways to reach prospective readers would be to link the book with the Little League Baseball and Softball organization, as well as other youth baseball leagues. While I've not pitched the idea for said book to Little League Baseball's Umpire-in-Chief Andy Konyar, the NSAA's (Nebraska State Athletic Association) Jim Angeles, or the Metro Umpire-in-Chief Denny Jones, I'm confident they'd be more than happy to take a look at how to recruit and retain umpires—the key problem facing so many organizations—allowing them to build a solid group of umpires, the groundwork of which is laid through the reading this book.
Currently, Little League, through ESPN, is laying the groundwork for orgainzing Little League teams around the country. Combined with the travel team phenom and other leagues, the chances of selling a How-to umpire book to address the growing problem of more games but fewer umpires, is greatly enhanced.
Meet the author
As mentioned, I have umpired well over a 1000 Huggyville baseball games these past ten years. Until I started writing this book, until I started going to meetings and talking to veteran umpires, until I started reading the rules book, I always felt uneasy stepping onto the ball diamond. Something would happen that I wasn't ready for. However, it all came together last year when it finally dawned on me, I think after a foul ball hit behind the catcher. I threw my hands in the air, giving the foul ball signal. This is also the signal for time out and dead ball. I then also thought, after the pitcher had the ball and the batter stepped up to the plate, and I signaled the pitcher that he could pitch, I thought how the ball is either live or it's dead. There is nothing in between.
In addition, I've published an essay in the local paper, describing the USSSA that comes to Omaha in time with the College World Series. Not only do college coaches do their best to get their teams ready for big show, there's also the younger brethren who also embark on the Road to Omaha. Like the LLWS (Little Leauge World Series), the ten days packed with excitement, running 700 games a weekend. Moreover, since “breaking in” to writing essays for the paper three years ago, I've had 12 published. Thus, my writing ability, my hand-on experience behind the plate or doing the bases, as well as training New Blue, gives me a solid foundation on which to write this book.
Other books
As mentioned, the only two books available, the Umpire Manual (NFHS, 2006) and Officiating Baseball (Human Kinetics, 2004), explain the mechanics of umpiring but do not cover those games where base paths at 70 feet, pitcher's mound at 50 feet—the baseball player 12 years old and young.
They spend no time whatsoever in addressing what many Blue face on the typical Huggyville ball diamond—flying solo. The Guide gives a a clear template New Blue can follow when he/she is flying solo—knowing where to be and how best to get there, achieving the goal of a job well done.
Again, these two books that explain umpiring for high school and college players, from a two-man, three-man system, do a good job but the style is written in manual foremant that takes not a few readings to get the gist of what is most important. The Guide, on the other hand, jumps off the premise of a Zen Strike Zone (the explanation of which is worth the price of the book itself!) and the Right Right Right angle. This broad stroke approach to umpiring allows for quick and easy grasp on the basic fundamentals that allow Blue to easily “Fake it 'til you make it.”
Promotion
As mentioned, Little League will be using the contract extension with ESPN and ABC. This provides an outlet for book representation on an international scale. For instance, along with a blurb from ABC commentator Dusty Baker, there would be a mention of a book the prospective umpire can buy to improve his/her game.
Thus, the tv outlet would be huge. Along with articels in such sports magazines like sports Illustrated,
Approach
This book rests on two tenets--the Zen Strike Zone for the plate umpire, the Right Right angle for the base umpire. Step by step is the approach, detailing how these two mechanics are mastered. There are photos, sidebars, tables, checklists, and illustrations throughout the text that make the overall format easy for quick reference.
Below is Contents at a Glance with chapter titles.
Contents at a Glance
Introduction
Despite the youth baseball surge worldwide the past few years—particularly competitive, All-Star baseball, i.e. “travel teams,” a fairly new phenomenon that has athletic children of Baby boomer's vie for national recognition—a big time missing link in America’s favorite pastime prevails—the umpire. Largely unheralded, blissfully ignored—until his or her split-second decision to call ball or strike, safe or out has fans cheering or crying—the umpire’s place on the baseball hierarchy is near the bottom of the ball diamond pecking order.
