Blue Signals Keeping Baseball Ontario’s Umpires Connected Official Supplier FALL 2011 Inside this issue: Umpires Committee Update 1 Umpire In Focus: 1 Miqdad Jaffer ute to 2011 Level 4 Clinic 2 2011 National Bantam The Baseball Ontario Umpire’s Com- umpire development in both our Prov- 3 mittee would like to take this opportu- ince and Country for many more years Championships nity to announce recent changes to our to come. Committee membership. Blue Trivia Questions 3 With that opening, the Baseball On- Rob Stevenson has tario Umpire’s Committee would like 2011 National Midget 4 decided to resign to welcome its newest member, Championships from the committee, Miqdad Jaffer. and we would like Blue Trivia Answers 4 to start by thanking Miqdad is excited to join the commit- him for all his hard tee and looks forward to continuing to 2011 National Junior 5 work and contribu- contribute to the program in his new Championships tions over the past role. Miqdad has been umpiring for several years. With over 14 years and is currently a level 2011 National Senior 5 3 fast growing 5C umpire within the Baseball Canada Championships boys, the time com- National program. He is also a Senior mitment required Course Conductor and has previously 2011 Canada Cup Championships 6 for family, school, and sports is ever supervised at the Ontario Cup. His increasing, he looks forward to spend- career has recently taken him to Ot- Blue Notes 7 ing some time as a coach, fan, and of tawa, Ontario, where he now calls course chauffer. We wish him the home. Congratulations Miqdad, we look for- best of luck moving forward and ward to working with you. we know he will continue to contrib- Championships most recently the Sen- ior Championship in Miramichi, NB and opportunity to instruct at the 2010 Ontario Cup Umpiring Goals: To continue to develop as an umpire and Name: Miqdad Jaffer Hobbies/Interests: Golf, Snowboard- work towards an in- Hometown: Brampton, Ontario ing, Baseball and Traveling ternational assign- Local Association: Ottawa Employment: ment one day, in ad- Current Level: 5C Product Manager for NorthStar Utili- dition to this I would Years Umpiring: 14 ties Solutions like to be able to give Course Conductor: Senior Umpiring Highlights / Achievements: back in a develop- Appointment to the Baseball Ontario mental role where I Umpire’s Committee, 3 National can. Blue Signals Keeping Baseball Ontario’s Umpires Connected Official Supplier Page 2 There, they were then put on the spot with a baseball play. Following the umpires reactions to the play they were met by a coach who was not very subtle about arguing that the umpires were wrong about something, even if they were correct. Sitting back and watching other umpires By Matthew Tyler try to clean up their possible mistakes, and sometimes digging a bigger hole for In May 2011, Baseball Ontario held their themselves, we ended up learning different annual Baseball Canada Umpire’s clinic in ways to de-escalate an out of control Cambridge for all the Level 4 and Level 5 situation. As the entire group had many umpires in our province. With some laughs to share with each other, and many outside the box thinking, Baseball Ontario stories to follow. The biggest question once again got everyone’s attention with a amongst each group was, “How did the few new ideas. The entire weekend was a The Saturday afternoon session was an groups which we didn’t see do?” And, good time, but for me, the parts that stood “Amazing Race.” It included many parts of “How far was the coach willing to go to out were our guest speaker, an interesting the reality TV show with detours and road get his way?” No matter the answers to role playing exercise, and the “Amazing blocks, and was also a review of several those questions it was a great session; I left Race.” It turned into a very informative topics from last year’s clinic, including this session with many memories of the and fun weekend. nutrition and yoga; as well, it included a group laughing as a whole, and waiting for concentration exercise, an umpire exam, the coach to go just a little further. Our Guest speaker, John Waite, talked and many umpire drills. It required all about how to prepare for the big game, umpires to run around a school completing I am sure not everyone has the same using self hypnosis, knowing that no tasks as a team. One team in particular opinion as I do of our weekend, but I feel matter how big the game is, “it’s still the employed some questionable strategies but all things considered, the clinic was great same game, and you’ve