Rant of the Day

[soapbox]

Last minute, I was handed about 40 games to get covered.  I took some and distibributed the rest.  Last night was stupid.  First of all, these are kids that no longer play LL, but have moved to intermediate field and playing under LL.  There are only 4 teams and one of them only has 8 players.  That rely on call ups, but if you have a pulse you can play.  The best few kids in this league are manageble, the rest, they might be nice kids, but baseball isn't in their blood.  Every pitch a balk with runners on.  About 200 pitches thrown by visitors, about 20 for legit strikes, another 20 because they crossed the plate, weren't over the batters shoulders and within 18" of either side of plate.  2nd inning saw 15 plated for home team, mostly on walks.  F2 got the ball back to F1 1 out of 10 throws.  I could have brought my laptop and done work from behind the dish and called the same game.  The only thing more annoying were the coaches who treat it as fun time.  Last week I told a buddy some of the ball has been so bad, I feel like a camp counselor.  Yesterday, like a babysitter.  One of the batters came to the plate and took a knee extending his bat like a bunt.  Loudly called time and told him to take his position.  Just a couple more left and I have about 15 more to get guys to cover.  Truthfully, they should use kids.

[BigUmpire]

Make sure you stare when they cross home plate.

 

Seriously- I tell my young guys that when they do “baby ball†they must take a sense of humor to the field. If you expect real baseball you will go crazy.

 

[semper_fi_72]

Last minute, I was handed about 40 games to get covered.  I took some and distibributed the rest.  Last night was stupid.  First of all, these are kids that no longer play LL, but have moved to intermediate field and playing under LL.  There are only 4 teams and one of them only has 8 players.  That rely on call ups, but if you have a pulse you can play.  The best few kids in this league are manageble, the rest, they might be nice kids, but baseball isn't in their blood.  Every pitch a balk with runners on.  About 200 pitches thrown by visitors, about 20 for legit strikes, another 20 because they crossed the plate, weren't over the batters shoulders and within 18" of either side of plate.  2nd inning saw 15 plated for home team, mostly on walks.  F2 got the ball back to F1 1 out of 10 throws.  I could have brought my laptop and done work from behind the dish and called the same game.  The only thing more annoying were the coaches who treat it as fun time.  Last week I told a buddy some of the ball has been so bad, I feel like a camp counselor.  Yesterday, like a babysitter.  One of the batters came to the plate and took a knee extending his bat like a bunt.  Loudly called time and told him to take his position.  Just a couple more left and I have about 15 more to get guys to cover.  Truthfully, they should use kids.

The bold highlighted above is confusing to me.

 

You say it is not LL but playing under LL.

 

What is a intermediate field?

 

If these games are so bad, why are you even working them?

I have had teams and games like this, but hey, I am being paid to umpire so I stand there smile and try to have some fun with my partner.  Oh and if it is that bad, shoulders to ankles and 18 inches off the plate is a strike zone.

 

Also, why would you tell a batter to correct anything like taking a knee to bunt.

That is coaching and not umpiring.

[soapbox]

It is Sr. LL.  Coaches don't coach.  No way am I letting a batter in the box take a knee.  To me, that's making a mockery of the game.  I took them, because I service the league and couldn't imagine how bad it can be.  And not one coach or kid taking it seriously so yeah, paid to umpire, but at this level, had no problem trying to help.  Intermediate field is playing 50/70.  And yes I smile under the mask.  But just venting a little frustration at some very bad ball.

[carolinablue]

This must be 12 and 13 YO. I heard LL was starting an itermediate level last year but have not found any leagues that have adopted it. Sr. LL is mostly 15 and 16 YO. Usually decent baseball, at least around here.

