8U machine pitch travel ball

[kylejt]

I teach kids to umpire, and they start out in our lowest division, 9-11. I tell them they start out on the toughest field there is, and if they get better, it gets easier from there. They'll see more INT, OBS, catcher's INT and weird plays in one week than you or I will see in two seasons of big field ball. Plus, you've clueless coaches that are conviced they know all the rules. The only worse games are when hold and end of the year 8-9 tournament.

[BigUmpire]

 

 

I used to do t-ball. There was the foul arc in front of the plate. The kids made some really interesting plays. One kid fielded the ball and went to first instead of throwing to the F3. Right before he touched the base, he stopped and placed the ball in the F3s glove. The F3 wasn't even paying attention. I even had tee interference one game. The coaches and fans can get really worked up in those games. One time they only got two innings in due to the two hour time limit. This year, t-ball umpires get $5 for a game.

 

$5?? I hope that is a typo.

 

No I'm afraid it is not a typo. When I did it last year I got about $13.50. They lowered it this year. 

 

What was the reason for the reduction?

 

8u is a lot harder/messier to call becuse of all of the malcontents, emotional fans and newbies to baseball on and off on the field.

It is like hearding cats watching all of the little guys doing strange things.

[hogsfan787]

Last weekend a guy in our association has been forced to do a lot of machine pitch now because of knee problems.  He had done VS high school for 10 plus years and had never experienced worse coahces.  4 ejections in 8 games. At one point he was tripled teamed by 3 coaches and had no partner to help stop these assistants from charging him. He finally couldn't take it anymore and asked me after my last game to work the last game with him. I said sure. What do you know... 2nd inning bang-bang force play at 3rd, ball beats the runner though, OUT! Coach comes charging out asking me to talk to my partner.  I tell him "no, thats my call.  in my judgement he was out." Continues to gripe. After he heads back to the dugout, heads for my partner and starts yelling at him. Gets ejected and had to be escorted off the field. Also his team lost 16-1 in 3 innings

[BigUmpire]

Most leagues that dont have a real UIC advising them on umpiring and fees mistakenly believe that " Is just 8u, how hard can it be?"

The children will be fine for the most part, its the inexperenced parents and Newbie coaches SOOO:

 

• “Youth sports should be played by orphansâ€.- sdandersonjr

[RichMSN]

 

 

I know that most adults would work for $22.50 an hour for basically showing up and collecting your money.

I don't think the kids these days are very good at math.

 

$45 for a 2-hour game?  I'm not most adults, then.  I'd rather be bored at home - they can keep the money.

 

I take $44 for a 1:45 NO New game all the time.

11U and 12U

$49 for a two hour No New.

13U and up.

 

 

Don't get me wrong -- I'd take $45 for a game if it warranted real umpiring.  I work almost all of July for free, after all.

 

I meant I'd rather stay home than work tee ball or coach pitch or machine pitch.  

 

I'd rather have my eyes gouged out with a sharpened stick than do those games.

[plateumpire]

 

 

 

I used to do t-ball. There was the foul arc in front of the plate. The kids made some really interesting plays. One kid fielded the ball and went to first instead of throwing to the F3. Right before he touched the base, he stopped and placed the ball in the F3s glove. The F3 wasn't even paying attention. I even had tee interference one game. The coaches and fans can get really worked up in those games. One time they only got two innings in due to the two hour time limit. This year, t-ball umpires get $5 for a game.

 

$5?? I hope that is a typo.

 

No I'm afraid it is not a typo. When I did it last year I got about $13.50. They lowered it this year. 

 

What was the reason for the reduction?

 

8u is a lot harder/messier to call becuse of all of the malcontents, emotional fans and newbies to baseball on and off on the field.

It is like hearding cats watching all of the little guys doing strange things.

 

I do not know why they reduced it this year. Maybe so they could afford to pay $5 more this year for 8u?      I did 8u for them this year and they paid me $35 to do it solo.

[johnnyg08]

Most leagues that dont have a real UIC advising them on umpiring and fees mistakenly believe that " Is just 8u, how hard can it be?"

The children will be fine for the most part, its the inexperenced parents and Newbie coaches SOOO:

This is exactly right.

[VAUmp]

I used to do t-ball. There was the foul arc in front of the plate. The kids made some really interesting plays. One kid fielded the ball and went to first instead of throwing to the F3. Right before he touched the base, he stopped and placed the ball in the F3s glove. The F3 wasn't even paying attention. I even had tee interference one game. The coaches and fans can get really worked up in those games. One time they only got two innings in due to the two hour time limit. This year, t-ball umpires get $5 for a game.

 

Why in the world does T-Ball have umpires?  That is f-ing ridiculous. 

[kylejt]

Once you light up the scoreboard, no matter the level, you need umpires.

[JHSump]

Once you light up the scoreboard, no matter the level, you need umpires.

Bumper sticker material!

[JaxRolo]

If somebody wants to pay me $40 to work a PM game here is my number; 555-1212 Easiest money ever and more MILFs!

[BigUmpire]

Once you light up the scoreboard, no matter the level, you need umpires.

Once again this is a NOSH*#TER!

 

Once you light up the scoreboard, no matter the level, you need umpires.

Bumper sticker material!

 

Yep.Great one.

[RichMSN]

Once you light up the scoreboard, no matter the level, you need umpires.

I agree. It just doesn't need to be me.

