Starting it up again

Every once in a while, you get the chance to do something awesome a second time. This is one of those times.

Let's talk about the how first.

2020 was a horrible year for pretty much everything. Games at my local Little League started a week before everything shut down for the COVID-19 pandemic so I worked 3 games in 2020. 2021 saw the return of baseball games near normal (shortened schedules, special rules about ball handling and the post game handshakes that turned into waves across the field, stuff like that.) I have done a lot of games this year. It was good to be back out there.

In early May, Steve Keener, President of Little League, announced that the Little League World Series for both baseball and softball would return in a very modified format. It would only be the Major tournament and the teams in Williamsport and Greenville, North Carolina would only be from the United States. Each regional tournament would send the tournament winner and the runner up. Softball will have a 10 team tournament while baseball will have a 16 team tournament. All other divisions of All-Stars will end at the state tournament.

A couple of days later, there was a Zoom meeting with tournament committee members and the Western Region staff. It was announced that the tournaments in San Bernardino would be very different this year. Many of the committees that make the tournaments so special could not happen this year because there are going to be a lot of restrictions. No hospitality, no souvenirs, no snack bar, no outside fans besides the families of the players. It is going to be a very different tournament this year.

With this, the question came up, what about umpire families? They aren't going to be allowed to be at the game either. This would change the experience for these umpires who really deserve to be praised for the job they do out there. So, Region gave the umpires a choice - do you want to do it this year or wait until 2022 and hopefully get the whole experience. The vast majority said wait until next year and I don't blame them.

So what do they do to get the umpires they need for the baseball and softball tournaments? I got an email a few days after the Zoom meeting asking if I wanted to come back and umpire the softball tournament a second time. This never happens. Once you do a regional tournament at a level, that's your one time. You can do 7 regionals (Major, Junior, Senior baseball and softball, Intermediate baseball) and the same 7 World Series, and then you're done. That really is enough tournaments to last a lifetime and a half and I know I won't get to all of them.

I talked to Trina about it and wasn't sure if I wanted to do it but she asked me why I hadn't replied yet. Ok, I replied and they let me know I'm one of the seven replacement umpires getting to do this a second time. I'm going back to San Bernardino. So the blog is starting back up to journal this journey. 

I'm excited. Right now, I feel like I'm doing the best umpiring of my career because of the amount of games I have done this year and the dedication to getting better 14 years has imparted. I know the atmosphere won't be 2017 but, then again, I think we'll be on ESPN while I wasn't in 2017. That's concerning, but having talked to umpires who have been on TV, once the game starts it isn't a concern. It's just softball.

I have a lot of things to do in for the tournament that starts in 57 days. I look forward to sharing it with you.

Last 4 days of umpiring - First, Well, Plate, First, Left Field Line, Third

I know this is going to be a plethora of details here but I want to get this down before I start forgetting details. I have at least 2 more blogs planned, so my tournament isn't over yet.

Day 7, Game 2: I was at first base for the 5:00 pm game. This was our last day of 3 games a day.

He smelled real bad and he said his name was Bernie. And Slick.
(Ernie is not here. Just wanted to point that out.)

Pre-game, Bernie and Slick from the 66ers came down to throw out the first pitch. All the girls knew these mascots because we went out to see a 66ers game the previous Thursday. Bernie always makes a good impression.

I felt my rotations this game were much better than my previous first base experience. This time thought I think I defaulted too often to going to the outside of the bag way too quickly. Working on my read step is definitely something I want to focus on next year.

There was a play at one point where there was a runner on first and the batter hit a blooper just past the first base bag. The first baseman ran to get the ball and the runner on first bumped into her (not on purpose.) I called the batter out for interference as I felt the fielder would have caught the ball had the interference not occurred.  Wrong on two points.

She's out. Oops.

1. Had the runner on first interfered with the catch, the one who interfered would be out, not the batter unless the runner was already out (on a double play most of the time.) Then teammate interference can be called.