Part I: An Umpire’s Primer
This book is designed to help the young, the not-so-young umpire (more and more Baby Boomers want direct involvement with youth sports but haven’t the slightest idea on how on how they get started) get off to a good start umpiring youth baseball games. New Blue meets the growing demand for skilled and trained umpires as a favorite American pastime begins to wear international colors.
As mentioned above, Umpiring for Dummies is carefully written to be useful for Novice Umpires as well as those who’ve been at it for a while and might see some new ways to cover the bases, how to get to the exact and correct place on the infield to make the right call. Moreover, the new and the not- so-new umpire, once they read this book, can be assured that 9 times out of 10, they know what mechanics they need to make right call--behind the plate or on the bases.
Chapter 1: Baseball Is Now Worldwide
In this chapter
Japan rocks
Baseball everywhere
Little League World Series Huge Following
The showcase, of course, is the Little League World Series--37 games televised in 2005 (ABC or ESPN) with an average of 5 million viewers (from Little League, Big Dreams by Charles Euchner, Sourcebooks, 2006).
Recent posts on the Little League Online website: "Little League Signs 8-year Television Contract Extension with ESPN."
Chapter 2: Umpire Prep—Fake it ‘Til You Make It
In this chapter
Getting Started
Chronic ump shortage
Fans’ High Expectations
Reading the Official Baseball Rules book
Getting Started: Hey, Chief Blue, should I read the rules book?
Oh sure. Definitely. You really need to read the rules book—except not right now. No, right now you should focus on two things: Getting solid Plate Mechanics as explained in Part II as well as getting solid Base Mechanics as explained in Part III.
Chapter 3: Game Prelims--an intro Major League Baseball's Official Rules Book
In this Chapter
Prelims--what you need to know
Planning for the first game
Getting ready to umpire
Covering all the bases
The Major League Baseball’s ORB (Official Rules Book)
First, let’s get the heavy lifting out of the way: a few chapters begin with abridged versions of the ORB. When it applies directly to the recommended steps for success, putting the Dummies’ steps in context, they will be copied verbatim, outlining both what they do say, and what they don’t say when it comes to making calls behind the plate or in the bases.
The few rules that directly apply the lion’s share of plays on the typical Little League, Kid Ball, Huggyville (ages 7 to 12), Youth Ball Diamond are listed, explained, clarified and matched up to what New Blue encounters on the ball diamond. While the MLB Rules Book is pocket size (where it has to be, first year as Rookie Minor League Umpire, in your back pocket!) and not more than a 100 pages, it rivals, according to authors Jaska and Smith who broke down the ORB into a 400 page workbook, the U.S. tax code for the level of complexity and ambiguity. Indeed, as noted on the official Little League Website, rules change, interpretations change and, as an offshoot, umpire mechanics change.
Chapter 4: Ready or Not, Hear I Come—Gear Needed
In This Chapter
Getting the right gear
Preparing for cold weather
Preparing for hot weather
Keeping yourself comfortable
Packing ump survival kit
Like a good plate meeting, you’ve made a good first-impression; already you’re selling the call. The same is true with the gear you wear, the sporting apparel you wear: in a close game and a close call, that confidence level you’ve instilled pays off: the coaches and fans are more than likely to accept the close call. Looking the part has a lot to do with it.
Personal protection--guaranteed
Hey Chief Blue, do I need a jock strap?
Oh yes, by all means. Allow me to be a little indiscreet to keep you out of real harm's way: check out the Nutty Buddie. It is the jock strap to end all jock straps. On the website, it will show the umpire get hit with a 90 mph fastball right to the groin--and all it does make a huge "thock." Believe me, you'll cringe at the first video demonstration but then jot down the website so that you can own your own personal protection.
Believe you me, I just have to look at a bruise on my upper thigh to see how close I was to real pain: the Nuttie Buddy and I will never part.
