I attribute my success to my mental approach to the game. I have always been a serious student of umpiring. I enjoy studying rules, situations, and positioning.
From Jim Evans
I had a great first year and Mr. MacDonald was my biggest supporter. He gave me the encouragement I needed that first year to get my career started on a positive note.
I have looked back on situations and thought that I could have handled a few differently and probably better.
I literally paid my way through the University of Texas with my umpiring.
I personally developed the Academy training program. All our training is based on solid educational principles. We present the material in four training formats: lecture, demonstration, drill, and implementation.
I reached the point where I actually enjoyed the umpiring more than playing.
I set very high standards for myself and worked every game with the same energy and enthusiasm as if it were the seventh game of a World Series.
Looking back on those games, I probably hustled out of position as much as I hustled into position since I really never had any real training. I was working on instincts alone.
Managers have very tough jobs. I always respected their job but demanded respect in return.
Minor league umpires are evaluated in their respective leagues each year and rated numerically. This enables umpires to know where they stand and helps them make prudent career decisions.
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