2. The runner has the right to the base on a pop fly. The fielder has to get around the runner if the ball is in the air and the runner makes a reasonable effort to avoid the fielder. The fielder in this case was on the bag at the time of the contact, meaning that I should have called nothing and sent the batter back to bat with a strike on the foul ball.

Something to work on for next year again: Interference, Obstruction, and That's Nothing.

Oregon beat Hawaii in the game. Don't remember the score (I could look it up.) Oh look. The score. Oregon 6, Hawaii 2.

Day 7, Game 3: In the Well

This is no time for a snow cone! Wait,
maybe it is. Where's mine? It's hot!

Back to the well to watch this game. Darryl was behind the plate and it really is a pleasure to watch him work. This game was Arizona and Utah. Well played, Utah won, sending them to play Oregon on Thursday for the first semi-final.

Day 8, Game 2: Plate

The early game for this day (5:00 pm) was the California Championship game. I wasn't on that game at all, getting ready for the 7:30 pm plate. Daniel was on that plate and he did a great job from everything I saw. Final score was something like 14-3 Northern California over Southern California. Kinda surprising but that's why we play the games.

 So not only did I have the plate for the Washington/Alaska game, but the big boss was out, Mark Bernstein. I do like Mark a lot. He is a straight shooter, a great encourager, and a pretty good umpire to boot. I didn't hear what he thought of the game but I'm glad he was there to watch it

This was the all Southern California crew. I, CA 71/21/28, was on the plate. Lawerence, CA 16, was at first. Ernie, CA 72, was at second. Scott, CA 51, was at third, and Jeff, CA 31, was in the well.

Shake hands and let's come out
fighting! Oh wait, wrong sport.

So like I said, the game was Washington vs. Alaska. Both of these managers were really good people. I enjoyed their company whenever I got to talk with them and they were pleasant on the field, even when they had a question. It seems I get the games with the good sports in them at my regionals. At least I'm 2 for 2.

Still should have swung at that.

The game really didn't have a lot in it. Alaska fought hard but were just outmanned as Washington won 11-1. I felt my zone was solid this game, my rotations were correct, and my game was good. The good thing about the Alaska team is that they had permission to stream the game back home on Facebook. So now I can go back and watch the game to critique myself, not something I get to do very often. What did I learn from my critique?

I run like an old man, shuffling from base to base. My basic 6 is sloppy. My head height is pretty good but I readjust my hat and mask every pitch, which looks like a nervous twitch. I've got some more things to work on this off-season.

I did feel really good after the game and one of my partners complimented that this showed I should have been on one of the semi's or the finals. I don't know. After my self-critique, I am seeing what the supervisors are seeing and know what I need to work on to be a better umpire for the kids. The biggest thing I must do is lose weight. I shuffle because I weigh so much. Right now, I'm in umpire shape. If I spend the next 6-8 months sitting back, I'll be out of shape until June again. Now that I have the momentum, I am looking to continue it and get better every year.

Day 9, Game 1: First base

On the rubber. Set.

So for semi-final #1, I had the privilege of being at first base again. This was my third time at first base this tournament, twice out of the rotation. Pretty standard game. The biggest thing about this game is that we had 6 guys on the field. This means that if a ball was past me in the air down the first base line, I no longer have fair/foul obligations. That would be the right field line umpire. I don't believe I had one fair/foul call all game. I had plenty of safe/out calls at first, but the back line guy had some line drive flies and the plate guy had some that died before the base. Not a lot of rotations (actually, none) and calm game. Utah beat Oregon 5-0.



Day 9, Game 2: Left Field Line

I had to do a presto-chango and change from pink to light blue for the late semi-final. Dave from Oregon had the plate for this one. Dave had a plate earlier in the tournament and he felt he didn't have the best plate out there. I was excited for him though when it was revealed he had one of the semi-final games on the dish. He had a great attitude that was contagious. And he was doing this in memory of a friend who had passed away this year. I think he put a lot of pressure on himself in the first game and nerves took over. For this game, he was great. Greg would have been proud of the performance he put out there for the world to see.

It's lonely way out in left field.

