Another Difficult Situation

[umpire_scott]

So I was put on a field today with 2 guys that had 7 games. I basically came in and did 3 plates and one base so that they would not have to do as many plates while doing their 7 games. These guys are very experienced umpires and made it clear in the beginning that they wanted to call the game in such a way that the games stayed on time. They rushed the coaches during the pregame even after the coach indicated his team was not ready. They also complained about how tight they thought my strike zone was during my first game, even though the first game ended in 1:34 and the time limit was no new inning after 1:40.

My first inclination is to stick to my guns and say that I will call my game the way I see it and you just need to deal with it. The problem with this approach is that I'm new to this area and these guys claim that they do a lot of high school and even college games. They say they get a lot of games because they know people and are well respected. So I don't really want to burn any bridges.

[johnnyg08]

Then have them do the plate. Or stop their game whore attitude. If they want 7 games then they should do their share of plates and compromise their integrity to keep the games on time

[umpire_scott]

Then have them do the plate. Or stop their game whore attitude. If they want 7 games then they should do their share of plates and compromise their integrity to keep the games on time

Well since they had 7 games and I only had 4 it made sense for me to do three plates. Then they did two each. Ironically the one game I was on the bases the guy on the plate did not compromise his strike zone in the same way he was asking me to. I've been in situations like this before though, where I don't want to make waves and then have it cause me to be overlooked for games.

[Mr Umpire]

But, if you look bad to evaluators, what will you gain? Obviously, they didn't want to look bad.

[AZump78]

After what you learned about these two whores within 10 minutes of meeting them, why would you compromise YOUR work for THEIR approval?

If you can work, you will get all the games, and big games at that, than you can stand.

Stick to your guns, do the job as you've been taught, and stop worrying what these 7-game a day guys think of you.

[Jocko]

Once you get a few weeks in, you'll meet lots of people. I get called by people I never met to come do games. It'll add up eventually. The one thing you have to do is call YOUR game. I hate it when I get the "open it up" signal from my partner in the 5th inning. Ummm....... No. I've been calling this zone the whole game. Do what you do. The games will come.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Your strike zone is none of their business. Don't let anyone micromanage your game. There is a time limit in place, so they can just stand around on the bases while you do the actual work. Bunch of game ho's.

[Dannytheman]

Scott,

Never get intimadated by other umps. Call your game at your pace. I have had words with FUs that call balls in while I am getting a drink, or allowing a new pitcher between innings to have more than 4 pitches or 1 minute of time. I nicely mention after the game to them to NEVER do that, or they can wear the gear!

[Jocko]

I absolutely hate when my partner calls balls in. Thats my job and maybe I am writing a F1 change or HC gave me a sub, or maybe I just want a minute. RRRRRRRRRRRR!!! Happened 2x this weekend. A-hole.

[UmpTTS43]

Warm-up restrictions are outlined in the rules. As a BU, it is my responsibility to observe the pitcher and the number of his warm up pitches inbetween innings if my PU is preoccupied with other tasks, ie writing changes, talking with coaches, getting water. When the PU is done with his tasks, I will inform him of the number of warmup pitches left. If he is still busy when the pitcher has one left, I will let the teams know. Just because the PU is preoccupied does not mean that the pitcher gets more warmup pitches unnecessarily. This is part of game management and keeps the game flowing. Just because the warmups are completed doesn't mean the PU has to jump back there. If he needs more time for "whatever" he can take it.

[Guest]

Warm-up restrictions are outlined in the rules. As a BU, it is my responsibility to observe the pitcher and the number of his warm up pitches inbetween innings if my PU is preoccupied with other tasks, ie writing changes, talking with coaches, getting water. When the PU is done with his tasks, I will inform him of the number of warmup pitches left. If he is still busy when the pitcher has one left, I will let the teams know. Just because the PU is preoccupied does not mean that the pitcher gets more warmup pitches unnecessarily. This is part of game management and keeps the game flowing. Just because the warmups are completed doesn't mean the PU has to jump back there. If he needs more time for "whatever" he can take it.

Agree.

