Although the recent sports column by Chip Ainsworth was extremely complimentary, it didn’t include a perspective from umpires [“Suchanek still thriving 50 years later,” Recorder, April 22].
Up front, you should know my observations and opinions do not necessarily reflect those of the overall membership of the Hampshire Franklin Baseball Umpire Association, although I believe many would agree with me in part or whole.
Let’s start off with Tom’s Suchanek’s interactions with umpires. (Some of these examples do show a sense of humor which is sometimes lacking in scholastic endeavors.)
Tom is rather quiet when it comes to “objecting” to ball and strike calls. When he sees a pitch which he really believes the umpire has called incorrectly, he will call out “where was that pitch” or a similar inquiry.
Some of the answers:
■On a low strike call: “Where was that pitch?” Umpire’s response: “Coach it was up!” (Meaning it was in the strike zone.)
■On a close call that didn’t go Greenfield’s way: “Where was that pitch?” Umpire’s response: “Coach I missed it!”
■In Tom’s experiences when an umpire whom he believes generally does a solid job “misses a pitch: “Blue you’re better than that!”
Terms of endearment between Tom and myself (and perhaps others):
■“Tom when you sit on that bucket (in the dugout) you look like you are about to milk the cow!”
■As I enter the field and Tom first sees me: “Oh my god (or a similar less flattering comment) we have you again?!”
■Me to Tom (in a low tone while I was umpiring the bases) as he is walking to the visit the pitcher on the mound, “Tom, if you walk any slower, you’ll kill the grass.”
Things that make Tom “unique.”
■Tom always hands the game balls to the home plate umpire and always expects that umpire to hand the balls back to him after the game. After games, many umpires roll the baseball on the ground toward the dugout. If you do this to Tom, he says to you, “I handed them to you before the game and I expect you to hand them back to me at the end of the game.” If it is done by a veteran umpire, he can become “somewhat” livid.
■He always lets the players coach the bases. Most coaches have at least one adult coach.
■(Not necessarily unique to Tom.) He doesn’t berate players on the field, he discusses things later as “a teaching moment.”
Telltale signs as to why he is respected.
■As you know, he has had a variety of coaches as assistants (many of them “characters” to say the least). Have you ever heard any of them say anything negative about Tom?
■When a “new” or “up and coming umpire” is assigned their first varsity game, it is usually for a Greenfield High School game. Why? Because Tom won’t let you get “away” with anything, e.g., not hustling, missing pitches, not being in the correct position, observing how you interact with coaches and players. He doesn’t necessarily “call you out” now, but over time he lets you know directly or indirectly.
■He recognizes that umpires are not perfect, sometimes they are having a bad day, just like players and coaches.
■“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” Many years ago, when we umpired Tom’s teams, we had the opportunity to officiate games where Tom’s son Ryan was a participant. I can not overstate what a really good player and great person Ryan was and still is. Although Ryan was not one of Tom’s best players, he maximized his talents to the fullest. Never complained, always gave his best, always “professional,” always a team person, always an example for others. After his playing days Ryan started coaching. He brought these same attributes to the dugout.
Thanks, Tom, for your five decades of dedication to the game of baseball and its players.
Richard Hillier lives in South Deerfield.