For this game, we were still in 6 man. Nothing much happening in 6 man. Washington scored 6 runs in the bottom of the 1st and no one scored the rest of the day. In fact, the Washington pitcher threw a 1 hitter for the 6-0 win. There were exactly 2 pop flys to the outfield all game. The first was an easy catch to the center fielder. The second was a little farther from the center fielder in the top of the 6th where she was coming towards me to left field and make a great diving catch, which was my only call of the game. Out call.

So the finals were set for Friday. Utah and Washington. The #1 and the #2 seeded teams of the tournament only because of a coin flip. This coin flip, Washington won and decided to be the visiting team for the championship. They had been high scorers all tournament so they figured they would make Utah play catch up.

Day 10: Championship Friday

All the girls got together with us as a thank you for the work we did this week. That was great.

Pre-game at 4:00 pm, we got the chance to go out for closing ceremonies. Pretty much everyone just walked out onto the field and they announced the winner of the manager sportsman award. The winner was Nicole from Alaska. I told you that the Alaska and Washington teams had great sportsmanship.

One of the things I prepared for was getting to talk with and get the signature of Marge Villa. Marge Villa played for the Kenosha Comets of the All-American Girls Baseball League from 1946 - 1950, having made the all-star team in 1949. So I bought a souvenir ball and had it ready to sign for my girls. My girls love history so having this ball in their room would be a cool marker of women making it big in American history. I love giving them things like that because they can do great things if the put their mind to it, their faith in God, and their hope in His plan. Well, she was scheduled to sign autographs during the game. Shoot.

Her nickname was Poncho. I didn't
mention my great-grandpa rode with
Poncho Villa. She had great stories
of her own.

Well, Doug, our head of umpiring, was able to secure a time before the game for me to go get a signature. Here I am talking with her pre-game. I told her I was one of the umpires and she feigned surprise, saying, "I never thought I'd be talking with one of the umpires!" She was funny, engaging, personable, and extremely encouraging to the girls and to everyone else who had the chance to talk with her. I didn't want it to end but game time was coming and I had to finish getting dressed and she had to go in the well to cool off from standing around in the sun. I could have done without the signature, like I do the rest of the time I meet famous people, but this was for my girls so I stooped to that level :)

A hug from an umpire? Who would have thought it!

Here he is, Mr. Plate.

For the championship game, Jeff was behind the plate, Scott was at first, Darryl was at second, I was at third. The line guys all rotated in after a couple of innings. In left field was Lawrence then Charles. In right field was Daniel, Dave, and then Ernie. I loved watching Jeff work throughout the tournament. He was the senior statesman of our group but that did not slow him up. Instead of slow, he was deliberate and smooth. He was always in the right place. That is years of experience, training, and practice. It was a pleasure and an honor to work with him.

This was a game for the ages. I had one call at third, a foul call, but it was big early on in the game. The ball is bounding up the line, the third baseman reaches for the ball in foul territory but I have her missing, then the ball continues foul. Loud, forceful foul call to sell it. We did get together on this one to see if Jeff had the fielder touching the ball prior to it going foul. He did not and we couldn't really unring the foul call without ESPN, who wasn't there.

Ready for the ball. Put me in coach!

So at the end of 6, these two offensive juggernauts during the rest of the tournament are tied, 0-0. End of 7, 0-0. Top of the 8th, 0-0. Bottom of the 8th, Utah gets a runner to first. She takes second on a passed ball. The #3 batter, the pitcher for Utah, his a grounder to second base, letting the runner get to third with 2 outs. The #4 batter comes up to the plate and...

The ball is about a foot fair as it shoots by the first baseman. Runner from third touches home plate. Batter/runner makes it to first base and pandemonium breaks out as the state of Utah repeats as the Western Region Little League Major Softball champions and are heading to Alpenrose next week. 1-0. 8 innings. The softball gods saw how great a tournament this was and couldn't let it end after just 6. I am so humbled that I got to work this game at all, much less one of the base positions. It is the best softball game of which I have ever been a part. 

