What's worse...

[Called3rdStrike]

Calling a baseball game with a softball umpire, or a softball game as a baseball umpire.

[KLAH316]

Depends on the level....

[mstaylor]

I don't care if it is a softball guy working a baseball game or the other  way around, that really isn't a problem. What absolutely despise is using softball mechanics on a baseball field or baseball mechanics on a softball field. 

[MT_Blue]

agreeing with MSTaylor it really doesnt bother me to do either as long as correct mechanics are used...

[Welpe]

Agree with Michael. I've done both. Baseball mechanics on the baseball field, softball on the softball field. Yes even the dreaded "Dead ball! "

[bam]

What is this "softball" of which you speak?

[Welpe]

What is this "softball" of which you speak?

That game where the umpires are already leaving when your HS game is in the 4th inning. :)

[dumbdumb]

What is this "softball" of which you speak?

That game where the umpires are already leaving when your HS game is in the 4th inning.

And many times making the same fee.

[mstaylor]

Hey, I beat softball yesterday, We were done, changed out and as we were leaving softball was still playing.

[Mike Prince]

Had a HS game like that a couple years ago, as my partner and I went to the baseball field from the parking lot we crossed paths with the umpires for the softball game starting at the same time.  One of the SB umpires had been in our assn. for over 40 years, he had to be 75 years old or more.  He laughed that he'd come visit us after his game on his way to the car.  Well, we had a 1-0, 7 inning game that was a one-hitter for the winners and a 2-hitter for the losers, we were done in just over 1:20.  We made sure we went straight to the CF fence of the softball field so that we could give a wave on our way to the car.

[IABlue]

Hey, I beat softball yesterday, We were done, changed out and as we were leaving softball was still playing.

Let me guess, you had a single and they were playing a double?

 

Had a HS game like that a couple years ago, as my partner and I went to the baseball field from the parking lot we crossed paths with the umpires for the softball game starting at the same time.  One of the SB umpires had been in our assn. for over 40 years, he had to be 75 years old or more.  He laughed that he'd come visit us after his game on his way to the car.  Well, we had a 1-0, 7 inning game that was a one-hitter for the winners and a 2-hitter for the losers, we were done in just over 1:20.  We made sure we went straight to the CF fence of the softball field so that we could give a wave on our way to the car.

What makes that a great story is that it's a once-in-a-lifetime event.

[mstaylor]

Hey, I beat softball yesterday, We were done, changed out and as we were leaving softball was still playing.

Let me guess, you had a single and they were playing a double?

 

>Had a HS game like that a couple years ago, as my partner and I went to the baseball field from the parking lot we crossed paths with the umpires for the softball game starting at the same time.  One of the SB umpires had been in our assn. for over 40 years, he had to be 75 years old or more.  He laughed that he'd come visit us after his game on his way to the car.  Well, we had a 1-0, 7 inning game that was a one-hitter for the winners and a 2-hitter for the losers, we were done in just over 1:20.  We made sure we went straight to the CF fence of the softball field so that we could give a wave on our way to the car.

What makes that a great story is that it's a once-in-a-lifetime event.

 

Nope, varsity single, all seven innings. I think I beat softball five times last year. 

We did a game once where it had been raining but the school said they were playing. We show up and start getting dressed, the softball guys stop and ask what we were going to do. I said we were going to go try to get a game in. They said they would try if we were. I told them hey had to look at their field and make their own call. Our field was the best I had ever seen that field. We had a 1:20/1:30 type game. we are walking back to our cars and stop at softball to see how it's going. They were in the third, a bizzillion to nothing. Softball umpires were cussing us. 

[Majordave]

F softball and the umpires who work both.  I had a THREE hour HS varsity game the other day with old boy Smitty, local guy, 70 freaking years old.  NEVER, I mean never moved out from the plate.  Had no game management skills, knew everything and kept waiting until he was out of baseballs to ask for more from home dugout.  What a waste.

 

I had similar experience in Kentucky with a softball guy double dipping into baseball.  He brought his "clicker" as he called it onto field and was using it.  Spent more time looking at it than the game.  I asked him to stop and either put it into his pocket or give it to me.  He didn't .  I reported him to Assigner.  He was removed from our baseball umpires arbiter list. 

 

Want to do it again but I am the FNG in Mizzou HS ball and our assigner is even older than this guy so I am going to have to eat it and hope I don't work with him or his kind again.  I need the money too much to be selective right now.

 

Thanks for letting me vent.  I am sure all softball-baseball guys aren't this bad.  I asked him if he'd ever been to camp or a clinic for umpires.  Never heard of it.

