Why do I do this? It isn't for the money.

[buddywilshire]

I do this really bad rec league. In the fall it is usually better as a few legion and other good kids come to this league from their summer teams, but over 75% of the players will never be any good enough to make a high school team. In this league after the game the Umps must meet on the mound and have the coaches sign the score card which we send in. Of Course what happens after every game? The losing coach has comment about how much we sucked. Every game

So at the end of the game, the coach says, "You guys missed five or six calls tonight" I stopped him before he could finish. I said coach it is bush league for you to come out here after a game you lost and tell us we missed five or six calls. It sets an awful example for you kids. It is poor sportsmenship and as an adult man I'm not going to let you think you can make comments like towards me or my partner. He says "I have ever right to question calls!" I said actually you don't(the league rule book is a mess with all kinds of crazy things trying to control the coaches, and one of them is after a game no comments on plays are supposed to brought up.) but if you wanted to, come talk to us in an adult way. He said ok well I have a question on that play at first. The call was that I called the firstbasemen off the bag. I said ok. He said he put his foot back on the bag after falling off before the runner touched first. I said, first, no he didn't and it was even close. Second you are in the first base dugout and the play was on the backside of the bag, I'm five feet away from it, you really think your angle is better then mine? He says "No(get this next comment) but I had parents of my team sitting up the first baseline and they said he was back on the bag." I said are you kidding me? I have done alot of games over the years and the next time I see a parent tell his son he was out on a close play or that a call went againest his team was right it will be the first time. He says "My parents are good people who don't lie." I just looked at my partner and walked away.

I have done games for some of the best teams in my area. I have done games for many draft picks, many D1 players, many kids now getting paid to play the game. I have done games for multply winners of the All Metro player of the year here in St. Louis(that is a big deal around here). I have even down a few games that one of the coaches was a retired big wig with the Yankees. Never once, I mean not once, has any coach or player in these better leagues has ever got mad or yelled at me about a bang bang play. This league is a joke.

Sorry thanks for the Rant.

[Thunderheads]

I do this really bad rec league. In the fall it is usually better as a few legion and other good kids come to this league from their summer teams, but over 75% of the players will never be any good enough to make a high school team. In this league after the game the Umps must meet on the mound and have the coaches sign the score card which we send in. Of Course what happens after every game? The losing coach has comment about how much we sucked. Every game

So at the end of the game, the coach says, "You guys missed five or six calls tonight" I stopped him before he could finish. I said coach it is bush league for you to come out here after a game you lost and tell us we missed five or six calls. It sets an awful example for you kids. It is poor sportsmenship and as an adult man I'm not going to let you think you can make comments like towards me or my partner. He says "I have ever right to question calls!" I said actually you don't(the league rule book is a mess with all kinds of crazy things trying to control the coaches, and one of them is after a game no comments on plays are supposed to brought up.) but if you wanted to, come talk to us in an adult way. He said ok well I have a question on that play at first. The call was that I called the firstbasemen off the bag. I said ok. He said he put his foot back on the bag after falling off before the runner touched first. I said, first, no he didn't and it was even close. Second you are in the first base dugout and the play was on the backside of the bag, I'm five feet away from it, you really think your angle is better then mine? He says "No(get this next comment) but I had parents of my team sitting up the first baseline and they said he was back on the bag." I said are you kidding me? I have done alot of games over the years and the next time I see a parent tell his son he was out on a close play or that a call went againest his team was right it will be the first time. He says "My parents are good people who don't lie." I just looked at my partner and walked away.

I have done games for some of the best teams in my area. I have done games for many draft picks, many D1 players, many kids now getting paid to play the game. I have done games for multply winners of the All Metro player of the year here in St. Louis(that is a big deal around here). I have even down a few games that one of the coaches was a retired big wig with the Yankees. Never once, I mean not once, has any coach or player in these better leagues has ever got mad or yelled at me about a bang bang play. This league is a joke.

Sorry thanks for the Rant.

Breathe Buddy ............inhale...........hold it .........through the nose.......ahhhhhhhhhhhh, there you go!:shakehead:

[Mr Umpire]

I just looked at my partner and walked away.

