Professionalism

[semper_fi_72]

I had assignments this week end with someone I never worked with before but had my suspicions of his abilities.

We also had an Association meeting recently where proper mechanics and professionalism where a big topic.

Oh, he didn't attend that meeting or the one back in August.

 

First two games I had the bases.

These were 14U Travel Ball Tournament games.

 

While I was on the bases he barely signaled anything from behind the plate.

He barely came out from behind the plate.

I called 3 Balks during the two games and none of them were echoed.

Between innings I could see him talking and joking with players and parents behind the backstop.

Another emphasis point at the last meeting was not talking to parents.

When a Ball was Fouled Off and leaving the field, where a Foul Call wasn't necessary, he was yelling Foul, Out of Play.

When he put a ball back in Play he would say, "The Balls in Play".  Even if the Batter wasn't in the box or the Pitcher wasn't on the Rubber.

Strike Zone....Heard a lot of gripping about it and I cringed at numerous called Strikes that were way high, in the dirt, way inside or outside.  I give the Managers/Coaches credit for letting for not getting into a argument over several of them.

There was one play at the plate and noticed him kneeling on the First Base line, just outside the LH Batters box.  It was a close play and I was waiting to hear a call which I never heard.  He is kneeling there pointing to the plate.  Defensive Manager starts saying loudly, "He is out, he blocked the plate and tagged him".  I hear, "Yes he blocked the plate, but he was behind the plate".    I expected the storm to erupt but after a little more discussion the Defensive Manager went back to the dugout.

I am in A Position and have a Trouble Ball hit between the RF and CF which I go out on.  CF makes a diving catch and while nearly colliding with the RFer.

I call the catch and turn back towards the Plate and notice he is still camped out behind the plate.

Game management didn't exist and both games went long and put the field 25 minutes behind schedule when we were done with those two games.

There is more but I will close this Chapter. 

 

Luckily we had a game break before our next two games on a different field.

 

I have plate for last two games of the day.

Before we start he is joking with players and even swing bats as he is performing bat check.  Yes, he did it earlier also.

I put the Ball in Play and notice he is straddling the Foul Line in A Position.

Between innings he starts coming in to the mound or by me.      When he comes near me I ignore him and get the ball back in play as quick as possible.

He even did a Hackie Sack  thing picking up the ball near the mound with his feet and throwing it behind his back to the F1 coming to the mound.

When he comes in again between the Top and Bottom of the 2nd inning he comes over to me.

As soon as he gets there I say, "How many times did I come into you in the 2 games you had on the Plate?  None, I say, you need to go to Short right center field between innings.  Don't come in unless I call you and stay out of the infield and away from the pitchers mound". 

He starts staying out but in a short A position and talks with 1B coaches.

Between innings after a close play at 3B, one manager came to me and asked if I had him safe at 3B.  Luckily I was able to say "Without a doubt".  He said thanks and continued to the 3B coaching box.

I also noticed him standing in B and C with his hands in his pockets most of the time.  Not set for anything.  He was also usually standing at a angle that was not square to the plate.

Before my two plate games, he informs me we have Team XYZ for the two games and they are a good legit team.

I have had them before and am familiar with the Manager.

When I get to the field, he even says, glad to see you again, hope you and your family had a great holiday.  I say thanks, good to see you again and good luck tonight.  They generally play pretty good.

Well first game ended after 4 innings 13 - 0 Mercy. 

Get second game started 15 minutes early and it ends 15 - 0 after 3 innings.

Needless to say the Team my partner said was a legit good team, played 7 innings of baseball scoring ZERO and giving up 28 runs.

 

This and more information was passed onto the Assignor who was at the Tournament Site.

He said he knew of his Professionalism problems and his weak mechanics and said he sees potential and was going to start putting him with someone to either get with the program or get out.

I said Ok but I am not sure it will work.

Assignor says I know, he thinks he is already a great umpire. 

 

I now have one blocked official in Arbiter.

 

Needless to say when the day ended I was grateful we got through it without a major problem.

 

 

Ok I feel better now. 

 

[BRUMP]

I don't have too much sympathy for a guy complaining about partners he gets for a game in JANUARY. lol.

In all seriousness though when one umpire is substandard in regards to professionalism we are perceived by most to be an unprofessional crew. When we are out there we represent our partner and vice versa.

[JaxRolo]

Lou you must have taught him everything he knows!

[th3]

did he do anything right? thats a long list

[JaxRolo]

I hate games like that. Makes you keep an eye on your partner cause you lose all confidence on his abilities.

[semper_fi_72]

did he do anything right? thats a long list

 

 

Yes

He was dressed professionally so I was fooled for a couple of innings...lol

[KLAH316]

Between games, did you ever consider talking to him about his demeanor and professionalism and how you felt about what was going on?? 4 games is a lot of time to be frustrated and pi$$ed off on the field.

[conbo61]

"When we are out there we represent our partner and vice versa."

 

Good advice.  Will keep that one at the front of the memory.

[Jocko]

Rolo must have a twin!

[semper_fi_72]

Between games, did you ever consider talking to him about his demeanor and professionalism and how you felt about what was going on?? 4 games is a lot of time to be frustrated and pi$$ed off on the field.

 

Oh yes.

There was zero time between game one and two.

When we had our game break after the second game I suggested we sit down by our cars and review our games while we relaxed.

He wanted to go hang out in the snack bar and watch what ever football game was on.