[Welpe]

Sounds like he was just a crappy umpire.

[mstaylor]

Majordave, I worked with a guy yesterday that is baseball only but is 73 yrs old. He does some things old school but he still is solid, an amazing guy. He was saying he was sore from the day before. I asked why, he still plays two hours of full court basketball, lifted and then ran two miles. I just got him a new mask and have some new uniforms on order. 

[maineump]

Only had 1 guy on our HS board that did SB. He would give us 2 days/week and do SB the rest. He also did college SB. He was an outstanding umpire and had great mechanics on the BB field. Not sure what he did on the SB field, but he must have done OK, as he had a busy college schedule.

The old guy thing is the worst!. We have some that need to move on. Some don't move (or can't), they don't want to learn that 'new fangled stuff', and kid I have been doing this since you were a twinkle in the eye. We even have 1 guy that still uses the outside protector.

I don't do SB, so worse for me is - for me to have to do a softball game.

[JaxRolo]

I don't work HS Softball but done some Babe Ruth only because they need an umpire and they beg me to do it. I will not deviate from baseball mechanics.

[LMSANS]

F softball and the umpires who work both.  I had a THREE hour HS varsity game the other day with old boy Smitty, local guy, 70 freaking years old.  NEVER, I mean never moved out from the plate.  Had no game management skills, knew everything and kept waiting until he was out of baseballs to ask for more from home dugout.  What a waste.

 

I had similar experience in Kentucky with a softball guy double dipping into baseball.  He brought his "clicker" as he called it onto field and was using it.  Spent more time looking at it than the game.  I asked him to stop and either put it into his pocket or give it to me.  He didn't .  I reported him to Assigner.  He was removed from our baseball umpires arbiter list. 

 

Want to do it again but I am the FNG in Mizzou HS ball and our assigner is even older than this guy so I am going to have to eat it and hope I don't work with him or his kind again.  I need the money too much to be selective right now.

 

Thanks for letting me vent.  I am sure all softball-baseball guys aren't this bad.  I asked him if he'd ever been to camp or a clinic for umpires.  Never heard of it.

I know plenty of baseball only umpires that act the same way. It's not the sport it's the individual. If the authorities allow it to happen, then it will. Not a week goes by that someone is complaining about their partner on U-E. And it's baseball umpires being complained about.

 

The ASA holds national umpire schools every year. And just like baseball umpires, those that want to get better, get to it. There are other softball umpire schools and they are very similar to the baseball counterpart.

[LMSANS]

I don't work HS Softball but done some Babe Ruth only because they need an umpire and they beg me to do it. I will not deviate from baseball mechanics.

And if a softball umpire worked SB mechanics doing a baseball game, you would be one of the first to tie a noose to lynch him.  If you don't want to do it right, then don't do it.  Or is it just for the money...

[JaxRolo]

I don't work HS Softball but done some Babe Ruth only because they need an umpire and they beg me to do it. I will not deviate from baseball mechanics.

And if a softball umpire worked SB mechanics doing a baseball game, you would be one of the first to tie a noose to lynch him.  If you don't want to do it right, then don't do it.  Or is it just for the money...

Incorrect. As long as he doesn't use a plate brush on the bases or mound I don't care if he has silly mechanics.

 

I only work softball during tournaments because he needs the best Umpires there.  

[JaxRolo]

I don't work HS Softball but done some Babe Ruth only because they need an umpire and they beg me to do it. I will not deviate from baseball mechanics.

 Or is it just for the money...

 

We have both been here long enough for you to know it is not just the money.

[sdix00]

Softball Mechanics?

 

Here is a cheat sheet if you ever need to hop on a softball field. 

 

 

 

 

 

     What are you doing out there?                                 I forgot my chest protector.                                         This many.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASA Clinic  - The Basic Six.

"Safe"

[MT_Blue]

Softball Mechanics?

 

Here is a cheat sheet if you ever need to hop on a softball field. 

 

 

 

 

 

     What are you doing out there?                                 I forgot my chest protector.                                         This many.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ASA Clinic  - The Basic Six.

"Safe"

while i find the humor i will politely disagree

[noumpere]

What's the signal for "The ball hit her in the box" 8)

[Majordave]

My apologies to the guys who work softball.  I just wish the assigners did a better job vetting who they assign where.  It's my fault, my decision, I am the FNG here.  I just need to shut up and umpire. (I recently received a communique to all CBUA umpires from Rich Fetcheit that had that phrase in it- well said.) I'm still working and still getting paid (eventually).  I am lucky to have my health and God given blessings.  My problem, I will fix it.

 

DCT