----- Original Message -----

From: Jeff Frese

To: WRLLUmpires@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Sunday, September 02, 2007 9:59 AM

Subject: [WRLLUmpires] Re: Keep it helpful for the New Guys.....

>I have been to Western Region twice and I have been an I nsructor
for Cal. D-15 since my first time @ WS

What is WS?

Jeff Frese

--- In WRLLUmpires@yahoogroups.com, "Ron" <umpron@...> wrote:
>
> I have always wondered if would have started as an Umpire at 25 yrs
old..I did some games when I was a 15 yr. old but I do not remember
useing shin gaurds and I used a Bubble protector, I am 45 now and
started 5 yrs. ago serously.But I will give what I got for the time
that I have left.Attending the J. Evans Desert classic this fall is a
good start..
> I have been to Western Region twice and I have been an I nsructor
for Cal. D-15 since my first time @ WS..Good luck Danny " Don't Suck"
>
> Ron Ainslie Ca. D-15
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Jeff Frese
> To: WRLLUmpires@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Saturday, September 01, 2007 8:59 AM
> Subject: [WRLLUmpires] Re: Keep it helpful for the New Guys.....
>
>
> I second what Andy is saying here. I have always thought that if
I
> had gotten into umpiring in my early 20's I may have made the
same
> run you are about to embark on, but I didn't start umpiring until
my
> late 30's (I hit the big 50 this year). You're Dad must be proud.
> It woul dbe great to hear about your experiences.
>
> Jeff Frese
>
> --- In WRLLUmpires@yahoogroups.com, Andy Millon <amillon@> wrote:
> >
> >
> > >For those who havent seen my post in the other group. I am
> attending
> > >the Jim Evans Academy in January, to pursue my dream of
becoming a
> > >professional umpire. I have had that dream since I started
working
> > >at the old age of 13. I will be 21 when I attend, so that
should be
> > >the perfect age for me to travel through the Minors and enjoy
the
> > >single life at the same time.
> >
> > Danny,
> > I think all of us would be interested in hearing/reading your
> > comments about your pro-school experience. I know of a young
> > gentleman who will be attending the Wendlestadt school in
> > January. Also 21 and also with the goal of a MLB umpire career
> since
> > he was 13. It would be interesting to compare notes from the
two
> of
> > you from the different schools.
> >
> > Rick Roder provided the below advice to him, so I'll pass it
along
> > for you as well. Hopefully it will help.
> >
> > Good luck, work hard and enjoy.
> > If you're not doing something you love, you're doing something
> wrong. ;-)
> > Andy Millon
> > Captain, American Airlines
> > CA31 Staff Umpire
> > ===========================
> > >From: "Rick Roder" <rick@>
> > >To: "'Andy Millon'" <amillon@>
> > >Subject: RE: Pro Umpire School, hints & tips
> > >
> > >Hi Andy,
> > >
> > >Sure I remember you...good to hear from you.
> > >
> > >I'd be glad to help out in any way I can. Unfortunately, the
bad
> news is
> > >that there may be the worst "logjam" EVER in professional
baseball
> at this
> > >time. They just gave out two jobs that don't really exist
(Hickox
> and
> > >Hallion were rehired). Thus three jobs will have to open
before
> the next MLB
> > >umpire is hired. That would probably be Chris Guccione, who at
> some point
> > >this season will pass the 1,000 MLB games mark and still no
> contract. Down
> > >below Chris and the other fill in umpires (Drake, Hoye, etc
etc)
> resides the
> > >logjam. Scores of great umpires will be let go with no room at
the
> top. This
> > >is a familiar tune, as Mike has read in Baseball's Narrowest
Door,
> but the
> > >tune is perhaps louder than ever. I am not saying these things
to
> deter
> > >anyone but a dose of reality must be taken at various points
in a
> > >professional umpiring career. The 25 that were hired in 1999
are
> not going
> > >to retire for a long time, so that also has to be remembered.
Once
> everyone
> > >above them is retired, it is going to be a desert experience
for
> everyone
> > >else.
> > >
> > >Some points of advice I would give along the line are these:
What
> did Mike
> > >study in college? He should seriously consider getting a good
> laptop and
> > >satellite internet connection and keep on working toward a
regular
> job. I
> > >think that in almost every "regular job" there is something
that
> can be done
> > >online...if not actually doing the job, then in continuing
> education. If he
> > >has not decided on a career then I would advise that he
continue
> to think
> > >hard about things he could do with the many spare hours he
would
> have if he
> > >got into the minor leagues. Three hours per day spent on this
> would make a
> > >huge difference, regardless of whether he attains an MLB
contract.
> There are
> > >in fact probably going to be jobs related to umpiring, so he
> should also
> > >consider those, if he loves it that much. Or in professional
> baseball. My
> > >point is that a backup plan is a must. Mike needs to take some
> serious
> > >reflection time on what gifts he has besides on-field
umpiring.
> Once he has
> > >identified those gifts, he needs to develop them side by side
with
> his
> > >on-field skills. In my case, that would be writing and
teaching,
> and you can
> > >see how I developed the two skills in parallel. Perhaps his
other
> skills can
> > >correspond to baseball, perhaps not. But he should delve into
this
> and think
> > >about it long and hard. And then do something about
it..."first
> with the
> > >head, then with the heart."
> > >
> > >I might also suggest that he think about what might happen
with
> his on-field
> > >umpiring skills should be be let go from professional baseball
or
> decide to
> > >retire. In other words, along the line he might want to make
> connections
> > >with some college umpires or find out about independent
leagues in
> his home
> > >area. Once a person has worked pro ball, these don't look so
> attractive, but
> > >if you want to umpire for life, it has to be considered.
> International
> > >umpiring is something that will blossom in his time. A great
way
> to see the
> > >world. Along those lines, perhaps spare time could be put
toward
> learning
> > >some languages. There are great conversational programs out
there.
> Just
> > >another idea.
> > >
> > >As for preparing for school and the minor leagues, it sounds
as if
> he is
> > >doing everything he can. When he gets to school however, a lot
of
> what he
> > >has learned needs to "chill" and he needs to soak up what they
are
> teaching
> > >at the school as if he has never heard anything about umpiring
> before. Guys
> > >can go to school so wrapped up with tension that they can't be
> themselves
> > >and let their instinct show through. This is tragic, but is
the
> nature of
> > >the pressure in professional baseball. You almost have to
mentally
> convince
> > >yourself to flow with the game, rather than getting to the
right
> spot.
> > >Instinct is hard to describe and can only be recognized by
those
> who have it
> > >(which is how the school instructors are basically picked).
Kind
> of like the
> > >book "The Right Stuff" if you read that. Mike needs to make
sure
> his
> > >deepest-level instincts are able to get past all the
preparation
> and mental
> > >pressure he or others may be putting on him.
> > >
> > >Those are just some immediate thoughts. I am glad to help in
any
> way. If
> > >Mike wants to talk sometime I am glad to. He might also want
to
> see if he
> > >can meet some minor or major league umpires if he has not
already.
> Maybe I
> > >could help facilitate that. Just let me know if you have any
ideas
> or
> > >requests.
> > >
> > >Thanks again for writing,
> > >Rick
> > ===========================================
> >
>