Again when we had a 45 minutes between the 3rd and 4th it was, going to snack bar.  See you at tournament table 10 minute before our next game.

 

After our last game I dropped off the game results with TD.

He beat me into the parking lot and was gone.

 

I wasn't really pissed off or frustrated, was more like praying that we got through the day without any problems because of him.

[grayhawk]

This joker gets games while Jim ignores my request once again. Boggles the mind.

[UMP45]

Why "echo" the balk call?

[BRUMP]

Why "echo" the balk call?

 

the reasoning behind this is that it is easier to sell the call when all the umpires have called it

[Jocko]

Why "echo" the balk call?

same reason you mimic the IFF call if not the 1st one to call it.

[RichMSN]

Except when the coach asks you why you called it and have NO IDEA. Bye bye credibility. I don't echo balks. I will call time at the appropriate moment, though. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

[BRUMP]

Except when the coach asks you why you called it and have NO IDEA. Bye bye credibility. I don't echo balks. I will call time at the appropriate moment, though. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

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if that happens wouldnt the original balk caller and not the echoer just tell him why? and in fed i think you should echo regardless cause your killing the play

[spiritump]

when you echo your partner and the coach ask you why --just tell him you where echoing your partner and to go ask him.

[Haid D' Salaami]

Ok, we understand your upset.. but has anyone even you taken the time to teach this guy how to do things on the field?. maybe you have a chance here to mold a guy.

[Haid D' Salaami]

Except when the coach asks you why you called it and have NO IDEA. Bye bye credibility. I don't echo balks. I will call time at the appropriate moment, though. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

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if that happens wouldnt the original balk caller and not the echoer just tell him why? and in fed i think you should echo regardless cause your killing the play

you should always echo.. the theory is if they all 3 of them called it a balk, well by good it must be.. and if the coach comes out.. the umpire who called it should say " I called it, no stop.. it's very simple and if done right it looks good...i can understand where Rich is coming from, but i IMHO think its a easy way to get out of doing our job.

[Jocko]

I was at a AA game last season. U2 called balk. The others echoed the call. When HC came onto the field headed to HP, U2 hollered to HP, "I got it." U2 then proceeded to explain the call to HC. It was a great learning opportunity for me. If I call the balk, I should be the one to explain my call. Therefore, by implication, if YOU call the balk, YOU should immediately step in and intercept the HC to explain it. Don't wait for HP to send HC your way.

Similar to a whacker at 2B. You wouldn't expect HP to explain the call. But, who am I, right?

[semper_fi_72]

Ok, we understand your upset.. but has anyone even you taken the time to teach this guy how to do things on the field?. maybe you have a chance here to mold a guy.

 

 

Did you miss the line where I said "He already thinks he is a great umpire"?

He doesn't think he has a problem on the field.

Hard to help someone who doesn't think they need help.

[Umpire in Chief]

I was at a AA game last season. U2 called balk. The others echoed the call. When HC came onto the field headed to HP, U2 hollered to HP, "I got it." U2 then proceeded to explain the call to HC. It was a great learning opportunity for me. If I call the balk, I should be the one to explain my call. Therefore, by implication, if YOU call the balk, YOU should immediately step in and intercept the HC to explain it. Don't wait for HP to send HC your way.

Similar to a whacker at 2B. You wouldn't expect HP to explain the call. But, who am I, right?

Absolutely correct.

 

If you are the one initiating the call, your partner echos and the coach comes out to your partner, own the call. Or at the bare minimum try, maybe your partner had it too and can explain the call and waives you off, but do not assume he does. 

 

Echoing a call is a sign of team unity. Why then would you essentially throw your partner under the bus by hanging him with your call; that is not team unity.

 

After echoing a call I would never tell a coach, "Uhhh, that's his call." The coach may not have seen or heard my partner but saw me. I can only imagine the sh!+ storm would ensue after that. "What you're telling me I didn't just see you call that" It will ruin your credibility.

 

I will make my best guess if I have to, but if I do have to my partner and I will be having some words afterwards.

[Haid D' Salaami]

Ok, we understand your upset.. but has anyone even you taken the time to teach this guy how to do things on the field?. maybe you have a chance here to mold a guy.

 

 

Did you miss the line where I said "He already thinks he is a great umpire"?

He doesn't think he has a problem on the field.

Hard to help someone who doesn't think they need help.

oops..sorry.. well then, screw him...LOL

[Haid D' Salaami]

I was at a AA game last season. U2 called balk. The others echoed the call. When HC came onto the field headed to HP, U2 hollered to HP, "I got it." U2 then proceeded to explain the call to HC. It was a great learning opportunity for me. If I call the balk, I should be the one to explain my call. Therefore, by implication, if YOU call the balk, YOU should immediately step in and intercept the HC to explain it. Don't wait for HP to send HC your way.

Similar to a whacker at 2B. You wouldn't expect HP to explain the call. But, who am I, right?

this is exactly the way its supposed to be done, I teach it this way at the clinic I taught at.. I will pregame this with my crew this season...

[yawetag]

Similar to a whacker at 2B. You wouldn't expect HP to explain the call. But, who am I, right?

 

I also don't expect the HP to echo my whacker call.

 

I'm with Rich on this. The only time I'd appear to echo the call is if I see it and call it myself a beat too late. Regardless if I'm the one calling the balk or not, I'll call "time" at the appropriate time (if needed), but will not ever echo the balk call -- nor will I make the base awards.