Behind the Mask Part 1

An interview with Umpire Midge. We apologize for the sound quality. We had an issue with Midge’s mic.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:02

Softball sound off with Chris and Mike.

SPEAKER_03 0:06

Hey everybody. Welcome to Softball Sound Off. I'm your host, Chris. I'm here with Mike.

unknown 0:11

Hey everybody.

SPEAKER_03 0:12

And we have a special guest this evening. We have the one and only, the great Midge. She's our uh one of our local umpires here. Um, how are you doing tonight, Midge?

SPEAKER_00 0:23

I'm doing great, Chris. Thanks.

SPEAKER_03 0:25

So we're gonna jump right into this. I thought having an umpire's point of view on things is something not everybody gets to hear. Um, especially our listeners or you know, parents, they don't underst understand what goes on um from an umpire stand uh point of view. So let's go get right into it. Um Mike, if you want to start, go ahead with uh the first opening.

SPEAKER_01 0:47

Uh so I, you know, Chris and I, I I like to ask the drama questions. Chris likes to ask more of the technical, but so um, you know, it's it's obviously uh a very tough job umpiring these days. And we see you know reports all over Facebook, the news that it's just it's getting more and more difficult to get umpires. So, you know, my question is first and foremost, with the environment today, has that changed and what does the training look like for these umpires that are are are starting to get into this? Because you you're the president of the umpire association of the area. So, you know, you you not only do you deal with it firsthand, you've got to deal with I can I can't even fathom the phone calls and texts on a weekend. So just uh going, you know, starting at the beginning, knowing how this has evolved, what's some of the training that is provided for these young umpires?

SPEAKER_00 1:41

Okay, well, the way we prefer things to occur is that someone who is interested in umpiring come in through USA softball. And that's the organization that I came in with. USA softball offers the most training of any organization in the country when it comes to travel ball, college ball, uh high school ball, certainly. USA softball is the foundation. So we do every year we have mechanics clinics. Every couple of years we have uh district clinics. We had one of those in Lancaster this past year, and you know, we do as much training one-on-one with people as we can. When you come into our USA Softball Organization in Lancaster County, we assign an umpire to you to take you out and actually train you during games. Um, that's kind of how I was trained. Now, when it comes to high school softball, which Chris is very aware of, we do not have as much training available because I mean, people can just say, hey, that looks like fun and never have played the game, coach the game, just come out and decide they want to umpire because they think it looks easy. And we really don't have the time to invest in those folks because we're always on the field during softball season. So the time that we train is usually, and people don't understand how much time is put into this. We train in January, February, and you know, we're inside the gym and we're working on mechanics, we're working on rules, and then those USA umpires have that foundation. High school umpires don't always get that because we have less time with them.

SPEAKER_01 3:23

Fantastic.

SPEAKER_00 3:23

And we just throw them out in the field, and I mean you see what you see. Yeah, you know.

SPEAKER_01 3:32

So now that we have a little bit of a better understanding of how they're trained, um, you know, I guess I'm gonna go right to the the fun. So, with that said, you know, seeing the parents, the fighting with the parents, where would you say your umpires come to you with the most issues with these days? Is it the parents on the sidelines or is it the coaches?

SPEAKER_00 3:56

I think it's a combination of both. I as in the the thing we discussed earlier, I think the coach sets the tone for the team.

SPEAKER_02 4:06

Yep.

SPEAKER_00 4:06

The coach sets the tone for the tone for those players, but also sets the tone for those fans.

SPEAKER_02 4:11

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 4:12

Um, when I coached in the youth league, I made sure my fans didn't say a word. Because I mean, I was a chatterbox as a coach, which is why I became an umpire. But I knew if what was gonna happen if those fans started yelling at the umpire. Yep. You just make them worse.

SPEAKER_02 4:29

Yep.

SPEAKER_00 4:30

I mean, we are human beings, and if you're gonna continuously complain to me, that strike zone might be a pinhole. It's just the it's just human nature. Human nature.

SPEAKER_03 4:42

Yep, human nature.

SPEAKER_00 4:43

And and so I always made sure my fans were quiet. And if you have to say something, go across the field and scream, but do not say it to that umpire.