done this countless even with the associated penalty, they still time. We had a lot of fun; we had some times before.” He also spoke about getting came out as the champions. I think this is interesting classroom sessions in which I comfortable with being uncomfortable, and the part of the clinic we will all remember would imagine everyone would admit to how this will help keep you focused the most from this year. The 2011 clinic learning something. For some it may have instead of getting nervous during those big will be remembered as the Amazing Race been a rule, for others, a new way of games or tough situations. He had many year. looking at the game, but it’s always nice to good points that really stuck in my head; see the faces of your friends that you only the most relevant to being an umpire I feel Of the 6 sessions we did during the clinic, see a maybe once a year. We had another was “when you walk onto the field, my favourite was the game management good weekend in Cambridge with friends everyone believes that you know what you session, probably because I was mostly a from all over the province and I am already are doing - don't be the only one who spectator as a few of my fellow umpires looking forward to next year’s clinic! doesn't.” got into what was called “The Arena.” Do you have a story idea or picture for Blue Signals? Email us at [email protected] Blue Signals Keeping Baseball Ontario’s Umpires Connected Official Supplier Page 3 couldn’t have asked for anything more from the guys! On a personal note, I’d like to thank Jamie for all his hard work as a fellow supervisor, who knew how long the days were really going to be! Thanks again to all the umpires for making our job that much easier. The Bantam Championship started off with By: Trevor Grieve a great night on the town for all the This year’s umpires were: participants and umpires at the Toronto Blue Jays game. After that, with the Mitchell Broser weather co-operating, the next four days Wayne Chindemi went off without a hitch. The host Alen Mijic committee did a wonderful job Dean Oberle representing both Baseball Ontario as well Adam Poirier as the City of Vaughan itself. Craig Powers This year’s supervisors were: Trevor Grieve This year’s Bantam Boys National Jamie Killingsworth Championship was held August 25th through August 28th, 2011 in Vaughan, Ontario. Ontario was well represented at this year’s Championship with six umpires and two umpire Supervisors. The umpires themselves, all representing Ontario at their first national assignment did a terrific From an umpiring perspective, all the job! As well, both Ontario supervisors also umpires worked hard, had a great attitude had the opportunity to supervise at their on and off the field, and made a great first national championship. impression on their fellow umpires. From a supervisor’s perspective, Jamie and I Level 1: True or False? Bases Loaded, 2 out. The batter hits a sharp groundball which ricochets off the side of the pitching mound and strikes the foot of the base umpire. The groundball is still fielded by the 2nd baseman who throws to 1st in time to retire the batter-runner to end the inning. The play stands. Level 2: True or False? R1, none out. The batter hits a high fly ball to left center. R1 is holding close to first base for a possible tag-up as the outfielder is going back on the ball. The batter-runner passes R1 but immediately realizes his mistake and goes back toward 1st base and passes R1 again on his way back. The outfielder could not make a play on the ball and it drops to the ground with R1 and the batter advancing to 3rd and 2nd respectively. The umpire call the batter-runner out for passing as soon as he passed R1. Level 3: True or False? The batter hits a home run over the fence. As the batter-runner rounds 3rd base, his coach informs him that he failed to touch 2nd base. The batter-runner retouches 3rd, returns to touch 2nd and then proceeds back to touch 3rd and then touches home. Once the ball is put back in to play, the pitcher steps off and throws to 2nd to appeal. The umpire rules the batter-runner safe as he properly returned to touch second base. Blue Signals Keeping Baseball Ontario’s Umpires Connected Official Supplier Page 4 By: Adam De Caire live entertainment at the opening banquet, every detail was just right. Being selected to represent your province as an umpire at a Baseball Canada Adam and Justin were fortunate to join a Championship is significant milestone in very strong group of fellow umpires from you describe how you take your coffee.