The hardest part was not being able to celebrate out there with them. Had Washington won, I would have cheered for them. When Utah won, I wanted to cheer for them. Not the umpire's place though. As the girls celebrated and got their banner in the glow of the 1-0 scoreboard, we walked off the field to little accolades. The focus was on the girls, which is where it should be. We did our job. We gave both teams a chance to win this game, and one of them did. Washington didn't have anything to shame their heads about. They played in the best softball game ever played at Al Houghton Stadium.

The girls celebrate!

Out we go!

Waiting by the barracks was my wife and 3 kids (as kid 4 was still in Panama), my mom, and my umpire friends Dave Burt, Steve Bailey, and Eddie Gutierrez. They came out to see me work the pineapple and for that support, I am eternally grateful. 

I will get to reflections in a future post. I wanted to get some game descriptions in before they began to fade.

Day 3: First games, 2nd base, 1st base

Smooth out calls are prepared

After 6 months of build up, 6 months of games, preparation, practice, study, travel, and anticipation, we finally got started with games yesterday. My schedule yesterday was game 1, 2nd base at 9:00 am, opening ceremonies at 4:00 pm and 1st base at 7:30 pm.

Game 1: 9:00 am - 2nd base

First game of the tournament is usually the hardest because of the nerves, the newness of working a four man crew, and the nerves. If I was going to be eased into this, starting at second base was the best place. We discussed pre-game that if there is a pop fly in the cone (between the left fielder and the right fielder) 2nd base umpire is going to go out to judge catch/no catch. Pretty automatic thinking.

So the game starts off in the first and the runner from first runs into the second baseman making a play on the ball. No-brainer call, that's Interference. Apparently I needed more of my brain because I point, say, "That's In.. Obs.. In... Obstruction! Time!" Thank you nerves.

Rest of the game ran pretty smoothly. In fact, the evaluators said it was the best first game they've had at this tournament this year. Pretty high praise :)

See the ball, see the foot, see the tag... what do I have?

If you said out, you were right. 5 points to you.

Had a call at second base where I rotate in, see the call and wind up. It's a great picture.







In the end, Oregon beat Southern California 6-3. It was a good morning, not too hot (although getting there near 11 when we ended) and beautiful skies. Couldn't ask for better in San Bernardino.






Opening Ceremonies: 4:00 pm

This really went so fast that it's hard to remember much. Each team lined up around the infield and then the umpires were announced. After the 4 guys in charge, I was the 4th guy announced (they went in order of district number so I was after California 51 and before California 72 being a California 71 guy this tournament. (My badge says California 28 though. (Moving on up. (More parenthesis.))))

Look at the beautiful group of men out there!

So when they announce me, I'm Antonio EscarZAga. A normal pronunciation I get but one syllable off. Oh well. I'm still a Western Region Little League Softball Umpire, even if they don't get my name quite right. I'm smiling pretty much the whole time. Can't get enough of this.

Monkeys in the middle.

Living the dream.

Game 2: 7:30 pm. 1st base.

This game was a little rougher for me than my previous game. At second base, my mind set is... I'm going out. At first base, there is a lot more having to read your partner at second base to see if I'm rotating all over the field.

The ugly: Early on, there was a shot to right field. The right fielder was pretty close so I have to look to see fair/foul. See fair, point fair, did not turn my back as there was no need and then the right fielder guns it to first base. Surprised me to pieces. I turn, deer in the headlights, and make a safe call because I think she was safe. Was I sure? It was bang bang and I was surprised. Surprise is the enemy of the umpire. If someone was to show me a picture of the play and said I got it wrong, I would have no argument. Heck, may not have an argument if they just came up to me and said so.

The bad: Quite a few times, I feel my rotation work was sloppy. Apparently the evaluators and umpires who weren't on the game didn't feel I was as bad as I felt I was. We are our own worse critic.