SPEAKER_01 4:51

Yeah. So um, one, I guess, curious question. So, you know, we see it every weekend. We see uh, you know, coaches question a call, and if there happens to be two umpires, but if there's not, they'll challenge it. Have you ever had a call questioned where you're like, oh shit, I he's right. I messed that up.

SPEAKER_00 5:12

Absolutely, and I'm the first person to take responsibility. I I I mean, I'm not perfect, and I mean I do a lot of college softball now, and these coaches know the game better than I do, probably. So, and they see things, they see things. So I am the first person, I think a coach respects an umpire more if they cop to their error.

SPEAKER_01 5:34

Yeah, yeah, for sure.

SPEAKER_00 5:35

I mean, coach, you're right. I blew it. Like, I blew it.

SPEAKER_01 5:39

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 5:40

I'm sorry, we can't change it, but I blew it. However, if I bust my rear and I get into position and I hustle for that call, you don't hear anything, even if you do blow it. I think that's the biggest place umpires get into trouble. They don't get in position, they don't hustle, the coach senses that I absolutely agree and just rips on them.

SPEAKER_01 6:01

So that so when I go to these tournaments, that statement is probably one of the most like I said, strike zones. I always say the you know, the batters have to, you know, they've got to figure that out. If he's calling low and out, he's been calling that all game, adjust. The batters need to adjust. Um, but that is one thing that does irk me when I see Umps just not move again into position, and I'm like, you you there's no way you could have seen that to make that call. And like, and and especially when it's a play that literally can alter the fate of a game. I'm like, oh come on, like you can't you can't take that game away from these young ladies because there's no way you saw that because I know where I'm standing, like I there's no way.

SPEAKER_00 6:44

Um I absolutely agree with you. And if there's one thing I preach to umpires is come on, like they're paying you money to do a job, do the job. Yeah, and that means get into position. And Chris and I, during the high school season, we had this conversation. Um, you know, we can't be everywhere, and yes, there are people out there who either A don't try to get into position or B don't read the play well enough to get into position. But it's also that, you know, we need to read and and and react. Yep, and some people are good at that and some people aren't. So and I know you see that on weekends.

SPEAKER_01 7:22

Oh, yeah. And and you know, one of the things that just because it just happened and it just sticks with me. We had a um we had an ump a couple weeks ago at a tournament, and he just refused, like he was calling pitches balls and strikes. Um the the frustrating part, he wasn't like saying like you didn't know what it was. Like it wasn't like both uh my my coaches and the other teams coaches were like, was that like no one knew what it was? No, no signal, no straw, like no one knew, and like every single and the problem was it ended up slowing down the game because we literally had to ask, was that a ball or strike? Every and that was a younger guy. Oh, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 8:05

He didn't make any hand motions. You saw you asking game changer.

SPEAKER_01 8:08

Oh my god, that was and the problem was, and it was just it was setting the tone, it was very frustrating to have him umping, and then his strike zone was was like and seeing that's that's actually a question half you. So as these young ladies get older, typically you would like the pitchers to be advancing, hitting locations, hitting spots. There are still some umpires that will only call a strike down the middle. I see spots being hit, we'll call, you know, and it's you can see it's in the corner, and they're unless it's a meatball down the middle, they're not gonna and to me that takes away it's taking away the advantage of a team that's got a trained pitcher.

SPEAKER_00 8:53

So I guess I can honestly say I've never seen an umpire like that. I don't see umpires like that. Uh I see the opposite.

SPEAKER_03 9:00

I see the way wider.

SPEAKER_00 9:02

Yeah, the uh I see guys that I've been umpiring with for 18 years, that's how long I've been in it, and they're giving you six inches off the outside corner. That that's just not a strike.

SPEAKER_03 9:12

I don't see necessarily what so in relation to the strike zone, why so I I umpired umpired baseball years ago for like one year. Um I liked it that much, right? Yeah, and I don't understand the philosophy of I know you set up on the inside corner typically and you look over the shoulder, but why can't an umpire as the ball's coming in move out to that outside corner? They stay there because if you think of that angle, how do you see that outside corner without moving to watch it cross the corner?