Or, as the most recent bulletin (5/21/07) at Metro Umpires.com has it:
This afternoon my Nutty Buddy won another victory. First off, I was in the correct slot position with the catcher setup in the outside slot and the batter connected with a letters-high inside pitch, and glanced straight back and down. The catcher never even came close to getting a glove on it, it got me "rock solid" on the Nutty Buddy. Yes, I felt it, but it was no big deal and play went without even a slow down. Had I worn a "normal" cup, I probably would have been on the ground for some time. Some of you probably thinking he's just saying that. Think about this... when I went to remove my Nutty Buddy I couldn't. The force of the impact fused the material of my UnderArmour jock cup pouch to the Nutty Buddy. Weeee... the boys are alive and very well! Thank you to Roy and the rest of the MiLB guys for tipping us off to these. posted by: James, Mike on 5/20/2007 10:24:12 PM
I may need to look into a nutty buddy. How much do they run? posted by: Marcoe, David on 5/20/2007 10:54:13 PM
Check nuttybuddy.com. They're about $20 each. posted by: Bierd, DJ on 5/21/2007 11:40:57 AM
My Nuts Always win.
posted by: Kelly, Mike on 5/21/2007 11:26:19 AM
Chapter 5: Safety: Staying Cool, Calm, and Collected
In This Chapter
Chapter Five Safety: Staying Cool, Calm, and Collected
In this chapter
Drink plenty of water before the games
Bring a banana or two
Frito’s to restore your salt
Head gear that fits
Chest protector that protects
Start out by doing a single game. Then a double header. Get used to doing more than two games. If you have a partner, switch at the end of every game.
To do list before the diamond
Drink water--start drinking water early in the day, even if you're not thirsty
Keep hydrated--don't over do it but makes sure you are keeping your fluids going
Part II: Plate Mechanics—Getting Set in the "Slot"
Chapter 6: The Zen Strike Zone—Strike Calls Made Easy
In this chapter
Defining the strike zone
The chunk of cheese
The check or half swing
The dropped third strike
Taking A Look At the Strike Zone
What is meant by the Strike Zone, anyhow? Is there an exact formula that says what is, what isn’t a strike? Of the 80 or so definitions of baseball terminology in Section 2 of the Rules Book, let’s look at Rule #72, the Strike Zone:
2.00—Definitions of Terms
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 form the batter’s stance as the batter is prepared to swing at a pitched ball.
Chapter 7: Getting Set to Call the First and Last Pitch
In this chapter
Choose your mechanics—box or scissors
Pause, read, react
Wait as long as you can before the pitcher winds to get set
Set your “camera”: stop before you make the call
Chapter 8: How to Sell the Call—Ball/strike; Fair/Foul; Foul Tip; Infield Fly Rule
In this chapter
Get the Zen Strike Zone and stick with it
Error to the strike
See the entire plate
Set your camera
Another baseball umpire truism: you have to sell the call
The first thing you need to do, believe it or not, holding for know what was discussed above about the “Slot” and the “Zen Strike Zone,” we have to first think of our appearance. How do we look when we step out on the ball diamond.
Chapter 9: How to Sell the Call—Catcher Interference; Dead Ball; Balk
In this chapter
Foul/fair—avoid ambiguous calls
Foul tip—always a strike, ball is live
Dead ball, the delayed dead ball
Saying “Time, time.”
The Balk Rule
Trouble balls
Down the line
Interference/obstruction
The best way you can sell these calls is by knowing what they are. And, like this book is designed to do, we will start with the order of frequency, moving in descending order.
Frequent: These top two below happen all the time in every game. A foul ball happens at almost every at bat.
Foul ball very frequent; almost every time at bat. The ball is considered dead.
Foul tip fairly frequent; every 1 out of 5 bats. The ball is considered live.
Part III: Base Mechanics—Getting the Right Right Angle
Chapter 10: The Right Right Angle--Plan and Anticipate
Chapter 11: Pause, Read, React—Timing and Fundamental Base Mechanics
Chapter 12: Infield Position A, B, or C—Where to Go and When
Chapter 13: Trouble calls: Interference, Obstruction, and Balk
Part IV: Working Alone, Working with a Partner
In this part…
Part IV continues with fine-tuning your umpire skills. The easiest approach to one man umpiring is discussed and you will familiarize yourself with some of the problems you will have to contend with, what unexpected pleasures there might be conducting the Symphony Orchestra on the field of dreams with a single baton.