The good: At one point early in the game, fly ball to left-center. Ernesto (U2) goes out to judge catch/no catch. Jeff (U3) rotates over to 2nd. Daniel (PU) rotates up the third. My job at this point is to watch the batter touch first and make sure she takes off to second and then break home. She's flying so I head on home to the point of plate (a magical, merry land about 15 feet behind the plate.) She's at third, a bobble by the shortstop and she's not stopping. I'm going to have a call at the plate. Throw comes in, pulls the catcher high, runner slides. I adjust to 3rd base line extended (a magical land where the third base line would be had it decided it was just going to keep on going past the plate) and the swipe tag misses so I have a safe call. Run scores. Great position, great play, great googily moogily!

Go back to first happy. This is a play that umpires in four-man mechanics dream of doing but hardly ever get the chance to do. Only thing better is when you get to bang the runner out at home because that's so dramatic. Oh well, maybe next time.

Next time happened 2 innings later. Same situation, runner is booking home. Throw comes into the catcher and...

See the ball, see the tag, see the foot... what do I have?

I rotate a little closer to see the ball in the catcher's glove to make sure it didn't fall out. I can see it through the webbing in the glove... so out at home! At the review post game Alan (our uncle) says that this game was the Tony Show as having one of these in a game is rare. Having 2 is amazingly rare.

Nor Cal: 10, Alaska 6.

I love this game.

Thoughts:

During the first game, in the fifth inning, I look up in the stands and look at the people. People there to cheer the girls, to support the volunteers, to be part of the magic. I think about all the people who supported me over the last 10 years to get me to this point. I think about my loved ones sitting up there in the stands watching me do what I love to do and my eyes start tearing up. I'm not here by myself. I am the sum parts of everyone who has given me encouragement, support, tips, criticism, a water during the game, or a witty umpire complaint.  I can't express my gratitude enough for you, my friends and family, for the love you've shown me over the years. I'm here for you.

Tonight, the 5 pm plate. I hope I'm not a blubbering mess. I'm not looking into the stands until after the game tonight.

Day 2: Preliminary Setup

Day 2 at the Regional tournament did not have any games, well, except for everyone at the tournament went down to San Manuel Stadium to go see a 66er's game. But that's later in the evening. Let's start at the beginning.

The day started out early, which is my normal time to wake up anyways for work. Got up, got dressed, got ready, got out to eat breakfast. After breakfast we all dressed in our umpire uniforms, my nice, new uniforms with the number 71 on them despite what you see on facebook, and go out and listen to the presentations of the ground rules and we do equipment checks for all the team's equipment. 9 teams and I think we found 5 pieces of equipment we had to remove. One was a bat that was near shattering if you could count on the spider webbing to be accurate. Don't want to be anywhere near a bat when it shatters.

After this, we get our umpire pictures done by the professional photographers. Don't know how they turned out but I know I had the widest smile on my face for all the pictures because I'm living the dream.

After that is lunch, then waiting for the manager's meeting. The the manager's meeting, then back to the barracks for some downtime while we wait for 5 pm to go to the 66er's game. While we are waiting, a few of us start going over our rotations via a magnetic board and 7 of the 9 of us end up surrounding this board, going over rotations, talking about irregular plays that may alter the standard rotation, and having a good discussion. It was very helpful.

Go to the game and it's hamburgers and hot dogs at the field, which we showed up to 2 hours before game time. Meal was decent. Then the admins start talking and introduce the former softball coach for UCLA, who led the team to 11 national championships. As she is talking, I don't even question how she led all those teams to titles. She is a dynamic speaker, engaging, motivating, and the girls are riveted. Heck, I'm riveted. I'm ready to go run into a burning building to save a bucket of softballs after hearing her speak.

The game was meh. I usually like going to games to watch the umpires, especially single A because the guys are so crisp and they hustle like no one's business. I guess these umps were at the end of either a long drive to get there or the August sputtering is starting a little early. Yeah, they were good umpires, better than me on my best day, but it wasn't their best day. Oh well, fatigue happens in long seasons. No worries.

