In this thread, we post LLWS observations

[Dannytheman]

Wow.....    What a bunch of whiners.  

 

Area and Districts choose umpires differently.  IN PA District 19, you can only get selected IF you only work volunteer LL. Other areas will let an ump work High School, Jr. High etc.

I like what I see in California. I have also admired the Texas group I knew.  But to choose one group over any other with little knowledge of every aspect of choices??  Not me.

[RichMSN]

Wow.....    What a bunch of whiners.  

 

Area and Districts choose umpires differently.  IN PA District 19, you can only get selected IF you only work volunteer LL. Other areas will let an ump work High School, Jr. High etc.

I like what I see in California. I have also admired the Texas group I knew.  But to choose one group over any other with little knowledge of every aspect of choices??  Not me.

 

District 19 eliminates people who work HS/college in the spring even if they never accept a dime for a LL game?  Really?

 

That's sad.

[Richvee]

 

Wow.....    What a bunch of whiners.  

 

Area and Districts choose umpires differently.  IN PA District 19, you can only get selected IF you only work volunteer LL. Other areas will let an ump work High School, Jr. High etc.

I like what I see in California. I have also admired the Texas group I knew.  But to choose one group over any other with little knowledge of every aspect of choices??  Not me.

 

District 19 eliminates people who work HS/college in the spring even if they never accept a dime for a LL game?  Really?

 

That's sad.

 

wow. That sounds like it would be an enormous challenge just to get enough warm bodies on the field for the district tourney. 

[Dannytheman]

 

Wow.....    What a bunch of whiners.  

 

Area and Districts choose umpires differently.  IN PA District 19, you can only get selected IF you only work volunteer LL. Other areas will let an ump work High School, Jr. High etc.

I like what I see in California. I have also admired the Texas group I knew.  But to choose one group over any other with little knowledge of every aspect of choices??  Not me.

 

District 19 eliminates people who work HS/college in the spring even if they never accept a dime for a LL game?  Really?

 

That's sad.

 

Yup, must be volunteer only all the time!! That was my goal, and now I start over in California District 40. 

[RichMSN]

 

 

Wow.....    What a bunch of whiners.  

 

Area and Districts choose umpires differently.  IN PA District 19, you can only get selected IF you only work volunteer LL. Other areas will let an ump work High School, Jr. High etc.

I like what I see in California. I have also admired the Texas group I knew.  But to choose one group over any other with little knowledge of every aspect of choices??  Not me.

 

District 19 eliminates people who work HS/college in the spring even if they never accept a dime for a LL game?  Really?

 

That's sad.

 

Yup, must be volunteer only all the time!! That was my goal, and now I start over in California District 40. 

 

 

They're eliminating quite a few people who could train umpires and model good umpiring for the volunteers.

 

I umpire LL for free, but I work quite a few games during the year for money.  I'd never give that up and I don't think Little League could field crews for the regionals or World Series if that was the policy everywhere.

[scrounge]

 

 

Wow.....    What a bunch of whiners.  

 

Area and Districts choose umpires differently.  IN PA District 19, you can only get selected IF you only work volunteer LL. Other areas will let an ump work High School, Jr. High etc.

I like what I see in California. I have also admired the Texas group I knew.  But to choose one group over any other with little knowledge of every aspect of choices??  Not me.

 

District 19 eliminates people who work HS/college in the spring even if they never accept a dime for a LL game?  Really?

 

That's sad.

 

Yup, must be volunteer only all the time!! That was my goal, and now I start over in California District 40. 

 

 

I don't understand that....so someone who gives an enormous amount of time to LL would be eliminated because they're 'tainted' by also doing paid games? That seems ridiculously puritanical and insular.

[Thunderheads]

 

 

 

Wow.....    What a bunch of whiners.  

 

Area and Districts choose umpires differently.  IN PA District 19, you can only get selected IF you only work volunteer LL. Other areas will let an ump work High School, Jr. High etc.

I like what I see in California. I have also admired the Texas group I knew.  But to choose one group over any other with little knowledge of every aspect of choices??  Not me.

 

District 19 eliminates people who work HS/college in the spring even if they never accept a dime for a LL game?  Really?