Wielding the baton for a single orchestra
Of course, there’ll be a repeat to an extent of plate and base mechanics. However, the extension will be to the fact you and you alone are the man or woman in charge of what goes down. The next chapter will describe how to work with your partner. This is when your chances of missing a call or not being in a position to make the play are greatly reduced. In fact, working with a knowledgeable partner increases you’ll make the call and make the call right.
Chapter 14: One-man crew: Mechanics When Working Alone—Home Plate; Bases
In This Chapter
General duties and responsibilities
Call balls and strikes
Hustle! You have the “dish” + bases
Rule on fair/foul from both left field, right field foul pole
All ground balls in the infield
All fly balls to the outfield
And now you’re going to umpire a game by yourself? Welcome to conducting the symphony orchestra in the Field of Dreams all by your lonesome. At first you might think, like I did, that this is impossible task: the coaches will come out and hand you the baseballs and you go over the ground rules. Out of the corner of your eye you see players taller than you, firing the ball back and forth over 90 foot bases: you think, How in the heck will I…. But, believe it or not, after a few games, you’ll find that you don’t need any help. Moreover, you don’t want any help. You can do just fine by yourself.
Chapter 15: Two-man crew: Mechanics When Working with a Partner
Chapter 16: Coverage’s Working Alone; Working with a Partner
Part V: Umpire Challenges
Chapter 17 Plate Umpire Challenges--Safe/Out at the Plate; Tag Plays
Chapter 18 Base Umpire Challenges--Safe/Out at the Base; Catch/No Catch; Tag Plays
Chapter 19 Trouble Balls, Trouble Calls--Infield Fly Rule, Check Swing
Chapter 20 Sportsmanship and Game Control—Firm But Fair
Part VI: The Least You Should Know
Chapter 21 Ten Things Every Umpire Should Know
Chapter 22 Ten Things Every Coach and Parent Should Know About the Umpire
Chapter 23 Ten (Actually, 20) Brief Tips for Becoming a Great Umpire
Appendix A: Umpire Organizations
Appendix B: Youth Sports Organizations
Appendix C: The Umpire’s Resource Kit
Index
* Market Overview.
With the popularity of youth baseball, particularly "travel," "select," and "All-Star" teams that have grown more and more popular, the shortage of trained umpires is a big problem. For example, I touched base in January with Umpire-In-Chief of Little League Baseball & Softball, Andy Konyar, Williamsport, PA, who gives me current Little League take:
more games nationally and internationally than ever before
basically, finding umpires is a pressing problem: each of the 7,000 Leagues deals with the issue individually. From Little League Online website: Every year local leagues have elections, organizational meetings, registrations, drafts, etc.. Then, a week before the season starts someone asks, “What about umpires?”
on-going discussions on how to recruit and retrain umpires
Biggest problem? Arguments from coaches and fans. Andy said it's hard to retain umpires who, for example, have "blown" a call and is then subject to spectator hassles.
Andy said he thought there were "millions" of Little League Baseball games each spring and summer worldwide
7,000 Leagues--almost 1,000 international--with four divisions per league, 20 games per division
Seven regions--International Headquarters; Central Region; Eastern Region; South Region, West Region; Southwest Region; Canada.
Now, in the midst of more youth baseball, there exists a shortage of umpires. Overall, there is no real way to alert various members of the league, for instance, that trained umpires must be part of league "must-dos" if they are to have a successful season.
Hence, because there is no formal training, this Idiot's Guide will be a good substitute to teach, to referesh. Moreover, fans and coaches will have a better picture of the game when they see the ballgame through the mask.
Describe who will buy this book and why. Try to quantify the size of the market and the extent to which it is growing. Include any available demographic information on your target reader. Keep in mind that it is a rare book indeed whose audience is "every American."
As mentioned above, would-be umpires will need this book to round out their umpire job. Notes taken and conversations recorded from workshops conducted by veteran umpires as well as two young umpires who are currently doing Double A and A ball respectively, are important features. Their input is broken down into manageable chunks that can be easily grasped by the umpire.