After the second day, I will say that this is a really good group of guys. A really, really good group. I'm glad I'm here. I feel like I belong here, ready to work hard and be part of this team as we walk onto the field tomorrow for the 9:00 am game. I start at 2nd Base tomorrow morning and then move to 1B for tomorrow's evening game at 7:30 pm. Saturday afternoon, the day when people can get off and watch the game, I have the Northern California and Utah plate at 5:00 pm. It's just another game of balls and strikes, safe and out, 60 feet and turn left (that's from the UCLA coach this afternoon.)

I don't know how I am going to contain my smile tomorrow while walking onto the field, making my way to second base, punching some runners out, calling some fly balls out, and umpiring a Little League Western Region Tournament game in San Bernardino. It really is living the dream. I'll be in front of the home town crowd knowing that I was a kid sitting in the same place 30 years ago who was thinking... man, that is one fat umpire at second base. :)

I'm going to enjoy this next week and a half. That's who I am.

Long time, no talk

Hey. You remember this page? Apparently I didn't because I haven't really been giving updates too much. Really, the baseball and softball seasons are upon us and I have been real busy on the field. Additionally, all four kids have been playing baseball this season.
This has been the hardest season of my life. Not because the umpiring is hard or the crowds have been rowdier but because I have had to sit several times and watch other people umpire. Umpires I didn't know and really, really didn't like their methods. Umpires doing my kids games who don't work as hard as I do. It drives me crazy. I have had to sit in right field as not to pull the "I'm an umpire" card and then yell crazy at the ludicrous stuff they were doing or allowing to happen.
But then I umpired. Umpiring for me is therapy. One game, surrounded by tons of parents in the stands, two teams of Junior division girls, and coaches, I found it peaceful in an introverted kind of way. I could be the introvert, do the job, not have to interact with too many people, and help my community. Maybe that's why I have taken to umpiring the way I have over the years.
So anyways, what's happening on the road to San Bernardino?

1. I have been going to Bloomington Little League on Tuesdays for the last month and a half to do softball games. People really didn't appreciate me too much last year but this year they are fawning over the fact that I am back because they see how hard I work. I'm volunteering. Everyone else at the field is getting paid, many of the kids I trained last year are getting paid this year which I guess is good for them. Not necessarily for the league but I did my job last year to make them better umpires and I believe they are getting better games this year because of the groundwork I laid last year. That community needs people who care about the game and know the rules. I hope I helped give that to them last year.

2. I really need to do more games up in Rancho Cucamonga. I've done a couple for Jon at Alta Loma but I am going to the softball regional as a District 71 umpire. I have to get up there and thank them for believing in me. Especially as All Stars comes along.

3. I have been doing quite a few games for Menifee Valley. We have a really good group of umpires there who really care about the kids and really know the rules. We have an awesome group of junior umpires who are eager to learn more, improve, and work games. It is a good place to be.

4. Today I was invited to a softball invitational at the Western Region complex in San Bernardino hosted by District 49, the High Desert. Martin Hoover, the DA for 49, hosted the tournament and he does a great job. He is a great man and a good friend. The games were fantastic. Today I got to work 3rd base on one game and 2nd base on a second game. You may say, "Oh, it's only 3rd and 2nd..." I say, "IT WAS A CHANCE FOR ME TO WORK SOMEWHERE ELSE BESIDES THE PLATE! THANK YOU LORD!"
It was good to get out there with guys who are going to work this regional with me, guys who have worked the regional before me, and guys who have done World Series and fine tune my mechanics. There are an amazing group of volunteer Little League umpires out there who are more than happy to help any umpire improve. I feel I learned a lot today that will help me in July.
As I mentioned to someone else, when discussing our Junior Umpires, I love working with kids who are eager to learn and take any constructive criticism to heart and improve immediately. I hope me, as a 42 year old Junior Umpire, still have the heart to improve when given feedback.

5. I finally ordered my trading pin. IT IS AWESOME! I'll post pictures when I get them in June. Just remember that my baseball regional pin was a dalek umpire. I wonder what my softball regional pin could be?

That's enough for right now. It was a long day and I can feel the sun still shining on my face. Perhaps I should have used sunscreen....