Are we the best Umpires?

[JaxRolo]

If Umpire-Empire was an actual Umpires Association would we be the best?

Many of us on here spend a lot of time here asking and answering questions. I would tend to think that most of us are probably the better Umpires in our perspective associations.

What's your opinion?

[th3]

i think 20% of the umps i know discuss umpiring and rules like i do

[grayhawk]

I'm a little torn. There are many great umpires in my association that just don't spend time on internet forums. All I know is that I am a better umpire because I frequent this site.

[noumpere]

If we adjust for experience, most of us would be in the upper half of any association, so, as a group, were pretty good.

If we dont adjust for experience, then were just average at best because lots of good associations have lots of good experienced umpires.

This is all voluntary and not all associations are voluntary so we would get those who are interested and those tend to be the ones who are better or at least interested in becoming better.

[Kevin Finnerty]

i think 20% of the umps i know discuss umpiring and rules like i do

With me, it's more like five percent of my high school association's umpires are this into it, and a little less than half of the advanced umpires are.

As for the topic: I would love to be in an umpire association with all of you guys--absolutely! We don't really know each other, but we know a lot about each other, with the common thread being an often extreme level of interest in everything to do with umpiring.

I think that says a lot for all of us.

[hckyosgood30]

I respect all of you. I think that we are an e-brotherhood that is a cut above most. However, their are some associations/units that I would say as a whole are better. Now if we take into consideration the median level that each of us work versus what those guys/units work I think you may have something there. But at this time, no I don't believe that we would be the "best" we'd be up there, but not the best sorry.

[Triguy29]

The experience and knowledge that I have seen here would definitely put you guys at the TOP. Now I know there are some great umpires in my organization but feel that most of you would be with them at the TOP. I look forward to stepping into that role in a few years as well.

[Umpire in Chief]

I think we'd be a pretty strong association.

IMHO just by the fact you are here versus other internet sites means you have a higher level of interest and like learning. Even if you are a rookie with a lot of areas for improvement I feel you are a step ahead of your peers because you are making the effort to learn and improve by being here.

[Richvee]

I've only been umpiring 3 years, and only a member of one association. So, it's difficult for me to have an opinion on where we'd be on a list of best associations. However. I will say this. I know my association has plenty of members that want to show up, get paid, and get out as quickly and easily as possible. I know this for 2 reasons. 1. I've had a few partners with this attitude, and 2, after attending a study group for our state test, there were plenty guys there not interested in discussing any of the more challenging questions. They wanted the answers with little or no discussion and get home ASAP. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'll assume most high school associations have such members. (can't speak for anything above this level, as I have no idea or basis for opinion). An association of all of us here, would eliminate every one of those type of umpires, thus putting us near the TOP of the heap. An association where each and every member was interested in learning, teaching, and getting better no matter how much or how little experience they have? We'd have to be near the TOP.

[cuban]

I don't know if we would be the best around, but I know we would be the best we could possible be and I know we would constantly strive for perfection. That's all baseball can ask from us.

Even if we weren't the best, we would be a kick ass group!

Who would our board members be?

[Rich Ives]

We're all people with time to kill and an internet connection. That doesn't really indicate level of skill.

[scrounge]

While I wouldn't attribute too much to it necessarily, at the least there's a self-selection of people that sought out information and had at a minimum some curiousity to improve. Cause I think we all know there are....other...ways to kill time on the internet .

We're all people with time to kill and an internet connection. That doesn't really indicate level of skill.

[Kevin Finnerty]

We're all people with time to kill and an internet connection. That doesn't really indicate level of skill.

I don't kill time here, I spend it. And I spend it in rewarding fashion.

[Triguy29]

There are way better websites for killing time. I come here to learn and get better. I am extremely serious about being an umpire. Perhaps even more so than my actual job. I'm by no means saying that I'm great but I have desire and motivation to become as good as I can be. I cannot say that about a few umpires I've worked with my first year of umpiring.

[yawetag]

I know my association has plenty of members that want to show up, get paid, and get out as quickly and easily as possible.

At a recent organization meeting, a member lambasted the board for having (what he thought) a large amount of money in the bank at the end of the year. He mentioned once that the extra money is "money taken away from [the umpires'] pockets." (paraphrased) I was happy to hear a collective groan when he said it. Thankfully, there are a large number of umpires who aren't doing it primarily for the money AND who understand the cost of doing business, even as a non-profit.

[mstaylor]

We're all people with time to kill and an internet connection. That doesn't really indicate level of skill.

It may not indicate actual ability but it does show desire. A TOP group doesn't necssarily mean your umpires are all TOP flight guys. Every group has new guys, mid level guys and TOP guys. The TOP groups have guys at all the levels that are interested in improving and moving up. It also has TOP guys interested in bringing the newer guys along, not protect their big dog turf.

Using this premise, we are definitely a TOP group.

[Triguy29]

Great point. I'm a new guy and everyone on here has been so helpful. Answering my questions on rule, which helped me pass my test, mechanics and of course my favorite equipment. Making the new guys TOP guys is how n organization becomes the best.

[BT_Blue]

We're all people with time to kill and an internet connection. That doesn't really indicate level of skill.

Debbie downer! LOL

[IABlue]

We're all people with time to kill and an internet connection. That doesn't really indicate level of skill.

Debbie downer! LOL

He's right, though. There is a lot more that goes into being a great umpire on the field than knowing the rules/mechanics, no matter how well you know them. Most of the "rules gurus" in my area are solid, but not at the TOP of the heap around here as far as on-field ability.

I say that as a self-appointed rules guru.