Guys, watch an MLB game in person more carefully. The PU minds his own business between innings while U2, with the watch, stands in F2's direct line of sight behind F1, and 2B. If the pitcher is still throwing when they are 30 seconds from the end of the commercial break, U2 signals "one more pitch" from short CF, the catcher subsequently does the 'bear hug' motion to let everyone know the throw's coming, and PU turns to the on-deck batter to instruct them to begin to approach the plate.

Now, we all don't work games with commercial breaks, but the bottom line is, like Troy said, if PU is busy, somebody has to monitor the situation.

[Jocko]

Dont misunderstand what Im saying. Tbhis is the guy that wants to start every game early and finish the day 25 minutes early. He rushes around all day long to brag about how he finished early. He will also shave the clock. THAT'S what I'm talking about.

[cyclonehokiece]

Dont misunderstand what Im saying. Tbhis is the guy that wants to start every game early and finish the day 25 minutes early. He rushes around all day long to brag about how he finished early. He will also shave the clock. THAT'S what I'm talking about.

No problem with starting the game early if everything is ready. Nice to end a little early, especially on getaway day. Shaving the clock however is a no-no. Rules say put X on the clock, X better be on the clock when you start or you will get burned eventually.

[James Walker]

Dont misunderstand what Im saying. Tbhis is the guy that wants to start every game early and finish the day 25 minutes early. He rushes around all day long to brag about how he finished early. He will also shave the clock. THAT'S what I'm talking about.

These seem to be the guys that have the most trouble with coaches. The coach just see him as a guy out there for money, not for the kids and definitely not because they enjoy doing what they do. They're also the ones that always complain when they don't get quality games or playoff/championship/allstar assignments. IMO, I would stay as far from these guys as possible. And who cares if they approve of the way you call a game. If you try to change the way you call, it can screw you up for an entire season, and to me, it just ain't worth it.

[RC@54OUTS]

I agree with all that has been said. I am realtively new to my area and have done well to get games. Don't associate with clowns like that and never ever let someone you do not respect critique your strike zone or your mechanics for that metter. You work on getting better and games will come.

[mstaylor]

Do what you know is right, steer clear of the idiots and you will go right by them.

[Don]

Then have them do the plate. Or stop their game whore attitude. If they want 7 games then they should do their share of plates and compromise their integrity to keep the games on time

Well since they had 7 games and I only had 4 it made sense for me to do three plates. Then they did two each. Ironically the one game I was on the bases the guy on the plate did not compromise his strike zone in the same way he was asking me to. I've been in situations like this before though, where I don't want to make waves and then have it cause me to be overlooked for games.

If they want to work 7 games they should be prepared to work 3 plates and 4 bases or 4 plates and 3 bases. If I am working 4 games it makes sense to work 2/2, regardless of what they do.

[Jocko]

Then have them do the plate. Or stop their game whore attitude. If they want 7 games then they should do their share of plates and compromise their integrity to keep the games on time

Well since they had 7 games and I only had 4 it made sense for me to do three plates. Then they did two each. Ironically the one game I was on the bases the guy on the plate did not compromise his strike zone in the same way he was asking me to. I've been in situations like this before though, where I don't want to make waves and then have it cause me to be overlooked for games.

If they want to work 7 games they should be prepared to work 3 plates and 4 bases or 4 plates and 3 bases. If I am working 4 games it makes sense to work 2/2, regardless of what they do.

^^^^^^ This ^^^^^^

[Baseball ump 14]

i had a similar situation last yr in a varsity game where i had the dish and my partner was cutting me off as i was speaking in pre game.my partner was in such a hurry for some reason,he would chase players out of dugout and yell at players every inning to move it. the next game,my partner had the dish and was calling the dish like stevie wonder to speed up the game.i went to him and asked him to knock it off its reflecting on me as his partner.my partner even threw out a player for taking too long to get his signs from third base coach,i thought he was be ridiculous but i stayed quite as he made a fool out of himself,needless to say,my partner from that game was no longer my partner any longer in the future or did i ever see him make it back to that H.S. ...in H.S. rules if he batter receives a called strike or swings and misses or hits a foul ball,the batter may step out of the batters box and take a practice swing and get his signals.i tried to explain this to my partner but he didn't want to hear it.my partner was a very knowledgeable umpire but always in a hurry to finish a game rather than call a good game.

