This Month's propoganda

[Aging_Arbiter]

Another piece that I collected from somewhere over the years. I claim no part of authoring, yet thought y'all might enjoy this. I hand this out at our coaches meeting every year.

You argue with the umpire because there is nothing else you can do about it.~

Leo Durocher, MLB Manager

Dear Manager,

I’m writing you this letter because you seem to feel that I, and most of us umpires, have an “attitude”. In this letter, I’m speaking only for myself, but I think what I have to say reflects the opinions of most of my peers.

I know how much time you spend coaching kids who’ve never thrown a baseball in their life, aren’t sure what hand to wear the glove on and have very little understanding of the mental game of baseball. First and foremost you are a teacher. Secondly you’re a role model. And lastly, you’re probably a parent of one or more players on your team. Without players, managers and coaches there would be no teams. And without fields and umpires, there would be no games.

I’m not the God of baseball, but I am, by rule, the one who is responsible for everything that happens on that baseball field from the moment I walk onto the field until the moment I leave it. And that can include civil liability if someone is injured because I failed to enforce a safety rule. So please understand that I take this responsibility very seriously.

A large percentage of us umpires no longer have a child in the program, yet we continue to offer our services to your league, primarily because those who directly benefit (e.g., parents) don’t want the job. And every now and then when I’ve had a game with more “tension conventions” than hits, I ask myself “Why do I bother?” The answer is always, “Because it’s for the kids.”

But let’s get back to attitude. I only have one attitude when I walk onto a baseball field, and that’s to give the players the best possible game I can. Umpiring is the only profession that you’re expected to be perfect from day one, and get better as the season goes on. I’m not there to help you win, nor am I there to cause you to lose. I have no memory of the previous game, nor do I care who wins or loses the present game.

If my attitude on the field sours, it’s for no other reason than what I’m hearing from the bench(s) and/or the stands. I am human. Occasionally, I may go brain dead and kick a call. And like you, I can have a bad day at work, a fight with the wife, fight the freeway to get to your game on time, and then walk onto the baseball field only to hear moans and groans because your pitcher, who couldn’t find the plate with a flashlight, is not getting enough strike calls. And you wonder why I might not be all that receptive to your complaints?

Trust me; I like a good baseball game. I want to see the ball in play and I like calling strikes. So, if you want to win at baseball, let me help you a little:

Fact No. 1. Every umpire’s strike zone is different. Deal with it. The first team that adapts to it usually wins.

Fact No. 2. You want to know why you’re pitcher isn’t getting the strikes you think he should? It’s real simple, between innings ask me where your pitcher is missing? You don’t have to agree, but at least you will know what to tell your pitcher to do.

Fact No. 3. Experienced Managers know how to influence an umpire. Inexperienced Managers have something to learn. Examples: Wrong way: Blue, your strike zone sucks. Right way: Blue, your strike zone is tighter than my jock strap, how about a little relief? Wrong way: Blue, you’re killing me. Right way: Blue, are you feeling alright today? You seem to be having some problem with that low zone. Wrong way: Blue, I had better calls from my ex-wife. Right way: Blue, where’s my pitcher missing? If you’re going to gripe - at least be creative. You may not get a wider zone, but at least you’ll get a chuckle out of the umpire.

Fact No. 4 A catcher influences many strike calls – especially those that are marginal. You want more strikes, teach your catcher to catch the ball out in front of him. Anything in the dirt, mitt pointing down, any hand movement to try and bring a pitch back into the zone will not get you that strike. The best catchers, catch the ball out in front, frame it and hold it for the umpire to get a good look at, particularly for those pitches that are marginal – they get more strike calls.

Fact No. 5 Never, never, never imply I am favoring the other team. The other team might be getting more strike calls simply because their pitcher has better control and he is hitting the zone. It’s difficult to settle into a zone when your pitcher only has two pitches, wild and wilder. As far as calls on the bases go, some days they’ll go your way, some days they won’t. Deal with it – that’s life.

Fact No. 6 Getting ejected is part of the game, it’s in the rulebook. Most umpires use it only as a last resort when the coach hasn’t picked up on the various verbal and non-verbal responses from the umpire. If you want to sacrifice yourself for the team as a motivational tool, great, be confrontational, come on out to discuss my strike zone or argue a judgment call past the point of reason, I’ll be happy to oblige you. I know of no umpire that “likes” ejecting a player or a coach – it detracts from the game and creates a lot of paper work.

Fact No. 7 Don’t try and help me nor try to show me up. Don’t call foul balls, don’t call safe or out, don’t call balks, etc. (I don’t try and help you coach.) Now you’ve backed me into a corner and if I call it, the other team is going to believe I’ve been unduly influenced. If you think I’m missing something, point it out to me between innings. But be sure your team is squeaky clean because it can come back to bite you. And don’t snipe about little things, particularly things that have no impact on the game (e.g., Blue, the pitcher has different colored shoe laces.).

Fact No. 8 If you think another umpire might have had a better look at a play, politely ask the umpire who made the call if he would ask his partner for help? If the umpire declines, live with it and return to the dugout. We are trained to automatically go for help if I think my partner might be able to help (e.g., a pulled foot). But know that umpires have areas of responsibility and must learn to live and die with their calls. Like a fielder committing an error, we will occasionally “kick a call”. It happens, even at the MLB level with four umpires on the field.

