Bad Partner...

[UmpireBen]

Hi guys. I have been a longtime lurker here. I have the courage now to post in here.

OK now on to the topic: Have you guys ever had a flat out terrible partner?

Last week, I was assigned a 9u game that was supposed to be solo, but for some reason another umpire showed up. We decided to split the fee, he took PU while I was BU.

I'll list off the reasons why this was a terrible night in general to go along with my partner's ineptitude...

1. It was a 9u game with two umpires. You imagine the boredom I was going through.

2. Partner always messed up the count. One time he announced the count as 3-1 to a batter who had not even seen a pitch yet.

3. Zone for him was out of whack. He would call pitches literally... literally right down the middle a ball while a pitch up to the top of the helmet was a strike.

4. His mechanic for out was the "safe" sign.

Now, I hate to critique other umpires this way, because I'm far from perfect. But this guy was supposed to be a certified umpire.

I did not talk to him about it after the game, because I was not sure what to tell him. I did not want to be an ass, or sugar-coat it for him either.

What advice do you guys have for dealing with a bad parter?

[Mr Umpire]

Isn't April Fool's day over? This entire post sounds impossible. Giving the safe sign for an out?

Was it his first game? Maybe he was nervous?

Some umpires have never been to a clinic or even been around baseball. They need direction. Next time, help him. Tell him where he can get help. Clinics, schools if desired, and online. There are many places to get help. But, one needs to know where to get it.

[UmpireBen]

No according to the coaches that know him he has been umping for 5 years. I believe he was nervous to make his own calls, he would often wait to hear the reaction of the coaches to make calls. And for his "out" signal, well you can imagine that created a lot of confusion.

[semper_fi_72]

1. It was a 9u game with two umpires. You imagine the boredom I was going through.

Now, I hate to critique other umpires this way, because I'm far from perfect. But this guy was supposed to be a certified umpire.

Just saying 9U does indicate a level of play. I work 9U games for USSSA games and the teams are really good. We work 2 man on those and I am never bored.

What does CERTIFIED mean?

I work High School, Little League, PONY, USSSA and Adult Leagues and no one has ever asked if I was certified.

How can I get to be a card carrying Certified Umpire?

[Dragon29]

What advice do you guys have for dealing with a bad parter?

There's a thousand things I & others here could say, but first and foremost . . . Tell your assignor.

You can't help this guy if he won't post-game with you. An honest and open post-game conversation is critical if one wants to improve as an umpire.

[UmpireBen]

Sorry, by "certified" I meant being a member of our association and having taken all the courses provided by the association.

[PeteBooth]

Last week, I was assigned a 9u game that was supposed to be solo, but for some reason another umpire showed up. We decided to split the fee, he took PU while I was BU.

What kind of association do you work for?

You should KNOW if you are solo or not as it should be listed on the schedule. Now I have been told by my assignor that I will be working solo UNLESS he can get somebody but the point was - Don't count on it.

Also, this is 9U so who cares

1. It was a 9u game with two umpires. You imagine the boredom I was going through.

Then why take the game in the first place. No sympathy here. This one's on you for taking the game in the first place.

2. Partner always messed up the count. One time he announced the count as 3-1 to a batter who had not even seen a pitch yet.

3. Zone for him was out of whack. He would call pitches literally... literally right down the middle a ball while a pitch up to the top of the helmet was a strike.

4. His mechanic for out was the "safe" sign.

So what! As mentioned this is 9U. Ok his mechanics were horrible.

All in all your OP is NOT about a bad partner. It's about a partner with bad mechanics.

A "BAD" partner is one who makes calls that do NOT belong to him, over-turns a call you made with NO reason to, etc. etc.

This is a 9U game and at that level you get what you get.

You asked for advice, Since you were bored - DO NOT UMPIRE the rug rat level.

Pete Booth

[Stan W.]

:

Have you guys ever had a flat out terrible partner?

I hate to critique other umpires this way.

Because I'm far from perfect.

But this guy was supposed to be a certified umpire.

I did not talk to him about it after the game, because I was not sure what to tell him.

Just highlighted some of your comments to discuss...

Have I ever had a bad partner?....Yes I have and I am sure I will have one again....I am not always in control of who I am going to be assigned with.. I also probably was the bad partner at one time or another so I encourage you consider this seriously as one day you will be the bad partner to someone as else as well.....No one ever says that umpire sucks....they say those umpires suck....so it behooves you to correct or suggest fixes to keep things going well....I never reccommend letting a full 7 innings of a train wreck go on when a few quick comments might right the ship well enough to keep it from going down.

I hate to critique other umpires this way.....This is correct in a PUBLIC setting, but I think this forum is kind of like a confessional or a 12 step meeting....as long as you arent calling out a fellow umpire by name its all good.

Because I am far from perfect- This is a good thought to keep in your mind. Its what you learn after you think you know it all that counts....But dont let it undermine your confidence in your ability....youth does not entirely mean lack of knowledge or skill.

This guy is supposed to be a certified umpire.- this tells you a lot about your associations certification process doesnt it? If he did all this and passed all those classes you mention, I would have little faith in the training offered. Now to me that would scream I need to find training on my own from better sources....seek out clinics and training offered by accredited sources.....and from another post of mine, I urge you to understand that the words certified and registered when refering to umpires can mean very little.......It may mean they just paid their fee.....

I did not talk to him after the game- big mistake....just like a pregame you should always, always, always have a post game. Even if he doesnt want to, I will give it my best shot to review the points of concern from the game.

I know you said you didnt know what to say to him, but you do know...and I took these from your post and put them in MY way of speaking....

John, I noticed you dropped the count a few times tonight...you know you can come to me for some descreet help on that right?

John, how was your zone was tonight?....wait for an answer and go from there....if he cares he will ask you what you thought....

John, a couple times tonight did you signal safe while calling out? ...wait for an answer and go from there....if he was just nervous he will tell you....but this is one thing I would have brought up to him in game....that kind of mis- application will bring grief down on both of you..

You didnt mention if you did a pregame with him....as you can tell it would have helped a great deal if you could talk before the game and go over some details. Pre game and post game discussions are important if you want to have good run games and learn from your ingame mistakes...

hope this helps...

Edited July 15, 2010 by Stan W.
clarity, spelling, continuity, longwindedness etc..etc..

[UmpireBen]

I"m not saying 9u is boring, it's just that when you are the base umpire during a walk-a-thon it's extremely boring. I love doing the younger levels. I'm sorry for the bad first impression on here .

[Umpire in Chief]

No bad first impression... We understand.