This should have been done in the beginning. You call this league a "bush league". Yet, you succumbed to the same notion.

I know it can be frustrating and annoying when they pull this. Maybe, the only thing to say is "Coach, the game is over. If you had a question about a call, it should have been done at the time of the call. Have a good day/night." This way, you still appear approachable for the next game and he will learn how to handle things.

As much as we want to respond, we shouldn't. Let them be the rats they are. We should be the better man/woman and walk away. As you can tell, this is not an argument you will win. You may have defended yourself but he still believes his parents and you are still wrong. All you did was reassure that in his mind.

[mstaylor]

Tell him the time to discuss was when it happened, now will only cost you a game.

[Ros@]

I do this really bad rec league. In the fall it is usually better as a few legion and other good kids come to this league from their summer teams, but over 75% of the players will never be any good enough to make a high school team. In this league after the game the Umps must meet on the mound and have the coaches sign the score card which we send in. Of Course what happens after every game? The losing coach has comment about how much we sucked. Every game

This is why I believe you do this. It's not for the money, indeed. It is because you LOVE the game and wanna give all a chance to play the game, not only the better ones at it.

[JaxRolo]

I wonder what percentage of Umpires "do it for the kids".

I personally do it for myself. Because I love baseball. I get exercise. And Mostly for the Money! I made over $4000 in the spring. I love it.

I do not go out there to put up with 10U coaches that dont know crap or Mommy and daddy behind the backstop yelling "Its not you Johnny it the umpire!

To me its about the Money and trying to get better at it every time I go out there to work a game. I love baseball and I do it for ME!

[mstaylor]

It's a combination. I always try to do the best I can and to improve. However, I do little kids because I believe they deserve good umpires just like the big guys. When I do youth baseball I do it because it is fun. Fun to watch the little buggers try to figure it out and /i get to teach the coaches. When I do older guy or adults, I do it to put a good product on the field. Is the money important, sure, it makes it worth my time and makes it easier to sell to my wife.

I don't do it just for the kids and I don't do it just for the money or even me. It is a combination. Another aspect that I enjoy is helping newer guys learn, see middle guys improve and top guys excell and know I had a part in their knowledge.

[zm1283]

I do this really bad rec league. In the fall it is usually better as a few legion and other good kids come to this league from their summer teams, but over 75% of the players will never be any good enough to make a high school team. In this league after the game the Umps must meet on the mound and have the coaches sign the score card which we send in. Of Course what happens after every game? The losing coach has comment about how much we sucked. Every game

So at the end of the game, the coach says, "You guys missed five or six calls tonight" I stopped him before he could finish. I said coach it is bush league for you to come out here after a game you lost and tell us we missed five or six calls. It sets an awful example for you kids. It is poor sportsmenship and as an adult man I'm not going to let you think you can make comments like towards me or my partner. He says "I have ever right to question calls!" I said actually you don't(the league rule book is a mess with all kinds of crazy things trying to control the coaches, and one of them is after a game no comments on plays are supposed to brought up.) but if you wanted to, come talk to us in an adult way. He said ok well I have a question on that play at first. The call was that I called the firstbasemen off the bag. I said ok. He said he put his foot back on the bag after falling off before the runner touched first. I said, first, no he didn't and it was even close. Second you are in the first base dugout and the play was on the backside of the bag, I'm five feet away from it, you really think your angle is better then mine? He says "No(get this next comment) but I had parents of my team sitting up the first baseline and they said he was back on the bag." I said are you kidding me? I have done alot of games over the years and the next time I see a parent tell his son he was out on a close play or that a call went againest his team was right it will be the first time. He says "My parents are good people who don't lie." I just looked at my partner and walked away.

I have done games for some of the best teams in my area. I have done games for many draft picks, many D1 players, many kids now getting paid to play the game. I have done games for multply winners of the All Metro player of the year here in St. Louis(that is a big deal around here). I have even down a few games that one of the coaches was a retired big wig with the Yankees. Never once, I mean not once, has any coach or player in these better leagues has ever got mad or yelled at me about a bang bang play. This league is a joke.

Sorry thanks for the Rant.