Fact No. 9 Never, never, never bring a rulebook onto the field. It’s my job to know the rules. If you think I’ve made an incorrect ruling, you are free to express your opinion. If I still disagree with you, you are free to Protest the game.

Fact No. 10 Know the rulebook. There are a lot of rules that can be advantageous to you if you understand them. Know when you have the option to take a play or decline. Know the batting out of order rules. Know how timing plays work. Know how to make an appeal.

Coach, I know you are out there to win the game and losing is not fun. But lighten up, it’s just Little League and the kids are only going to remember how good the snacks were. When your team reaches the World Series, you’re allowed to be tense. And if you can’t control your temper, you might want to consider doing something other than coaching – like umpiring.

Do I have an attitude? You’re right, I do have an attitude – I love Little League baseball for all its perfections and imperfections. I appreciate what you are doing; please appreciate what I am doing.

Sincerely,

A Little League Umpire

[carolinablue]

Great post. On #2, a good catcher will take care of that for the coach. He won't have to ask the umpire.

[PeteBooth]

Another piece that I collected from somewhere over the years. I claim no part of authoring, yet thought y'all might enjoy this. I hand this out at our coaches meeting every year.

You argue with the umpire because there is nothing else you can do about it.~

Leo Durocher, MLB Manager

Dear Manager,

Fact No. 3. Experienced Managers know how to influence an umpire. Inexperienced Managers have something to learn. Examples: Wrong way: Blue, your strike zone sucks. Right way: Blue, your strike zone is tighter than my jock strap, how about a little relief? Wrong way: Blue, you’re killing me. Right way: Blue, are you feeling alright today? You seem to be having some problem with that low zone. Wrong way: Blue, I had better calls from my ex-wife. Right way: Blue, where’s my pitcher missing? If you’re going to gripe - at least be creative. You may not get a wider zone, but at least you’ll get a chuckle out of the umpire.

Fact number 3 is as follows:

Experienced managers KNOW NOT to question an umpires strike zone PERIOD.

They will get away with asking "where was that one blue" once maybe twice a game. How is saying Blue, your strike zone is tighter than my jock strap, how about a little relief the RIGHT way

Fact No. 4 A catcher influences many strike calls – especially those that are marginal. You want more strikes, teach your catcher to catch the ball out in front of him. Anything in the dirt, mitt pointing down, any hand movement to try and bring a pitch back into the zone will not get you that strike. The best catchers, catch the ball out in front, frame it and hold it for the umpire to get a good look at, particularly for those pitches that are marginal – they get more strike calls.

fact Number 4: You said LL umpire so you will NOT get experienced F2's. You know that going in. All I want from a LL F2 is simply to do his best and protect me. The strike zone is BIGGER so where F2 catches it IMO is of no importance.

When you get shaved players then I agree it's good to have a solid F2 but in LL you will not get a good F2 so fact number 4 needs to be amended at least for LL.

Finally your statement - I am there for the kids for me is NOT true. I am NOT there for the kids. I am there to make certain no team gains an unfair advantage over another not indended by the rules. I am there for the kids is for the coaches and parents.

Pete Booth

[BrianC14]

Fact No. 3. Experienced Managers know how to influence an umpire.

That's true. Especially when they're dealing with an inexperienced umpire.

Inexperienced Managers have something to learn. Examples: Wrong way: Blue, your strike zone sucks. Right way: Blue, your strike zone is tighter than my jock strap, how about a little relief?

Using either of these approaches deserves an ejection.

Wrong way: Blue, you’re killing me. Right way: Blue, are you feeling alright today? You seem to be having some problem with that low zone.

Using either of these approaches deserves an ejection.

Wrong way: Blue, I had better calls from my ex-wife. Right way: Blue, where’s my pitcher missing? If you’re going to gripe - at least be creative. You may not get a wider zone, but at least you’ll get a chuckle out of the umpire.

Yeah, I'll be chuckling, too - right after showing said manager to the parking lot.

The question "where is my pitcher missing?" isn't a question to be asked of an umpire, it's a question that the manager should ask of his catcher - BETWEEN INNINGS.

Any umpire that puts up with this sort of schtick is allowing a coach/manager to question the strike zone. He gets one shot at that, regardless of what method he uses. Once the "That's enough" hand goes up, any further attempt warrants an ejection.

Universal Fact: You don't allow a coach/manager to question the strike zone, period. I don't care how "creative" they think they're being. Allowing a coach to continue doing this is asking for trouble. And when one coach sees the opposing coach do it, guess what? Now you've got it going in stereo. Nip it in the bud, or you'll wonder how the game got so out of control so fast.

Edited November 24, 2009 by BrianC14

[catoblue]

All in all a nice letter... which conveys some good information that may help coaches think ahead. However, I would strongly encourage changing Fact 3, replacing it just as Pete said "Experienced managers KNOW NOT to question an umpires strike zone PERIOD. "

And Fact 4... At the LL majors level, I have had some decent catchers, and some terrible ones too. Due to the wide range of quality at F2 in LL, I would suggest simply omitting #4 altogether.

I may make those changes and use this myself this year.