[Rich Ives]

 

Last minute, I was handed about 40 games to get covered.  I took some and distibributed the rest.  Last night was stupid.  First of all, these are kids that no longer play LL, but have moved to intermediate field and playing under LL.  There are only 4 teams and one of them only has 8 players.  That rely on call ups, but if you have a pulse you can play.  The best few kids in this league are manageble, the rest, they might be nice kids, but baseball isn't in their blood.  Every pitch a balk with runners on.  About 200 pitches thrown by visitors, about 20 for legit strikes, another 20 because they crossed the plate, weren't over the batters shoulders and within 18" of either side of plate.  2nd inning saw 15 plated for home team, mostly on walks.  F2 got the ball back to F1 1 out of 10 throws.  I could have brought my laptop and done work from behind the dish and called the same game.  The only thing more annoying were the coaches who treat it as fun time.  Last week I told a buddy some of the ball has been so bad, I feel like a camp counselor.  Yesterday, like a babysitter.  One of the batters came to the plate and took a knee extending his bat like a bunt.  Loudly called time and told him to take his position.  Just a couple more left and I have about 15 more to get guys to cover.  Truthfully, they should use kids.

The bold highlighted above is confusing to me.

 

You say it is not LL but playing under LL.

 

What is a intermediate field?

 

If these games are so bad, why are you even working them?

I have had teams and games like this, but hey, I am being paid to umpire so I stand there smile and try to have some fun with my partner.  Oh and if it is that bad, shoulders to ankles and 18 inches off the plate is a strike zone.

 

Also, why would you tell a batter to correct anything like taking a knee to bunt.

That is coaching and not umpiring.

 

 

Intermediate is the LL 50/70 field with leadoffs.  The response to diehard demands that the kids play "real" baseball at 12-13 because their lives will be ruined forever if they don't.

 

Not very many leagues adopted the option.

[semper_fi_72]

Ok now I understand Intermediate  equals 50/70.

Not a term we are using around here.

 

I have been working at least two 50/70 and two Senior games a week.

No problem with the quality of ball around here.

The coaches around here do coach and the kids do play baseball.

After the first week of the season and calling Balks they are now rare.

 

The OP says no longer play LL.

Well that is still Little League and that is where I was confused.

50/70 is to help bridge the gap from Majors to Juniors/Seniors.

Most leagues around here have adopted it.

I believe LL has even put a WS in place this year for 50/70 Division.

 

Little League consists of many more divisions of Baseball and Softball then just the 11-12 year old Major Division.

 

One thing to remember about LL.

According to LL the kids are not really there to play baseball.

They are there to have fun and learn life lessons by through playing baseball.

[BRUMP]

I've really enjoyed the 50/70 intermediate. It's been good competition around here.

[mstaylor]

I don't get some people, and I am not accusing anybody here, but many say the kids are too big for the 60 ft field but can't handle 70ft. Pony has operated on 70 ft for years. BR/CR added 70 ft a few years ago. LL just started last year, it will take time. 

[soapbox]

For the record, I love the 50/70 concept and do many quality games.  Most of them are travel played under OBR.  This was a last minute idea thrown together with no real commitment.  They share players many times to field a team so we are basically umpiring pick up games.  I only have one left and sent the schedule to a bunch of guys who don't mind them.  Did a game the other day where the inning was 50 minutes long.  Problem was, the better team spent about 5 minutes in the field the other team was out there forever. It's all good if they are having fun.

[SoCal Lurker]

I don't get some people, and I am not accusing anybody here, but many say the kids are too big for the 60 ft field but can't handle 70ft. Pony has operated on 70 ft for years. BR/CR added 70 ft a few years ago. LL just started last year, it will take time. 

 

My son moved from LL to PONY when he was 10 for reasons mostly unrelated to BB, though I confess I liked the idea of the bigger base path and slighly longer pitching distance once he was 11.  I like the 70' bases and letting the kids learn to take leadoffs and try to make moves to first an an intermediate size field rather than jumping from 60 to 90.  At the same time, leads on those 70' bases makes stealing a bit too easy, but as far as I'm concerned it's about learning and that should help.  (But I agree with Rich's implication that it is hardly gonna ruin anyone's life to stay on the 60' paths . . . )