If it's not for the money, I assume that you don't need this money that badly. If so, why do it? If I don't need the money and the product is awful, then I'm not going to bother with the hassle.

[semper_fi_72]

Why do I do it?

Is it the money?

Is it the fun?

Is it for the kids?

The answer to all 3 is a definite YES.

I am in a point of my life that I can afford to just umpire and not work.

As long as I can make what I need to each month and not have to go be a Part Time Walmart Greeter than I am happy.

I am also having lots of fun doing it.

Have meet some great people and partners and it is a true brotherhood.

If there is a kids team that needs a umpire and I have the date and time available, I will gladly give them my time.

I do not profess to be a expert or the best umpire, but I will also try to help any umpire who wants to improve and become better.

I was fortunate to have some great guys help me and I am more than happy to pass on what I know.

I am also always willing to learn to become a better umpire myself.

[JaxRolo]

It's a combination. I always try to do the best I can and to improve. However, I do little kids because I believe they deserve good umpires just like the big guys. When I do youth baseball I do it because it is fun. Fun to watch the little buggers try to figure it out and /i get to teach the coaches. When I do older guy or adults, I do it to put a good product on the field. Is the money important, sure, it makes it worth my time and makes it easier to sell to my wife.

I don't do it just for the kids and I don't do it just for the money or even me. It is a combination. Another aspect that I enjoy is helping newer guys learn, see middle guys improve and top guys excell and know I had a part in their knowledge.

You are absolutely correct. I made it sound like I don't care about the "buggers" at all. But I really do. It is fun to watch them and see them do all kinds of weird stuff.

And also the working with other Umpires is fun whether they are new or veterans that I can learn from

[kylejt]

I wonder what percentage of Umpires "do it for the kids".

Put me in that column.

And not for the usual reasons. Most anyone can umpire a kids game. I work with rocket scientists, and have worked with brain surgeons, and this ain't neither. And my day job if FAR more interesting, trust me.

Nope, I umpire so I can teach kids to umpire. IMO, at least at the rec level, kids should be presiding over these games. It keeps it at a much less serious level. Plus, it teaches the youth umpires a ton of life lessons along the way.

So yeah, I do it for the kids. My kids. My team.

[buddywilshire]

This should have been done in the beginning. You call this league a "bush league". Yet, you succumbed to the same notion.

I know it can be frustrating and annoying when they pull this. Maybe, the only thing to say is "Coach, the game is over. If you had a question about a call, it should have been done at the time of the call. Have a good day/night." This way, you still appear approachable for the next game and he will learn how to handle things.

As much as we want to respond, we shouldn't. Let them be the rats they are. We should be the better man/woman and walk away. As you can tell, this is not an argument you will win. You may have defended yourself but he still believes his parents and you are still wrong. All you did was reassure that in his mind.

You are right. Had the samething last night. Just smiled and said "Good Game coach." He looked at me and said "yeah, I guess you didn't mean to miss that call" put his hand out and I shaked it and he left with the words "Overall you guys were good"

So I didn't bite and I walked away without being mad, so it worked out.

[buddywilshire]

If it's not for the money, I assume that you don't need this money that badly. If so, why do it? If I don't need the money and the product is awful, then I'm not going to bother with the hassle.

I honestly do it because I like seeing the good teams that play in the spring and in summer Tourney's. I think it is cool that I can be on the field with some of the top players in the region. I really just like to see the game played by good players. My mistake is I do really good teams then when that is over I go and to this league. The money I make, or the lack of money I make, doing these leagues is not worht my time.

[Paperipper17]

Money, exercise, to be around the game. I love when I OCCASIONALLY get a kid who tells me I did a good job even though he was on the losing team (twice). But I can't say it isn't at all for the kids. Everyone deserves a fair game, whether they appreciate it at the time or not. One of the first things guys here taught me was to let it roll off my back, and it helps to do that. So breathe, and remember that tomorrow's another game ( lol).

IMO, the best part of the job-besides actually getting paid to stand on a baseball field-is the other guys. It's awesome to hear I'm working with a guy I like (which is just about everyone in my association except JaxRolo[Kidding. Definitely one of my favorite partners and favorite guys in the org, period]) when I get an assignment.

Good luck next time out, Buddy.