Training makes Killen a better umpire

OTTAWA - Larry Killen had always been a good umpire.  Watch out, Putnam County area baseball teams- now he is outstanding in his field!

Killen, of rural Ottawa, got his license and initially called local Pony League games. When his sons began playing baseball, Killen swapped his blue uniform for coach’s garb.  He coached Little League for a year and then began a 19-year stint as a Pony League coach for Glandorf teams. 

After a time, the urge to be making the calls on the diamond returned.  “I was watching my son, Chad, play (baseball).  I couldn’t sit in the stands,” Killen related.  He renewed his umpiring license, and resumed the career he loves.  He has been an umpire for a total of 16 years, and officiates about 100 games a year.  He umpires at the high school, ACME, and college club levels.  “I enjoy the kids, and seeing good players,” explained Killen.  He has had the privilege of watching three area players who later went on to compete at the Major League level.  Killen commented, “It’s easier to umpire at the higher levels because they’re all good players… but they expect more (from an umpire), too.” Some of Killen’s most fond memories have been to know the catchers when he is behind the plate.  Larry chuckled, “People don’t understand how much conversation goes on between catchers and umpires. You have to trust them (the catchers); they’re your protection.”

Killen stated he has always tried to better himself by attending clinics and trainings.  Last fall, he determined he wanted to enhance his umpiring skills and “do it the right way.”  After searching for the best opportunity, Larry contacted the Jim Evans Academy of Professional Umpiring.   He was able to speak directly to Evans, who had been a Major League umpire for 28 years and had an impressive resume.   Through conversations and a series of e-mails which Evans personally answered, Killen told Jim about his desire to improve, as well as his concern about being older.   Evans responded that the clinics would raise Killen’s umpiring abilities a couple levels.  He also said that Killen would not be the oldest person to ever attend a clinic; that honor went to a gentleman who was 92 years old! Killen believed, “It sounded like he really cared about me.”  Evans also connected Larry with a retired coach from Minnesota who now umpires.  After chatting with the gentleman from MN, Killen decided to sign up for the 2011 Desert Classic Clinic, which was held October 25-30, 2011, at the Kino Sports Complex in Tuscon, AZ. 

Going in, Larry was nervous about keeping up with the clinic’s pace, as it was described as a “highly structured training regimen that is designed to maximize your potential.” (The material taught in the five-day course is the same as what is taught in the academy’s five-week course, only more intense.)  Some of the attendees went to begin their dream of becoming major league umpires; others, like Killen, wanted to sharpen their skills. The 61 participants awakened at 6:00 a.m., ate breakfast, and were expected to be in the classroom at 7:00.   “The doors were locked at 7,” explained Killen, “and if you weren’t in there, you didn’t attend.”  Classroom work lasted until 11:30, during which time attendees listened to lectures, including an in-depth analysis of the baseball rulebook and discussion of game situations. Evans, Dick Nelson, and other professionals familiar with the rigorous demands of umpiring taught the curriculum. Killen was impressed with the expertise of the 14 instructors. In addition to Evan’s plethora of knowledge, second-in-command instructor Dick Nelson wrote many of Major League Baseball’s rules, and has supervised or taught over 70% of current MLB umpires.  “You had to be on your toes,” Larry said.  “They would point to you and ask questions!”  One of the most important topics was how to handle arguments.  Killen and the others learned how to diffuse an argument, how to communicate with coaches, and how to communicate with one’s partner (umpire), which is key during any game.

The participants had exactly 30 minutes for lunch and then had to be on the diamonds, which were approximately three blocks from the classroom, promptly at noon.  “The facility was amazing,” Killen described. Kino Sports Complex is made up of 12 regulation professional diamonds, 1 stadium, 3 half fields, and batting cages, and is where the Chicago White Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks hold Spring Training. The participants divided into groups, with some going to the batting cages while the other went to the diamonds to demonstrate their rules knowledge on the field.  In the cages, a machine hurled pitches; attendees called balls and strikes while a professional umpire observed.  One training method involved a ball, on which numbers were written, attached to a stick by a string.  The ball was twirled, and participants needed to be able to see the numbers.  Killen explained, “If you couldn’t see the numbers on the ball, you couldn’t see clearly” to call balls and strikes.  Killen’s umpiring stance also improved as a result of the clinic.  He is now more comfortable with his stance, and can’t wait to put it to use on the diamond this spring.  In the field, he learned the optimum position the home plate umpire must assume (the “library”) when he suspects there may be a difficult play, in order to keep his eye on both the ball and the runner. If a participant made a mistake, he was made to call the situation again.  If a second mistake was made, an instructor pulled the participant aside and tutored him on the proper call.  The afternoon instruction lasted until 5:00 p.m.  Although the clinic was fast-paced, and participants were exhausted at the end of the day, Killen said that in the evenings, he and his roommate studied together and bounced ideas and situations off each other.  The clinic culminated with a graduation ceremony, in which all participants were given certificates.

Jim Evans told Larry that if he went to the clinic and didn’t improve, Evans would be “sorely disappointed.”  Killen takes his profession seriously, and hopes to achieve his ultimate goal of umpiring small-college baseball games. “Anything can happen on the field,” Killen stated. “Now I am more prepared.”