While Andy said that there must be "millions" of Little League baseball games around the world, this of course does not translate to that many umpires. However, this book will be useful for the coach and player as well as the fan. I'll be the first to admit that I had to be literally drug through the rules book kicking and screaming but once using it in the context of the plays I was watching and the calls I was making, there came a deep appreciation and admiration to those folks way back when who put such a beautiful document together that has withstood the test of time. Thus, when they see the game, when they watch an umpire making a call, it will be in context with official baseball rules, the umpires interpretation and explanation therein.
* Competition for Your Book. List other available books that the reader for your book might purchase as an alternative. Describe how your book will offer the more appealing alternative. Do not include competitive books that are widely different in scope or format from your proposed book.
This is a unique, never-been-written book that examines umpire responsibilities while taking a sharp look at the Official Rules Book. This is different than other books that cover baseball generally, youth baseball specifically (a few include Coaching Baseball for Dummies, Wiley 2007; Baseball for Dummies, Wiley 2005 and The Complete Book of Baseball Signs and Plays, Coaches Choice 1999) that mention "rules" a great deal but shy away from actually listing them or explaining them. This Idiot’s Guide, on the other hand, notes those rules that most often impact the typical baseball game. While it won't be an extensive list (some of the plays that happen are so unusual as to appear but once in a great while) and explanation, the choice of rules to discuss are adequate to give the general overall picture. These rules abound with examples, broken down into a user-friendly format for a quick and easy read.
* Your Author Credentials. Provide a brief bio or CV, including education or experience in the subject, writing experience, and previous publications. Let us know of your availability and/or willingness to participate in promotion and publicity efforts, and any special media contacts or promotion opportunities you bring to the project. Be sure to include your contact information.
My background has seen over 15 years of teaching and writing. Part-time, I've involved myself in youth sports, both in coaching and officiating--basically following my children in their various activities--basketball, softball, baseball and track--and coming away with appreciation and respect for coaches and officials. I also feel that a How-to book would be useful for the would-be umpire. It can keep him or her safe from incurring the coach's or fan's wrath. At the same time, as indicated above, I haven't come across any books that discuss how the Huggyville umpire can succeed nor any book that shows the baseball rules give us a whole new way of looking at the game.
Credentials:
Degrees
New York University, BA (English, Journalism), 1978
Teacher College*Columbia University, MA (Language, Lit., Communication), 1981
University of South Dakota, MA (Secondary Administration), 1988
Writing experience/addendum:
New York City (1974-1982)
Writing
1975 New School for Social Research—published short story
1978 Washington Square News, reporter
1982—87 South Sioux City Star (feature stories)
Acting
1976 National TV Commercial, Metropolitan Life Insurance
1977—82 Extra: movies, Welcome Back Kotter episodes
1976 Industrial film, NAPA Auto Parts
Nebraska (1982—Present)
Feature Writing/Reporting
1993 Forward for Community Cookbook
1991—97 Sports, Feature Stories, Hard News at South Sioux City Star, Sioux City Journal
1993—95 Correspondent for the Omaha World-Herald, Papillion Times.
1997—98 Three essays read on Nebraska Public Radio
1998 Featured speaker at St. Mary’s Parish dedication.1999—2001 Health awareness newsletter, writer + editor
2002—03 Epiphany, on-line magazine, Calling All Subs, 73,000-word novella sub teaching at Millard Public Schools 1999—2003.
June 2003 Midlands Voices, "Some survive falls but face tough climb," Omaha World-Herald
March 2004 Midlands Voices, "A rain gauge allows measure of tradition," Omaha World-Herald
May 2004 Midlands Voices, "Small kindnesses can produce much good," Omaha World-Herald
Oct. 2004 Midlands Voices, "Reeve, in wheelchair, lived best known-role," Omaha World-Herald
Jan. 2006 Midlands Voices, "Escaping ‘coma land’ proves to be arduous," Omaha World-Herald
April 2006 Midlands Voices, "Downfall of drug use takes toll on Joby," Omaha World-Herald
May 2006 Midlands Voices, "Brain-injury patients deal with uncertainty," Omaha World-Herald
June 2006 Midlands Voices, "Sights and sounds fill fields of dreams," Omaha World-Herald
Sept. 2006 Midlands Voices, "Venerable classroom magazine caught up in 9/11 political spin," Omaha World-Herald
Dec. 2006 Midlands Voices, "A time for reflection on holiday pride, war," Omaha World-Herald
April 2007 Midlands Voices, "Brain-injured need open doors in hiring," Omaha World-Herald
* Outline of Content. At a minimum, include chapter titles and a brief description of each chapter. Include major subheads if you have them. Make sure the subheads are clearly descriptive of the content, and not merely clever.
