Hung out to dry

[umpire_scott]

So I had three 15U games tonight and my partner was a guy that I had never umpired with before but I know pretty well because he is often the site director for these local tournaments.  They were short umpires for Friday night so they called him in to umpire with me.  I got there before him so he asked if I would get dressed and take the plate for the first game.  I worked the first two dishes and he did the last.  In the two games he was on the bases he probably made it into the IF on less than half of the balls that were hit to the OF.  With a runner on second he was in "B".  Of course there is a steal and he's running behind the play and makes the safe call.  In the last game there was a trouble ball down the right field line, I went out on it.  The 2b and RF were both converging and almost ran into each other.  The ball drops and the runner is rounding first and headed to second.  I'm in short RF and my partner is sitting behind home plate.  I run my ass off but don't get anywhere near where I would have to be to get a good look.  Luckily the kid didn't slide and overran the base, so anyone could have made the call.  We had pregamed this too.  And he sort of doubles as the site director/UIC during these tournaments.

[blue23ll]

We have all had games with partners who make working alone look like a good thing.  Why was he in B with a runner on second? Going out from A on a trouble ball is an advanced mechanic for some, and sometimes there have been times when I didn't go out because I didn't trust my partner to cover the infield. Maybe he is a 60' field guy, who got lost on the bigger field?

[umpire_scott]

We have all had games with partners who make working alone look like a good thing.  Why was he in B with a runner on second? Going out from A on a trouble ball is an advanced mechanic for some, and sometimes there have been times when I didn't go out because I didn't trust my partner to cover the infield. Maybe he is a 60' field guy, who got lost on the bigger field?

 

I have no idea why he was in "B".  There seemed to be little rhyme or reason to when he was in "B" or "C".  I think part of it was that he has not umpired in a while and he was rusty and kind of feels like umpiring is below him now.

[umpire_scott]

We have all had games with partners who make working alone look like a good thing.  Why was he in B with a runner on second? Going out from A on a trouble ball is an advanced mechanic for some, and sometimes there have been times when I didn't go out because I didn't trust my partner to cover the infield. Maybe he is a 60' field guy, who got lost on the bigger field?

 

This was a tough one to not go out on because it had all the details that warranted it.  Not only was it a true trouble ball, but there was a potential collision and it was about two feet from the foul line.  And Ironically he went out on a trouble ball down the line in the second game, so knows the concept.  And on that one when he turned around I was covering the bases.  So he knew what to do, like I said I just think he was not focused due to him being "called in" to help out.

[blue23ll]

I had a situation this season,  working the field. Nobody on base and a ground ball that was thrown away. The ball is heading toward the 1st base dugout and my partner was covering 3rd...what??

[maven]

As you're moving up, you'll encounter guys with little/no training, or guys who decline to work proper mechanics (for whatever asinine reason).

 

Best bet as PU is to pretend you're doing 1-umpire mechanics and get into the infield and be ready to have eyes on everything you can. As BU plan not to go out, assume you'll have to help with fly ball outs whether they're yours or not, and take everything on the bases.

 

Working with such a non-partner is harder, more trouble-inducing, and more stressful than working solo. Get better as quick as you can so you don't have to work with those guys.

 

Brief anecdote: worked with one of these guys in a HS varsity game some years ago. R2 only, outs don't matter, ground ball to F4. R2 advances, F4 makes the play at 1B and beats the runner by a couple steps. Partner is BU, and when I look up he's at the cutout at 3B with his back to 1B! So I quietly bang out the BR. I know the coach (we officiate basketball together occasionally), and he came and asked why the hell I was making that call. I just pointed to the BU and asked who else was going to make it.

[VolUmp]

My pet peeve is softball guys coming over to baseball and thinking there are no mechanic differences, rules differences, and scoffing when you explain that it "really is a different game."

 

Those guys need to be refused by the association until they understand that training and study is not an option, but imperative.

[Jocko]

I had a situation this season,  working the field. Nobody on base and a ground ball that was thrown away. The ball is heading toward the 1st base dugout and my partner was covering 3rd...what??

told yall not to work with Jax :shakehead:

[mstaylor]

There is a long running argument about where to put a newer or untrained umpire. I prefer to pit him on bases, others say plate. I say bases because the PU controls the pace of the game, plus it is easier to plug a hole from the plate.