SPEAKER_00 9:45

Well, I mean, I've been trained on many levels. You we train umpires to maintain their head space. When you're moving, Chris, when your head's moving and the ball's moving, you're not gonna get a sense of where that crosses the plate. You need to have a spot. Now, as I've progressed, we call that the slot when you say we're on the inside corner, right? We're supposed to have belt bubble on that at the inside, the inside part of the plate. We get good at viewing that low outside pitch. Now, when I see better pitching, I move a little bit over to the middle. Yeah. Now, not to the middle, but close. And the reason why you don't want to be in the middle is because of this. Because you get hit a lot more when you're in the middle. Now, if you guys watch the uh you know, the women's college world series, the big time umpires now are teaching over the catcher. So they are more central. If you watch them, they are more central. The problem is you get hit more there. But that's where I've moved over because I mean I'm I've been doing it a long time. I'm a pretty good umpire, and you're right, that outside corner becomes difficult. Now, I mean, when you say strike zone, good pitchers, okay? Good pitchers. Amanda Herr. She used to do this all the time. She's gonna start that pitch six inches out, and I'm gonna fall it. She's gonna bring that pitch into four inches out, I'm gonna fall it. If she's gonna bring it into two inches out, I'm gonna fall it. If she's gonna hit that corner, I'm gonna strike it, and she's gonna hit that corner all day long.

SPEAKER_03 11:23

She's trying to find your zone.

SPEAKER_00 11:25

She sure as hell is. And and now the we really can't vary with our inside-outside zone. It's the up-down zone that I hear more complaining about.

SPEAKER_02 11:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 11:36

So what what I don't know if it changes because I'm high school. What is the strike zone?

SPEAKER_00 11:44

The strike zone, well, that depends on.

SPEAKER_03 11:46

Side to side, we know what the strike zone is. Up and down, what's the strike zone?

SPEAKER_00 11:49

The strike zone is, and that depends on what you're calling, right? High school, it's supposed to be armpit. Well, nobody calls that pitch. They barely call they barely call above the belt. Yes. If you call that pitch, you're gonna get probably stoned. So yeah, it's it's it's belly button.

SPEAKER_03 12:06

It's like major league strike zone.

SPEAKER_00 12:08

Yeah, yeah. But you know what, Chris? If you don't call that, you get killed. I mean, and the high the high school zone is knee, kneecap. The college zone is above the kneecap. So we you know.

SPEAKER_03 12:20

Well, that's what that's a ball difference.

SPEAKER_00 12:22

It is a ball. It's a half a ball difference. But the difference in pitching is those college pitchers can hit that half a ball difference.

SPEAKER_03 12:29

Yeah, yeah. But seeing that ball difference as an umpire, it's gotta be you see. A lot of say I'm thinking uh I see a lot of it. A lot of umpires glad that you don't have ABS in softball.

SPEAKER_00 12:43

Yeah, and and honestly, we do. We have we have a track system now at Division I where they're tracking us. I mean, and you know, they want you to be 96%.

SPEAKER_01 12:53

That's crazy.

SPEAKER_00 12:54

All right, so let's uh let's your high school umpires are about 70%.

SPEAKER_03 12:59

I'm not commenting. I know you're not you've commented not to me. Um so let's I want to switch to uh some topics here. Um so we didn't get a chance to touch on you real quick. Let's learn a little bit about you. Um, Juan, how long you said you've been doing this about 18 years?

SPEAKER_00 13:19

18 years. I'm in my 18th year.

SPEAKER_03 13:21

And what levels have you umpired?

SPEAKER_00 13:24

I've umpired those little tenus in the Lancaster League and Travel Ball, and now I'm doing I did 84 college games this year. Um 28 of them were Division I. Now lower level, you know, mid-major. I I do a little bit of the Big East, a little bit of Ivy, Mac, Big Mac, and then I do the PSAC and the Division III stuff around here.

SPEAKER_03 13:50

Alright. And I think what are okay, what do most people misunderstand about being an umpire?