 

That's sad.

 

Yup, must be volunteer only all the time!! That was my goal, and now I start over in California District 40. 

 

 

I don't understand that....so someone who gives an enormous amount of time to LL would be eliminated because they're 'tainted' by also doing paid games? That seems ridiculously puritanical and insular.

 

wow, 6 points!!!

[mstaylor]

I started umpiring LL in 1975 and for many years did only volunteer LL. I still do LL free but work many other things that pay. If LL wants to cut their nose off and eliminate the guys that have good training and experience from other levels, their choice. I know in ER you can't get a regional or WS if you get paid for LL

but they don't care about other levels. We have produced four or five that have multiple regionals and WS births and every one get paid for HS,college, travel and others. If a district chooses to not do that, fine but they are limiting their experience pool. 

[SJA]

1976 . . . and your statements are true here also.

:-(

[zm1283]

 

 

 

Most pro catcher's these days don't take their masks off. They see just fine.

 

I've seen an MLB catcher catch a popup without removing his bucket - because you can see that well.

 

Your vision is MUCH better with a bucket. The only reason to take it off is to satisfy someone else's sense of propriety.

 

 

 

 

You don't use a bucket - right? If you did you'd know what I mean about vision - and the lack of a need to remove it. But because umpires take the mask off it is thus a requirement - or face the derisive comments of your peers. BTW, umpires used to wear neckties. You got past that and lived to tell about it. You can get past the "remove mask" bit too.

 

 

You're saying that you can see better with a bucket on than with no helmet/mask on at all?  You're saying that umpires don't need to remove buckets/masks to make calls after the ball is hit?  Just wanted to get that straight...

[basejester]

You're saying that you can see better with a bucket on than with no helmet/mask on at all?  You're saying that umpires don't need to remove buckets/masks to make calls after the ball is hit?  Just wanted to get that straight...

He's obviously saying he can see better with a bucket on than with a traditional mask on.

[RichMSN]

 

 

 

 

Most pro catcher's these days don't take their masks off. They see just fine.

 

I've seen an MLB catcher catch a popup without removing his bucket - because you can see that well.

 

Your vision is MUCH better with a bucket. The only reason to take it off is to satisfy someone else's sense of propriety.

 

 

 

 

You don't use a bucket - right? If you did you'd know what I mean about vision - and the lack of a need to remove it. But because umpires take the mask off it is thus a requirement - or face the derisive comments of your peers. BTW, umpires used to wear neckties. You got past that and lived to tell about it. You can get past the "remove mask" bit too.

 

 

You're saying that you can see better with a bucket on than with no helmet/mask on at all?  You're saying that umpires don't need to remove buckets/masks to make calls after the ball is hit?  Just wanted to get that straight...

 

 

I'm an umpire and I'll say that, too.  The only reason we take the helmet off so much is because of the mentality that, for some reason, we *need* to.  I could make any call with a bucket on and make the call just as correctly.

 

Quite frankly, I think much of it is anti-helmet people saying, "You want to wear that horrible bucket?  Fine!  Then you'll remove it and hold it just as much as those wearing masks do."

 

I have some friends who are really good HS/college umpires who have, locally, said, "Screw that" and only take the helmet off when they want to, mainly just for plays at the plate (or at another base they're covering).

[scrounge]

 

 

 

 

 

Most pro catcher's these days don't take their masks off. They see just fine.

 

I've seen an MLB catcher catch a popup without removing his bucket - because you can see that well.

 

Your vision is MUCH better with a bucket. The only reason to take it off is to satisfy someone else's sense of propriety.

 

 

 

 

You don't use a bucket - right? If you did you'd know what I mean about vision - and the lack of a need to remove it. But because umpires take the mask off it is thus a requirement - or face the derisive comments of your peers. BTW, umpires used to wear neckties. You got past that and lived to tell about it. You can get past the "remove mask" bit too.

 

 

You're saying that you can see better with a bucket on than with no helmet/mask on at all?  You're saying that umpires don't need to remove buckets/masks to make calls after the ball is hit?  Just wanted to get that straight...