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[Mike Prince]

There is a long running argument about where to put a newer or untrained umpire. I prefer to pit him on bases, others say plate. I say bases because the PU controls the pace of the game, plus it is easier to plug a hole from the plate.

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2

 

In general I agree.

[blue23ll]

All things being equal, I want the most experienced guy on the bases. There are so many things that can go bad on the bases, and just one crazy play or mess up, and a game can go sideways fast. On the dish, if you call a consistent zone, you will be fine, as there are fewer safe/out calls at the plate than on the bases.

[JaxRolo]

I had a situation this season, working the field. Nobody on base and a ground ball that was thrown away. The ball is heading toward the 1st base dugout and my partner was covering 3rd...what??

told yall not to work with Jax Oh boy!

[bluegorilla]

My pet peeve is softball guys coming over to baseball and thinking there are no mechanic differences, rules differences, and scoffing when you explain that it "really is a different game."

 

Those guys need to be refused by the association until they understand that training and study is not an option, but imperative.

 

My pet peeve is baseball only umpires that look down their noses at softball umpires ! Yes , there are differences in mechanics and rules but they are basically the same game played at very different speeds Go umpire a fast-pitch game sometime and perhaps you will have a little more empathy towards these softball guys you are forced to endure !

[mstaylor]

He didn't look down his nose at them, he is saying there are difference and some softball guys don't switch. It is no different than a baseball guy working softball. If he doesn't adjust it is going to be ugly.

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[umpire_scott]

He didn't look down his needed at them, he is saying there are difference and some softball guys don't switch. It is no different than a baseball guy working softball. If he doesn't adjust out is going to be ugly.

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Especially if he refused to the clean the bases! 

[maven]

My pet peeve is baseball only umpires that look down their noses at softball umpires ! Yes , there are differences in mechanics and rules but they are basically the same game played at very different speeds Go umpire a fast-pitch game sometime and perhaps you will have a little more empathy towards these softball guys you are forced to endure !

I've done as you suggest...twice, as a favor to an assignor. IMHO they are NOT the same game, in any way, despite a few surface similarities.

 

I don't lack empathy for softball umpires, I lack interest. If that's "looking down my nose," then I suppose I look down my nose at wrestling, swimming, and track officials too.

[LMSANS]

 

My pet peeve is baseball only umpires that look down their noses at softball umpires ! Yes , there are differences in mechanics and rules but they are basically the same game played at very different speeds Go umpire a fast-pitch game sometime and perhaps you will have a little more empathy towards these softball guys you are forced to endure !

I've done as you suggest...twice, as a favor to an assignor. IMHO they are NOT the same game, in any way, despite a few surface similarities.

 

I don't lack empathy for softball umpires, I lack interest. If that's "looking down my nose," then I suppose I look down my nose at wrestling, swimming, and track officials too.

 

Maybe he's not talking about you?

[maven]

 

 

My pet peeve is baseball only umpires that look down their noses at softball umpires ! Yes , there are differences in mechanics and rules but they are basically the same game played at very different speeds Go umpire a fast-pitch game sometime and perhaps you will have a little more empathy towards these softball guys you are forced to endure !

I've done as you suggest...twice, as a favor to an assignor. IMHO they are NOT the same game, in any way, despite a few surface similarities.

 

I don't lack empathy for softball umpires, I lack interest. If that's "looking down my nose," then I suppose I look down my nose at wrestling, swimming, and track officials too.

 

Maybe he's not talking about you?

 

True. Maybe he's not talking about anyone.

[Dragon29]

There is a long running argument about where to put a newer or untrained umpire. I prefer to pit him on bases, others say plate. I say bases because the PU controls the pace of the game, plus it is easier to plug a hole from the plate.

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk 2

Around here, the general feeling is to put the less experienced guy on the plate, the argument being, "Everone knows they're not going to agree w/the PU at least several times a game, but let one call on the bases go bad and things will get ugly fast."

 

When I was first starting, I was more comfortable on the bases but was 'forced' to do more plate work than I would have chosen to do on my own.  I think it was a good thing, but I also think it depends upon the level of play.  For the really little guys, I still think putting the less experienced umpire on the dish is a good idea, but starting w/when they move to the 90' field I think it's better to have the 'veteran' at the plate, and as Mike alluded to, it's because of his ability to manage the game better.

 

Just my $.02!