jjb

Oh, Jeez, so easy: put it in your bathroom. While you're sitting there, read a rule, think about how you'd rule and you're done.

I moved from a good organization in Texas to a small organization in NH. I went from a two-man game that fully and completely backed the officials to a one-man system where the local rules made zero sense to anyone who actually umpired a game. I lasted one season, hated it and retired. It seems that Organizations feel that, if an Umpire (or six) leaves the League, they’ll just go to the Umpire Tree and pick off a few more people and off we go. They soon find that’s not the case. A lot of people do these games for money, and some do it (like me) do it to pay for their golf and beer tab. But most do it because it’s fun. And when it stops being fun, they leave. I left it because it stopped being fun. When Organizations realize that, they’ll prosper.

1. If you suspend a game and you didn’t have to, what’s the worst that could happen? They re-schedule the game (something they do all the time) 2. If you don’t suspend a game and you should have, what’s the worst that can happen? Something life-changing 3. If the worst happens, I can guarantee that those parents and coaches who grumbled about “that storm is way over there” “c’mon, it’s one more inning” are going to point at YOU and say “hey, it’s HIS responsibility to keep the kids safe”. 4. Nobody, but NOBODY is going to watch his kid wheeled into the ER saying, “well, at least we got the game in”.

First, in the lower age groups, the coaches you’ll find are of the “hey I played JV Ball in HS – I know the rules” type of coach. They simply don’t know but think they know. Second, the ones that will tell you “we just want to get the call right” are lying to you: they want to get the call they want. (How many times have you made a banger call of Safe on first, when the first base coach will say, “hey can you check with your partner; I think my runner was out.” – I didn’t think so. ). So it is reasonable that, whenever you make a call they don’t like, they will try and “shop” the call to someone else, hoping they will get at least a discussion that may lead to what they want. The experienced Umpire will, when approached by a coach wanting you to change (or even talk about) a call made by another will become completely uncommunicative and tell him “I can’t help you”. When asked by a coach “can I appeal that call?” (made by your partner), your response should be “not to me”.

Nope. I've taught my (Umpire) kids: "If after the game, the coaches come out of the dugout saying to their team, "Hey, great game guys...hey, .anyone know where the Umpires went?" then you've done your job. Nothing good comes of staying around...

I have only gotten involved in this issue once. We had a tournament in a complex with 4 fields closely situated. Each field had a PA system run by a normally 12-13 year old kid. Each field had a rendition of Who Let the Dogs Out, which they played after EVERY Inning. After 3 games it got old. At the beginning of the 4th game, I told the “PA Kid” that I would buy him a dog and a coke if he NEVER played WLTDO. Best 3 bucks I ever spent…. Otherwise, it’s fun for the kids, I don’t care..

You have to understand that, if a coach, AD or other other "hey, the storm is way over THERE!" loudmouth convinces you to keep the game going and the worst happens, they will be the first in line at the Courthouse suing your ass with the excuse "hey it's the UMPIRE'S responsibility to keep us safe!"

Let me try: Ball hits the batter out of the strike zone and he doesn't swing: Dead Ball, HBP, award 1st Ball hits batter while the ball is in the strike zone: Dead Ball Strike Ball hits the batter while he's swinging at it, (and it don't matter where the ball is): Dead Ball Strike Note, it's not a foul ball, and where the ball ends up doesn't matter. Dead Ball, nobody advances, and if it's strike three, he's out. Better?

At the Coach's Meeting I always told the coach's "Gentlemen, you are not protesting enough". I hear over and over that "well, they're not going to change the call, what's the point?" Here's the point: When you protest, no matter how it comes out, someone is going to learn something. Sometimes it's you, and sometimes it's the Umpires. It may happen again with the same Umpires, and, if they've learned, they get the call right, ok?

I always told my rookie Umpires, “Look; suppose you suspend a game for lightning but you didn’t have to. What happens next? They re-schedule the game (something they do all the time.) Now, what if you DIDN’T suspend a game, but should have? What can happen? Something life-changing….When in doubt, get ‘em off the field…..

Adult championship game: LA vs Detroit. I’m BU. Close play at 1st, I bang it safe. SS starts on me: ”Blue, we got him by a half step” I ignore. Same SS “Oh, Blue, he was out by a full step” I ignore. Same SS: “Oh Blue that wasn’t even close”. I had enough: ” “Y’know, the more you talk, the stupider you sound”. His own Team broke out into laughter and yelled “You got him, Blue”. Had to chuckle…

personally, if it's not distracting to me or the batter, and he can throw strikes, he can strap a live chicken to his arm...

Wow,I haven't seen this in years. Easy fix; when you see the kid crouch down, call "time" and walk around to the front of the plate. Tell the batter, "step back", and clean the plate, while watching him out of the corner of your eye. He will most likely take a practice swing. There's your zone....

I'm amazed he had the stones tp appeal..

I believe the proper mechanic here is to turn to the HC and ask "do you want to handle this or should I?"