* Sample Material. Include a sample chapter or chapter segment from the proposed book. The sample should be at least five pages long, but no more than 20 pages. If you will be supplying photos or illustrations with your manuscript, include a sample of such. If you do not have any sample material available for the proposed book, include another sample of your writing that has not been heavily edited by a publisher.
Send your proposal to:
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Please understand that Alpha Books does not assume responsibility for any unsolicited proposal or manuscript that we may receive, and specifically we are not responsible for returning your proposal, nor do we guarantee a response. If you mail a proposal and want to be sure we have received it, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard, which we will return when your proposal is received.
A proposa
However, a big wrench can be easily tossed into the works. While the umpire job is lucrative ($37/game that run 1 hour, 50 minutes, four games/day on the weekends), the biggest challenge facing the New Blue—or Any Blue, for that matter—stems from the fact that there’s no sure-fire way to train for yard (baseball diamond) work. Too many times, learning the Blue Trade is through trial and error. Too many times, good umpires quit after an over-zealous coach or pumped fan (filled with high expectations; it doesn’t matter the level of play before them) berates their performance. Plus, without guidelines to follow or any formal training, the novice umpire winds up flying solo—by the seat of his/her Heather gray pants!
This How-to Blue guide sets out to change all that. Blue, following a carefully laid-out plan, sees how this complex job is broken down into two main parts—the Zen Strike Zone and the Right Right Angle. Following the plan, practicing the drills, Blue comes to the yard fully loaded. He/she gets over the speed bumps, dodges bad fan bullets and conducts the symphony orchestra of 18 ball players—in the Field of Dreams.Fortunately, I’ve been able to ride the crest of this Kid Ball tsunami these past ten years, umpiring more than 100 Huggyville games a season, lucky to call games for championship teams coming to town (Omaha, home of the College World Series) from Florida and California, from Texas and Minnesota. Always I strive to meet ball diamond demands—and sometimes I do. Fans will say, when leaving, “Good job, Blue.” For a moment, you feel like you were King of the Diamond for the day!
While I’m now in the comfort zone doing the “Dish” (home plate) or the bases, there were not a few seasons of teeth-cutting and tool-sharpening on the diamond. This book is designed to go in the opposite direction: get New Blue game-ready in as short a time as possible. Having been to over 200 clinics and training sessions, worked over a 1,000 games and seen at least half as many, last year I began recording umpire meetings at the local and state level. I talked to and watched veteran Blue in action; meanwhile, I checked out New Blue walking those first careful steps in the ball yard.One of the New Blue I saw break into the umpire ranks this summer was 11-year-old son Brendan. Just a few meetings and a couple suggestions Brendan, as well as 40 other teen umps, became quite diamond polished in a fairly short time.
On the other hand, when Brendan’s team traveled to a four-day USSA11 tournament near Kansas City, MO., I got a chance to check out the KC Sports Tournament’s “Road to Omaha” Blue Crew—700 Games over three dozen fields for the 2007 Memorial Day weekend. Hopefully, help is on the way! While the officiating was tolerable, I saw too many games where there were glaring mistakes—plate umpire removing the mask with the right hand, not getting out of the box to see the play, not signaling fair/foul ball, etc. Would they not have had a handy-dandy Blue Book stuffed in their pack pocket to thumb through!
To date, I’ve put together this Blue Print (nine chapters completed, 202 pages double-spaced, 53,000 words, halfway done) for the young umpire, for the not so young umpire, for the veteran umpire—useful tips to call the ball/strike, to make the right (sell!) call. Vets and rookies, fans and coaches, players and trainers can delight in thumbing through an informative but fun read on America’s favorite pastime—seen through the mask.