Sent via Tapatalk 4

[mstaylor]

I have never done pitching machine but my nephew played it so I watched a bunch. They used two umpires and it wasn't bad. My brother got nailed for coach interference twice. They had a time limit and a run per inning limit so it was watchable.

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2

[KLAH316]

The title to this post is the problem itself.....

8U Machine Pitch should NOT have umpires.  Any level lower than kids pitching is considered "Instructional" and not "Competitive".

 

Just my thoughts! 

[jjb]

I'm the U9 Commish, so I have to jump in and work a game or two from time to time. If you go in expecting baseball, i can see how you're going to be disappointed. I think besides bases and equipment, it ain't. The coaches are more like shepherds. If you go in with a sense of humor, they can be kind of fun. Last week, I had a fielder field a ground ball and just throw it at the B/R. I started laughing and said "the game would be so much faster if we allowed that". And, at 40 bucks for about 50 minutes work, it doesn't suck...

[JHSump]

I'm the U9 Commish, so I have to jump in and work a game or two from time to time. If you go in expecting baseball, i can see how you're going to be disappointed. I think besides bases and equipment, it ain't. The coaches are more like shepherds. If you go in with a sense of humor, they can be kind of fun. Last week, I had a fielder field a ground ball and just throw it at the B/R. I started laughing and said "the game would be so much faster if we allowed that". And, at 40 bucks for about 50 minutes work, it doesn't suck...

Maybe this player had kickball experience!  

[JHSump]

I'm the U9 Commish, so I have to jump in and work a game or two from time to time. If you go in expecting baseball, i can see how you're going to be disappointed. I think besides bases and equipment, it ain't. The coaches are more like shepherds. If you go in with a sense of humor, they can be kind of fun. Last week, I had a fielder field a ground ball and just throw it at the B/R. I started laughing and said "the game would be so much faster if we allowed that". And, at 40 bucks for about 50 minutes work, it doesn't suck...

Yes, but watch out, the "sense of fun" can change instantly when the parents and coaches spoil it.  They may start out smiling.  Everything is great until the first pitch. Then bang, zoom, it's the 7th game of the WS, and your name becomes Devil McTarget,

[Mike Prince]

In my rec assn, I begrudgingly end up doing a bit of regular season MP, we work those solo with a 1:10 time limit.  Basically we count pitches and make calls on the bases.  Tolerable work and the baseball is occasionally OK.  Not too bad for the $25 game fee but nothing that I look forward to.

 

We have moved into the state tournament part of the season (and this is a big deal in baseball-crazy NC for 7-12 year old Cal RIpken) where we work 2 man - one works the machine (BU) and one is back by the plate (PU).  6 innings, no time limits and a 10 after 4 mercy rule.  This is a completely different story, other than the machine this is generally good competitive baseball.  Had 3 games yesterday and saw more bangers in my 2 games on the machine than I did in the entire spring season.  One team turned a legitimate 6-4-3 DP and we had many stellar defensive plays including a diving catch in the outfield to end one game.

 

This is what is referred to in Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken speak as the "District" round, which is essentially a warm-up tournament for the "Area" (state qualifier) round next week.  But the comments about Game 7 WS intensity are right on.  I had a coach EJ in my first game, and the TD escorted a couple fans out in the last game for "poor sportsmanship".  We put our best umpires on these games, things happen so fast and the plays are so close that these are exciting games which will test your mechanics and game management skills.  You have a lot of unusual plays - for example, we had several R1's forced out at 2B on solid line drives to the outfield, you don't see those everyday.  You also have to have an eagle eye for OBS/INT.

 

I guess my point is, don't be so quick to ridicule/dismiss these games, they can be good and they are deserving of an umpire.  As I mentioned in a similar thread, I am doing these as a personal favor to my assignor, but I will also say that I had 3 good games our there yesterday.  Scores were 15-14, 14-13 and 16-12.  All games went the distance and were good.  Luckily I had Friday off where there was a 38-0 game where the losing coach pulled his kids off the field after 3 innings and there ended up being fireworks between the coach and the parents.

[kylejt]

Good, as in good baseball, nope.

 

But good, as a test of your umpiring skills, I agree. You'll see more goofy #@$% on the little guys field than a full season of Senior league ball. You really have to be on your toes, and have really great game managment skills, as the adult are fairly clueless.

[jjb]

 

I'm the U9 Commish, so I have to jump in and work a game or two from time to time. If you go in expecting baseball, i can see how you're going to be disappointed. I think besides bases and equipment, it ain't. The coaches are more like shepherds. If you go in with a sense of humor, they can be kind of fun. Last week, I had a fielder field a ground ball and just throw it at the B/R. I started laughing and said "the game would be so much faster if we allowed that". And, at 40 bucks for about 50 minutes work, it doesn't suck...

Yes, but watch out, the "sense of fun" can change instantly when the parents and coaches spoil it.  They may start out smiling.  Everything is great until the first pitch. Then bang, zoom, it's the 7th game of the WS, and your name becomes Devil McTarget,

 

To be sure, but it's a great way for the 14-year old Umpire to learn some Game Management skills. We have a great zero tolerence system with great backup by the BOD. Problems are few and far between: Coaches are told before the season starts that the (1) the new Umpires are just kids, (2) they're learning a new skill just like the players, (3) they are going to blow calls, and (4) you (the coaches) will just have to eat it. For the most part, it works.