 

 

I'm an umpire and I'll say that, too.  The only reason we take the helmet off so much is because of the mentality that, for some reason, we *need* to.  I could make any call with a bucket on and make the call just as correctly.

 

Quite frankly, I think much of it is anti-helmet people saying, "You want to wear that horrible bucket?  Fine!  Then you'll remove it and hold it just as much as those wearing masks do."

 

I have some friends who are really good HS/college umpires who have, locally, said, "Screw that" and only take the helmet off when they want to, mainly just for plays at the plate (or at another base they're covering).

 

 

 

I'll concur with that as well. With my All-Star, which I only wear about 20%-30% of the time, I can pretty much see everything I could without it - including peripheral vision. About the only things I think is improved by removing are high flies down the line, where I'm running and looking up. Even that's just nitpicking though. It's mostly removed out of habit and perception.

[mstaylor]

Actually the reason given for removing it is the perception of the coaches. Many believe the coach is going to be faster to complain if you make a call with a bucket on. As a traditional mask wearer, I could care less, I see well enough with it on to call balls and strikes, a tag play is no big deal but that isn't the way it is done. How many times do you hear a coach yell at the catcher to get his mask off to find a loose ball. He really doesn't need to but does because the coach yells if he doesn't. 

[Thunderheads]

I am noticing a lot of diamond masks but I am also noticing they are using the stock pads.....

Jeff - via Tapatalk

[BRUMP]

I am noticing a lot of diamond masks but I am also noticing they are using the stock pads.....

Jeff - via Tapatalk

The stock pads on the big league mask are actually pretty good.

[FlaUmp22]

 

I am noticing a lot of diamond masks but I am also noticing they are using the stock pads.....

Jeff - via Tapatalk

The stock pads on the big league mask are actually pretty good.

 

 

I second that!

[Thunderheads]

Aus v. Mex .

ESPN 2 ....

Timing!

Indicator lust!

Jeff - via Tapatalk

[grayhawk]

Aus v. Mex .

ESPN 2 ....

Timing!

Indicator lust!

Jeff - via Tapatalk

 

Just be glad you didn't see the Puerto Rico/Panama game.  PU hid behind F2, pointed at the batter on most swinging strikes, showed up U1 on a replay overturn, and almost kicked a U3K with R1 and 1 out.

 

The PU for WA/TX was nails though.  Excellent job.

[SJA]

I believe Joe West points at batters that swing strikes.

:-)

[Samwhich169]

Okay just my two cents on the "bucket" mask removal. Its all about perception, which as we all know equals reality. Its like working with that partner who walks on the field and lays his mask (bucket or otherwise) on the ground. We all know "that" guy. There is one in our high school chapter. I notice it everytime he works. First thing, mask on the ground next to the fence. It looks SO bad and makes them look so lazy. What I wanna see when I am on the bases is that my partner is "in" the game. Ball hit, his mask is off, and he is moving ready to go. Thats just my view on it.

 

Okay now on to LL. Is it just me or are all the guys working the plate setting up extremely high. I mean really high. I have watched a couple of the games now and it seems to be a constant. Watching the Tenn vs. Connecticut game tonight on ESPN and the PU is doing that high stance. One a side note I like the guys wearing navy for a change. The crew looks sharp, no over the top mechanics. I am sure I am in the minority, and maybe its cause I still have a fondness for the navy shirt, but they look good.

[blue23ll]

I agree, the PU in the WA/TX game was rock solid, a very good job. However, what was up with the RF and 1B umps and their ability to point fair or foul? The RF guy pointed foul on a clearly fair ball not caught, then quickly pointed fair.  The 1B guy did the same thing on a foul ball caught, pointed fair, then foul. Come on guys!! Also, there is no need to point to first every time you call an out there.

[FlaUmp22]

U1 in that game also would always pivot inside on a base hit to watch the BR touch first, like it was 2 man

[UMP45]

U1 in that game also would always pivot inside on a base hit to watch the BR touch first, like it was 2 man

They are told to do that. Why? Who knows!

[FlaUmp22]

ah just like CDP I guess, inventing their own "specialized" mechanics/rotations