The S Word

[th3]

Isn't it time to get rid of the S word already? We are all out there trying to do the best that we can - why insult those of us that may not have had the advantage of training and mentoring with "Smitty"? From what I gather, most use the S word to describe someone who doesn't really know any better (as if not cleaning a base, for example, is "better" than cleaning a base). We're not referring to guys who think they know everything, or overrule partners, or show up late to games, or blow calls constantly. Generally posters on this board use the word to describe those who are out there giving an honest effort. IMO, it's inappropriate.

[mstaylor]

Smitty to me is not so much an untrained guy, the proverbial LL volunteer. What I picture a Smitty as being the guy,paid or not, that has had training and learns nothing. Guys that learn a little, think they know a lot and never get better. As guys learn they will learn and think they know more than they do, this is simply a stage of learning, and the umpire continues to learn, no problem. A Smitty will stop at this point. A Smitty will learn the rules on a very technical level but never understand how to apply them on the field. Also, in his mission to show his technical expertise he actually will learn rules incorrectly. Another example of a Smitty is the guy with red heather pants and a hat that has never had it's oil changed.  

[Rich Ives]

What Mike said.

[Stan W.]

Ive posted this many times on here that I am perfectly qualified to state what is or what is not "smitty"...............because I was one.......many, many  years ago I was the t-shirt and shorts, elmer fudd hat wearing (all league issued) never had a rule book or a training class........all I had to do to was answer a few rudimentary questions from the guy in charge and I was an "umpire".........a true smitty.....albeit a good intentioned and hard working smitty........

 

I think many of us started out that way if we admit it or not.......... my ignorance was bliss until I came face to face with the difference.............after seeing the difference, in my case, a few Georgia Legion umpires , they encouraged me to watch them, then they encouraged me to alter my dress, and my mechanics, and gave me rule books and an invite to a clinic...and an introduction to the assignor, then one day i wasnt a smitty any more.............

 

Then I realized who smitty really was.....it isnt the well intentioned hard working newbie...........it is the guys who gave me crap for wearing new heather gray PANTS rather than the blue coach shorts, or the guys who wouldnt follow the mechanics......or enforced wrong awards ...the go along to get along guys......the guys who know better, but choose to continue rather than change....those that perpetuate the myths and bad mechanics because its easier........I've seen guys turn INTO smittys.........they just stop caring or learning

 

I remember that first clinic, everyone in the association got the mimeograph invitation........(remember those?)...............and I remember who showed up......that clinic was the day I started to shed my "smitty" title......

 

NO, the name smitty is here to stay............but the choice to be a smitty is up to each of us......

[umpire_scott]

Ive posted this many times on here that I am perfectly qualified to state what is or what is not "smitty"...............because I was one.......many, many  years ago I was the t-shirt and shorts, elmer fudd hat wearing (all league issued) never had a rule book or a training class........all I had to do to was answer a few rudimentary questions from the guy in charge and I was an "umpire".........a true smitty.....albeit a good intentioned and hard working smitty........

 

I think many of us started out that way if we admit it or not.......... my ignorance was bliss until I came face to face with the difference.............after seeing the difference, in my case, a few Georgia Legion umpires , they encouraged me to watch them, then they encouraged me to alter my dress, and my mechanics, and gave me rule books and an invite to a clinic...and an introduction to the assignor, then one day i wasnt a smitty any more.............

 

Then I realized who smitty really was.....it isnt the well intentioned hard working newbie...........it is the guys who gave me crap for wearing new heather gray PANTS rather than the blue coach shorts, or the guys who wouldnt follow the mechanics......or enforced wrong awards ...the go along to get along guys......the guys who know better, but choose to continue rather than change....those that perpetuate the myths and bad mechanics because its easier........I've seen guys turn INTO smittys.........they just stop caring or learning

 

I remember that first clinic, everyone in the association got the mimeograph invitation........(remember those?)...............and I remember who showed up......that clinic was the day I started to shed my "smitty" title......

 

NO, the name smitty is here to stay............but the choice to be a smitty is up to each of us......

 

I agree but I think the label is used much too liberally.  There are many factors that go into how "non-smitty" an umpire becomes.  Some organizations are better at holding their umpires to a higher standard than others.  As a teacher I am responsible if I set low expectations for my students and then they achieve to a low level.  This is the problem I see with many organizations.  They are more interested in making their assigner fees and being able to meet those expectations.  So they bring in umpires to make more money and then don't give them the proper training or hold them accountable.  And truthfully for a lot of what is done these umpires are perfectly capable.

 

For example I used to officiate quite a bit of basketball for a private Christian high school league in Phoenix.  I have never been to a basketball officiating clinic.  I was not certified to do high school in Arizona.  But for this private league you did not need to be certified.  I had every intention of getting certified.  But I worked about 5 games with various certified officials while doing those games.  It was a nightmare.  They were the most arrogant bunch of jerks I had ever seen.  Every game I did with them it seemed there was controversy. They looked at this league as "below" them and were offended that the coaches would question anything they said.  Too many officials I have worked with put too much emphasis on "not being a smitty" and too little emphasis on being approachable and helping to create a fun relaxed environment for the kids.  Sometimes what many on these boards call "smittys" are actually better for youth ball I believe.

 

I would probably be referred to as Smitty by many on these boards.  I'm much better than I used to be.  But until this year I had never purchased plate shoes because I could not justify the expense when I was doing less than 50 games a year and half of them were during a one-week tournament every summer.  So for many years I used a pair of black steel-toed boots I got on sale at Payless for $14.  I will say that I feel like an idiot now because the comfort difference I feel is so great that the plate shoes were literally the best $85 I've ever spent in my life.  My point is that I was able to get away with a lot of this because I had a calm demeanor on the field which meant I my assigner seldom had to put out fires.  I didn't chat and mingle with fans excessively like some other umpires (err Smittys).  I hustled, had good judgement, and a fairly consistent zone.  And possibly most importantly I was reliable.  In short I was very low maintenance to my assigner/UIC.

 

So while I agree that the word has it's place. It's been used on people that some of you have never met based on one that that was said in a forum post.  That's what I think should be considered.

[HeadHunterLA]

I had never even seen or heard the term Smitty until I joined this board.  So have never used it and probably never will.

[mr magoo]

It is funny that this post got started because I have seen the term used and sorta had an idea what it ment, but now I know. Thanks for clearing it up