[BRUMP]

Can u top this I know a guy who left early mid game to watch the Jets?

[Jocko]

i had a similar situation last yr in a varsity game where i had the dish and my partner was cutting me off as i was speaking in pre game.my partner was in such a hurry for some reason,he would chase players out of dugout and yell at players every inning to move it. the next game,my partner had the dish and was calling the dish like stevie wonder to speed up the game.i went to him and asked him to knock it off its reflecting on me as his partner.my partner even threw out a player for taking too long to get his signs from third base coach,i thought he was be ridiculous but i stayed quite as he made a fool out of himself,needless to say,my partner from that game was no longer my partner any longer in the future or did i ever see him make it back to that H.S. ...in H.S. rules if he batter receives a called strike or swings and misses or hits a foul ball,the batter may step out of the batters box and take a practice swing and get his signals.i tried to explain this to my partner but he didn't want to hear it.my partner was a very knowledgeable umpire but always in a hurry to finish a game rather than call a good game.

20 seconds or he gets a K added to the count. Never an EJ. Wow!

[mstaylor]

Can u top this I know a guy who left early mid game to watch the Jets?

Why would anybody want to watch the Jets? :hi5:

[mstaylor]

i had a similar situation last yr in a varsity game where i had the dish and my partner was cutting me off as i was speaking in pre game.my partner was in such a hurry for some reason,he would chase players out of dugout and yell at players every inning to move it. the next game,my partner had the dish and was calling the dish like stevie wonder to speed up the game.i went to him and asked him to knock it off its reflecting on me as his partner.my partner even threw out a player for taking too long to get his signs from third base coach,i thought he was be ridiculous but i stayed quite as he made a fool out of himself,needless to say,my partner from that game was no longer my partner any longer in the future or did i ever see him make it back to that H.S. ...in H.S. rules if he batter receives a called strike or swings and misses or hits a foul ball,the batter may step out of the batters box and take a practice swing and get his signals.i tried to explain this to my partner but he didn't want to hear it.my partner was a very knowledgeable umpire but always in a hurry to finish a game rather than call a good game.

I understand wanting to move games along so they don't drag, so they have flow. You just can't be making stuff up to make the game faster. If you are in that big a hurry, switch to softball. How bad did you rip him in the parking lot for butting into your pregame?

[Guest umpire78]

Then have them do the plate. Or stop their game whore attitude. If they want 7 games then they should do their share of plates and compromise their integrity to keep the games on time

I agree completely, johnny. ANY BODY can do the bases. It's working the plate that separates the REAL umpires from the "wannabes." The ones that DON'T work the dish HAVE BECOME TOO LAZY. The BEST thing they could do is RETIRE. I've umped 33 years and ALWAYS take my share of plate games. THERE IS NO EXCUSE NOT TO.

So, either GET BEHIND THE DISH OR GET THE HELL OUT. You CAN'T be that good or that "valuable" to hang around.

[NCAAump2]

I don't know that "anybody can do the bases..." I've seen guys that are solid behind the plate but horrid on the bases, so I think your assumption might be a bit off.

[Guest umpire78]

After what you learned about these two whores within 10 minutes of meeting them, why would you compromise YOUR work for THEIR approval?

If you can work, you will get all the games, and big games at that, than you can stand.

Stick to your guns, do the job as you've been taught, and stop worrying what these 7-game a day guys think of you.

GREAT advice, CBrown. Don't umpire THEIR way, umpire YOUR way (as long as you are using good mechanics). As a base umpire, my pregame conference with my partner is MOST IMPORTANT. I take nothing for granted. By the time my partner (or I, if I'm working the dish) calls "Play," we are absolutely clear on "who" has "what." COMMUNICATION - BEFORE AND DURING THE GAME - GOES A LONG WAY.