In this thread, we post LLWS observations

[SJA]

PU has an OCD "tic". I've seen this before in several instances regarding "memory clearance and reset".

It's complicated.

SJA

[JOHN3057]

And that pointing at the base to signal out is bugging me>_>

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[JaxRolo]

Just saw a kid take a full swing. Umpire: "yes he did"

[RichMSN]

I've watched 10 minutes of the LLWS. Japan game yesterday. The place guy was flinching on every pitch, his head was moving on every pitch, you could flip a coin on balls/strikes, and his positioning on a play at the plate was the one place where he got blocked -- and he did -- and then replay inexplicably didn't overturn the missed call.

I've had enough for the year, I think. I'll probably watch the plate game of the one guy there I know and like and again if he gets the plate in a playoff game or the final. Other than that, it's football season.

[hbk314]

Wow, just wow!  The crazy man strike call and the Eric Gregg zone. This game is going to be funnnnnn....he's very quick too.

[UMP45]

Why is he moving with the catcher?

[blue23ll]

Because you have to stay with the strike zone, right?

[JaxRolo]

PU now is horrible. Softball mechanics and horrible positioning.

[blue23ll]

Canada/Czech Republic? He looks like he's wearing full body armor.

[The Adjudicator]

Wow, you guys are relentless. Volunteers who pay their own way around the world to umpire games, often work solo wiling to umpire whatever game needs coverage. Often work 9 year old softball one night, senior league baseball the next. Most important they dedicate hundreds of hours to little league each year so kids can play for $50 a season and never get turned away.

Get your jockeys ripping them apart, these guys are all heroes in youth baseball

[blue23ll]

Wow, you guys are relentless. Volunteers who pay their own way around the world to umpire games, often work solo wiling to umpire whatever game needs coverage. Often work 9 year old softball one night, senior league baseball the next. Most important they dedicate hundreds of hours to little league each year so kids can play for $50 a season and never get turned away.

Get your jockeys ripping them apart, these guys are all heroes in youth baseball

 

I know, most of us have done it too. Take it back a notch, scooter.

[JaxRolo]

Wow, you guys are relentless. Volunteers who pay their own way around the world to umpire games, often work solo wiling to umpire whatever game needs coverage. Often work 9 year old softball one night, senior league baseball the next. Most important they dedicate hundreds of hours to little league each year so kids can play for $50 a season and never get turned away. Get your jockeys ripping them apart, these guys are all heroes in youth baseball

I have worked many games for free to help out associations, teams, coaches or whatever. I go to CDP every year and spend plenty of money. More than I receive from a team. In my first year umpiring I wasn't as bad as some of these guys on National TV.

[blue23ll]

A question for the group. Apart from softball umpires, does anyone ever carry a plate brush in their pocket while working the bases?

[SJA]

NO for either!

[RichMSN]

A question for the group. Apart from softball umpires, does anyone ever carry a plate brush in their pocket while working the bases?

 

They should only be used to brush out the nubs from under the safety bases.  It's one of those places where the brushes are OK.

 

OTOH, watch this video, but make sure you haven't just eaten:

 

[mstaylor]

The guy on the Iowa/Michigan game was very good. He is from VA and was rock solid. Good mechanics, good timing, good zone, him and Rich's buddy are the two standouts this year. 

[Jocko]

Wow, you guys are relentless. Volunteers who pay their own way around the world to umpire games, often work solo wiling to umpire whatever game needs coverage. Often work 9 year old softball one night, senior league baseball the next. Most important they dedicate hundreds of hours to little league each year so kids can play for $50 a season and never get turned away.

Get your jockeys ripping them apart, these guys are all heroes in youth baseball

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=C6cxNR9ML8k

[SJA]

LMMFAO!!!

SJA! :-)))))))))))))))

[The Adjudicator]

For those of you who would rather offer positive critique to these umpires rather then then tell everyone how much they suck would you offer any opinions/recommendations on the Midwest vs. Great Lakes game and the continual time out calls in the box. It seemed like there were many requests for time when the pitcher was starting his motion. It really got under the pitchers skin but was there anything there?

[zm1283]

I watched parts of the Puerto Rico/Australia and Czech/Canada games.  I will just say that the umpiring fits right in with the joke that Little League baseball is as a whole, with Exhibit A being to sell out for ESPN and the whole instant replay fiasco in 12 year-old baseball, along with silly rules, too small of a field....and on and on.

 

Did you guys see the two overturned plays at the plate in the Czech/Canada game that were about three pitches apart?  The PU had an out on both and they reversed them to safe.  The first one was extremely close but his positioning was bad but it was a wild pitch with the pitcher covering home.  The second one was a delayed steal of home just as the catcher threw the ball back.  It was a pretty easy safe call live and he comes up with an out.

 

I'm not sure if LL actually knows these guys aren't very good but they're okay with it since they volunteer all the time, or if they think they are actually good umpires.  I'm sure it's the former from reading what you guys have posted here.

[zm1283]

 

A question for the group. Apart from softball umpires, does anyone ever carry a plate brush in their pocket while working the bases?

 

They should only be used to brush out the nubs from under the safety bases.  It's one of those places where the brushes are OK.

 

OTOH, watch this video, but make sure you haven't just eaten:

 

 

 

This guy balled a pitch when the batter pulled his bat back on a bunt attempt.  It was belt high and right down the middle.  He raised up and flinched and sh*t down his leg.  He then proceeded to get two curveballs in the dirt for strikes soon after.  His timing was extremely fast, and his strike mechanic was laughable.  

 

Why do none of these guys have a relaxed swinging strike mechanic?  They all use the same hard, crisp called strike mechanic for everything.  

[mstaylor]

For those of you who would rather offer positive critique to these umpires rather then then tell everyone how much they suck would you offer any opinions/recommendations on the Midwest vs. Great Lakes game and the continual time out calls in the box. It seemed like there were many requests for time when the pitcher was starting his motion. It really got under the pitchers skin but was there anything there?

If you are talking the umpire stopping the pitcher for being too quick then yes, he was correct. When a pitcher is working faster than the batter,catcher or umpire can be ready then he needs to slowed down.  If that gets under the pitcher's skin, a simple solution is to slow down. 

[SJA]

LL - AZ vs Chinese Taipei Junior Finals Just came on now ESPN2.

:-)

[mstaylor]

Jax, don't watch, it's a scissor guy.

[maineump]

The PU doing the Mexico/Panama game is doing a good job. Must be from away, but he is about the same size as the catcher. No robot at U1 either - seems to be relaxed and not making a show of himself - simple call for routine and a little flare for the close ones.