Umpiring is business

[mazzamouth]

I completely agree that there is an element of teaching in anything below varsity, including JV. I don't have a problem explaining why something was a balk or why there is interference without contact, or a variety of other things that can happen. If I can't do it quickly at the time, I will take time between innings. Bad behavior that results in an ejection is a different type of teaching. This is showing them what is allowed and what is not.

+1 ..I agree 100%

[Umpire in Chief]

While there is no perfect analogy, I think there is a lot of comparison's to upmiring being a business.

Here are some more:

Customer Service - We're definately not going to make every coach, player, parent, spectator, AD, assignor , etc... hapy every time. But we need to go out apply our craft well, and do our jobs to the best of our ability. Issue dicipline, justly and be professional even when tossing someone.

Continuing Professional Education (CPE)- You wouldn't hire a doctor, lawyer or CPA who was behind on there continuing professional education, so don't get behind on yours. You can go online and see if most any liscensed professional is up to date on their CLE by checking their siscensing status in your state. But for umpires there's no such luxuary. Sure FED has their 100 T/F test that if you had half a mind and had been around baseball long enough you can easily get a passing score, but that is hardly assurance that an umpire is qualified. You need to be proactive in knowing what's going on in the umpiring "industry" rules are constantly changing, interpretations can and do change, mechanics change. A professional in a business would keep up with this. We've all probably worked with that guy who was probably one of the top umpires 30 years ago, but he got to that point and maintained, and did not change with the times or even bother to. This would be a recipie for disaster in the business world and not good for umpiring.

Passion - I recently had a home imporvement project done. I talked to a number of contractors who were all probably capable of doing the job well. I got a series of quotes which were all reasonably close with one exception. Each of the people I got quotes from had a good reference from people I knew. Who did I choose? I chose one who seemed to have the most passion for his work. His prices were middle to middle-high compared to the rest. He didn't have a expensive video presentation or marketing material and wasn't the best in terms of delivering his sales pitch. Was passion the only reason I chose him, no. But it made a huge difference. I felt most comfortable with him doing the work because I could feel his sincere passion for what he was doing. Have a passion for umpiring and it will show and more importantly be noticed.

[PeteBooth]

It is well known that Pete has a bias against LL and a preference yoward Fed. Again I don't have a problem with that unless that bias makes unable to answer questions, which I am not saying happened.

Michael while the aformentioned statement is basically true it is not without merit. Perhaps it deserves it's own thread but here are some of my points.

First and Foremost, I started in LL but "back then" (giving my age away) LL was a nice play to be.

There were no mandates placed upon the various LL organizations like there is today. NO MPR etc.

My main disdain of LL is because IMO, LL has "sold their sole" to TV. 6 umpires on a 60ft. diamond plus expanded IR at a 12 yr. old game is simply ludicrous. They are the "guinee pigs" for MLB. It's my gut that either MLB or ABC told WP to put in replay just to see how it would work. LL cares about one thing and one thing only - THEIR SHOW

Then there is the rediculous "Chain of Command approach" during All Stars. I had to wait some 45 minutes to 1 hour on a few occassions.

Their Rules / regulations are NOT thought out. Unfortunately the archives (old threads) at eteamz (which is now active) are gone otherwise you could see how many rules that WP institutued over the years and were hotly debated at eteamz.

Remember when it was an automatic forfeit if all players did not meet MPR. There was one game in the papers in which both teams had a "problem" and turned the game into a travesty to make certain all players met MPR. I believe the final result was a double forfeit.

Last year or the year before there was an article about a team losing because of a high 5. the coach was told by the umpire that he could not protest etc. later on the team called WP but to no avail.

yes they have their RIM but it does not cover everything via case plays etc.

I still do some games but generally speaking my LL days are over. I did my time and feel it's up to the next group of parents to do "their time"

The reason I say LL questions or youth type questions belong in a separate Forum is not because it's beneath me to answer etc. but LL has their own set of unique rules ie: 7.08(a-3) their joke of a safety rule; 7.13 (the most convuluted of all the rules) 7.14 (SPR) etc. and therefore, would best be served on that Forum. If that's not the case then why did Warren bother to create a separate section called Youth / Rec ball?

Also, game management is vastly different in a LL / youth game then HS varsity.

Pete Booth

[mstaylor]

Michael while the aformentioned statement is basically true it is not without merit. Perhaps it deserves it's own thread but here are some of my points.

First and Foremost, I started in LL but "back then" (giving my age away) LL was a nice play to be.

There were no mandates placed upon the various LL organizations like there is today. NO MPR etc.

My main disdain of LL is because IMO, LL has "sold their sole" to TV. 6 umpires on a 60ft. diamond plus expanded IR at a 12 yr. old game is simply ludicrous. They are the "guinee pigs" for MLB. It's my gut that either MLB or ABC told WP to put in replay just to see how it would work. LL cares about one thing and one thing only - THEIR SHOW

Then there is the rediculous "Chain of Command approach" during All Stars. I had to wait some 45 minutes to 1 hour on a few occassions.

Their Rules / regulations are NOT thought out. Unfortunately the archives (old threads) at eteamz (which is now active) are gone otherwise you could see how many rules that WP institutued over the years and were hotly debated at eteamz.

Remember when it was an automatic forfeit if all players did not meet MPR. There was one game in the papers in which both teams had a "problem" and turned the game into a travesty to make certain all players met MPR. I believe the final result was a double forfeit.

Last year or the year before there was an article about a team losing because of a high 5. the coach was told by the umpire that he could not protest etc. later on the team called WP but to no avail.

yes they have their RIM but it does not cover everything via case plays etc.

I still do some games but generally speaking my LL days are over. I did my time and feel it's up to the next group of parents to do "their time"

The reason I say LL questions or youth type questions belong in a separate Forum is not because it's beneath me to answer etc. but LL has their own set of unique rules ie: 7.08(a-3) their joke of a safety rule; 7.13 (the most convuluted of all the rules) 7.14 (SPR) etc. and therefore, would best be served on that Forum. If that's not the case then why did Warren bother to create a separate section called Youth / Rec ball?

Also, game management is vastly different in a LL / youth game then HS varsity.

Pete Booth

I wasn't disagreeing that I can see and it wasn't pointed at you completely, there are others with a bias on both sides of the equation. I don't work a lot of LL games either but I am still very involved locally but more of an off field presence. I teach a lot of clinics including the state clinic. I also get a lot of frantic phone calls for interps.

[detailshp]

What's the difference between doing youth and Legion?

Besides the quality of ball and the obvious differences (strike zones, balk warnings... etc)

Legion ball conforms a lot closer to MLB rules than most youth leagues I have worked for. In my area of the woods, Legion ball is also considered "all-star" level ball as opposed to a youth league where I work will take all types of athlete. Legion ball in my experience also has more high strung managers, more focused on win/loss where again, I have worked many youth leagues ( even babe ruth 14U ) where fundamentals and fun are stressed more.

[cigarmon]

As my old/former assigner used to say "We're the only ones out there getting paid, and we're getting paid to know the rules". IMO, we are being paid by whomever and they do look to us to keep the game within certain parameters. As we've said, those parameters vary from LL to HS to MSBL. Additionally, I think any "real umpire" who offciates like a dope because he's volunteering his time, is setting himself up for failure. They are still going to look to you to be the authority. My 2 bits.