SPEAKER_00 14:03

What do you think there's I think they misunderstand that you're human? Yeah, well no, not even that. Two things. Number one they misunderstand it's almost like they think we're trying to be bad sometimes. Nobody tries to be bad at their job, but in any job, you have people that excel and you have people that aren't so great, and it's just like anything. The other thing that I think is misunderstood is it's become a real community to me. I mean, it it's what I do, it's what I do all year long, and I spend time with these people, and you get close to them, and you realize that you know there's three teams on the field and we gotta have each other's back. Um, and I'm always trying to get people to get it better. And I think some parents assume that we just throw on the shirt and walk out there, and we really don't, and that's the misunderstanding, I think, that we're trying to do badly and that we don't train.

SPEAKER_03 15:04

All right, so speaking of misunderstanding, um, rules and and game knowledge, what is the most misunderstood rule in girls fast pitch?

SPEAKER_00 15:13

Well, I think everybody would tell you interference and obstruction.

SPEAKER_03 15:16

That was on the list. I actually crossed it off to try to condense time, but what okay, so what's the difference?

SPEAKER_00 15:23

Okay, basically, on the basic level, interference is an infraction by the offense. Obstruction is an ob uh is a infraction by the defense. So people misconstrue, let's say you take a swing and you hit the bat the catcher's glove. That is a catcher's obstruction, it's a defensive infraction, right? It's not catcher's interference. Interference in the field, um, two things. Number one, the runner, the batter runner, and any runner needs to provide an opportunity for the defensive player to make a play. If they impede or hinder that, that is interference. Obstruction, on the other hand, when you're not involved in a play, you can't be standing in the baseline in somebody's way. Or you can't be standing on first base when the ball's in the outfield and the girl wants to ram. So that is obstruction. Now, when you watch the folks on TV, I mean we have gone into semantics, we've changed the rule in college, we've changed it a bad, we changed it another way, we changed it another way. Um but it gets very difficult sometimes to call when you have multiple things to watch. I had a case last year I was at Messiah where there's a runner on first, I was on the plate, line drive hits a right center. Right fielder goes over, back hands it, girl runs from first to third. Okay, so here's me running from home to third, right, with that angle, third basement set up inside the bag. Girl does a rounding slide, so I have to watch runner, defense, bag, and throw coming from right field. So it's not always as easy as it would appear to make that call. So but those are the differences. One's offense, one's defense. And I feel like it's the most difficult thing to train umpires.

SPEAKER_01 17:25

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 17:26

Well, I had a subjective that uh that that specifically hits home to me because uh in our district game uh this past year, uh it was bases loaded, and we and we we put up seven innings that or seven runs that inning. So we were making a charge, and uh there was a pop-up behind pitcher towards second base. So it was between pitcher and second base. Shortstop came over, pitcher goes back, second baseman comes in, it ends up dropping. They called my runner for uh obstruction or interference. Um what'd she do? Well, they claim because she didn't allow the second baseman to come in, she interfered for the second basem coming in to make the catch. But my question is, and this happened in a dome game, is you know, what's considered interference? Because if my runner is running down the baseline, second baseman comes in and she stops, but that second baseman hesitates and she hasn't crossed her path, she'd be six feet from her, and my base runner stops, but that second baseman hesitates, I get called interference. She was nowhere near her. But the so when I said the umpires, so does my runner have to run to the outfield to get around? Because all the second baseman does anytime there's a runner near him, is just stutter step, and you're gonna get caught interference. Yeah, and so they could draw a foul basically.

SPEAKER_00 18:52

And that's what they do. And they're smart. When I played, I did.

SPEAKER_03 18:55

And it's that that's the frustrating part, is like she's nowhere near you.

SPEAKER_00 18:58

And Chris, you could explain that to ten umpires sitting here, and you'd probably get five that would say it was interference and five that wouldn't.

SPEAKER_02 19:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 19:05

I mean and and in our judgment, in a split second, I have to say whether she impeded or not. Right now, that case, I don't call that. When when the when your runner stops and and the girl, she didn't have to hesitate, she could have ran through that. Right, yeah. Why not run through it? Which is what you teach your defense to do, run through the ball. I wouldn't have called that, but there are umpires that do. And and there is the subjective judgment piece of this. Not everything's cut and dry.

SPEAKER_03 19:36

Right. And and you know, I get that. You know, I it's not like you know me, I don't go out screaming and yelling and stuff because what's it what's it ever gonna do? It's not gonna change anything, which then um leads me to this next question is what is the best way for a coach to question a call?

SPEAKER_00 19:55

That's a great question. The best way to question a call, and and I welcome it. I I never have a problem with a coach coming out, but do it professionally. Don't start yelling at me before you get there. Walk out, ask the plate. If I'm the bas, ask the plate on if you can speak with me. We get together, and this is the key. You must have a question. Okay, it's all about you having a question. If you come out there just to complain to me that I blew that judgment call, I'm gonna turn you around. But if you come out there and say, well, on a basic level, I think she might have first basement might have pulled her foot there. Could you check? Absolutely, I'm gonna check.

SPEAKER_02 20:36

Right?

SPEAKER_00 20:37

Just be professional and I'll be professional back to you. Um now, not every umpire is because we have people that get their back up when you want to ask a question. Oh, that ear frustrates me. There's no reason why you shouldn't be able to ask a question.

SPEAKER_03 20:50

Right. As long as you're doing it respectfully, don't why get you know so defensive?

SPEAKER_00 20:54

It's well, and we talked about that earlier. The PTSD no, it's purity, insecurity, or lack of confidence in what they've called.

SPEAKER_03 21:04

And I like the umpires I respect the most are the ones that I'll ask them if they can get some help and and do it. Like, I'm like the ones that say nope, I'm not asking for help. Why not? It's like what is the harm? Like, it's okay. Like you said, everybody is is wrong in their job, everybody makes mistakes. Like, it's okay if you I'd rather have you go confer and change the decision because he saw it better. I respect you more that you went and changed your call and fixed it instead of sticking to it and being stubborn about it.

SPEAKER_00 21:37

Yeah, and I and that create, you know, we need to have a non-confrontational relationship. Yeah, we see each other a lot. And I have never once in 18 years turned somebody down from going for help, from from me going for help. Never once. Because what does it matter? If I know I had it right, I might go in and ask where we're having dinner that night.

SPEAKER_02 21:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 22:00

At least you feel as though you've been heard.

SPEAKER_02 22:02

Right.

SPEAKER_00 22:03

And that's what you want. You want to be heard. Uh, about 10 years ago, I was doing a modified game, a modified league championship game, men's modified. And we were down at Strasbourg, and it was a tie game in the bottom of the seventh, and a guy came in to score, and I kind of got blocked out, and I ring him up, he's out. Well, coach comes out, and I don't know if you know Willie Powell.

SPEAKER_03 22:29

Um yeah, I think was he a high school coach at some point? Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_00 22:35

Older gentleman, he was out in the seat position, out behind shortstop, and I went out and talked to him. He goes, Midge, the tag they missed, I could see air between the glove and the body. I changed it. Well, you know how many emails I got about how people respected the fact that I didn't feel like I mean, yeah, who cares? The whole point is to get the call correct.

SPEAKER_03 22:58

And what well, what real quick, what people fail to realize in the grand scheme of things, this is a game, it's a kids' game, and nobody's making a fortune out here. You know, people need to just relax. And parents are getting, and parents and coaches these days are getting so far away from the purpose of this and of the game and of the the kids. It's people just need to relax.

SPEAKER_01 23:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 23:24

Well, yeah, and and I mean I think we need to start doing trainings for parents and coaches on that. Um, but but you're right, Chris. And at the end of the day, I get myself all wound up about some of these big games, but I you know how I calm myself? I tell myself, it's just a game, bitch. It's just a game. The sun's gonna come out tomorrow. Now, granted, these kids are putting their heart and soul into it, so I want to give give them my best. But at the end of the day, nobody's dying here, and you know, the sun's gonna come out tomorrow.

SPEAKER_02 23:54

So I agree.

SPEAKER_00 23:56

But we need to do a better job, and I get that, and that's why we're trying what we're trying to do to, and I've just become the district UIC for Dolphin, Lebanon, New York, and Leinster counties. So I'm I'm trying to do more training. It's just as you know, the large portion of who you see are people older than me, and it's hard to change habits and it's hard to teach, yeah, you know, and that's the other thing that you guys are seeing. I mean, uh, you know, in 10 years, are we gonna have anybody?

SPEAKER_03 24:33

Right. I agree that because I I know what you see. Outside of uh, I think there was a female umpire a few years back when I was in rec. You know, I she's not around anymore. And if I were to venture a guess, the youngest umpire might be in his 30s. How old is Darren? Darren's in his 40s, 40s, so he might be the one of the youngest.

SPEAKER_00 24:56

Darren is, yeah, Darren and Keith, they're they're our young guys, and they're not that young, right? You know, um, and then what happens is, you know, and this is what happens to you guys in high school and and in travel ball, you know, as as we progress, I'm gone all the time. So now you don't have me around. So now, you know, we have to backfill all the time, and what we backfill with right, yeah. But you're right, Darren's like our youngest guy.

SPEAKER_03 25:24

Well, Mike, before uh we wrap up this uh first episode of the two-part umpire series. Um, what do you want to close with?

SPEAKER_01 25:33

Have you ever had to throw a coach out in a wreck in the area?

SPEAKER_00 25:37

Yes, you don't have to name, and I will not I will not mention her name.

SPEAKER_02 25:42

Love it.

SPEAKER_00 25:43

Uh, but that was a long time ago, and she was out of control. And my words to her were go to your car, you are being a very poor role model for your young ladies. Yeah, and I think that's the thing we all need to remember. They see us, they see you, they see the parents, and if we're teaching them the wrong.

SPEAKER_01 26:06

Absolutely. That's that's I tell I tell the coaches that, you know, especially like Elise, you know, like these they they feed off of you. They these these even though her age group isn't even that young anymore, these girls are going into high school, but they still they look at her as a role model, as a leader. And like, and I see it as if I'm watching, and I again if I see her energy off, and then the team will come down, it's like, I don't know what's going on. I'm like, I do. Look at them like they're feeding off of you. So that is a crucial thing that all of these coaches need to really understand, in my opinion, and I agree, is that it starts with them, it goes to the players, it goes to the parents. If if they're yelling at the umpire, it's it's a given, and I've seen it. You can see the kids, there'll be these like 12 and 13-year-olds yelling at the umpire. You'll see pitchers rolling their eyes on the mound, and I'm like, this is so disrespectful. Like, whether we agree with the call or not, like that's what's going on. Like, this is so bad. Like, this is so bad. And then the parents, it's just it starts with the coaches and it really does filter down. Um, so yeah, I was just I was just, you know, I was just curious if you had ever tossed anybody.

SPEAKER_00 27:26

That is at every level. I mean, that is at every level. I I was about four years ago, I was doing the I was on the play for the P SAC championship game. Okay, and I won't mention any names. But that P SAC, I don't, I mean, you know from the least that it probably it it it's it's very competitive, it's it's pitchy almost. It's it's there's a lot of tension there. So I'm on a game on the plate, and the picture's four inches outside, and I'm bowling it. Ball, ball, ball. Her father was down the right field line about probably 175 feet, and he screams at the top of his lungs, you're effing horrible. Okay, well he got removed. That wasn't a big deal. But his daughter was pitching and she fell off of that.

SPEAKER_01 28:18

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_00 28:19

So I started to get the you know, the eye roll and the called time. I went out and had a little conversation with her. If you want any strikes to be called, act like a human being and be mature. And you know what? Cleaned it up, went right back into it. But that particular coach of that team is that way as well. Yeah, so even at the college level, it's almost like they attract people that are like them.

SPEAKER_02 28:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 28:46

But with the little kids, I mean, we we need to be role models. And I agree. When little kids see me come, they love it because there's a girl that's on her, right? And and certainly I'd I'd love to be recruiting a lot of these high school kids, but they also see what we go through. Yeah. And, you know, kids today don't want to do that.

SPEAKER_03 29:05

Right, absolutely. Well, hey, uh this first episode with you has been great. Um, everybody listening, uh, we're gonna have a two second part to this. Um, you can follow us in Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Podcasts. Hit us up uh on the social media pages. Um, our email address is saltballsoundolf at gmail.com. Send us in topics. Um, but yeah, this is great. And uh hope to uh you guys jump on and listen next week for the second part of the episode. Have a good night, everyone.