In this thread, we post LLWS observations

[blue23ll]

The issue I see is his timing, just a bit quick on his calls. There was one overhead shot where you heard him calling the pitch before it even was caught. This seems to be an issue with a lot of these umpires at the plate.

[maineump]

OOPS - spoke too soon - just saw him setting up on the wrong side of the catcher when the batter and catcher took away his slot. He has done it more than once.

[MidAmUmp]

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.

I honestly can't watch the games.  It gets my blood boiling.  I'll turn it on for about 15 minutes and have to change the channel.  Even my 3 year old thinks the umpiring is "funny".  Plus, 6 umpires on a field that small is overkill.

 

I understand they are nervous.  Most of them have never been on local TV, much less national.  I can remember walking onto the field at TD Ameritrade and a CBS Sports camera was about 5 feet from my face, following me as I walked from the tunnel to home plate.  It gets the butterflies going.

 

I appreciate the fact these umpires volunteer and put their own money into this, but as I say every year, you can't tell me someone involved with Little League baseball isn't getting rich off of all of this.  ESPN is surely paying good money to hold the broadcasting rights.  It's a helluva racket...don't pay the umpires, grounds crew, score keepers, concessionaires, etc.  Where's the money made going???  "Little League Baseball...We Get What We Pay For."

 

What they should do is bring the umpires in 3-4 days in advance and have MLB Umpire Camps work with them.  

[maineump]

The issue I see is his timing, just a bit quick on his calls. There was one overhead shot where you heard him calling the pitch before it even was caught. This seems to be an issue with a lot of these umpires at the plate.

I concur sir 

[Thunderheads]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the shoes that the Mexico Panama plate umpire is wearing....

I have not seen that many games but I think this guy is the most solid at least

Jeff - via Tapatalk

[grayhawk]

Just started watching this game. More softball mechanics - yuuuuuuuck!

[maineump]

Just started watching this game. More softball mechanics - yuuuuuuuck!

I think that is a Little League thing - at least the Majors division. The divisions on the 'big field' seem to be more or the mechanics we are used to using. I checked out the LL umpire web site and the mechanics that they seem to preach are softballesque.

[grayhawk]

Just started watching this game. More softball mechanics - yuuuuuuuck!

I think that is a Little League thing - at least the Majors division. The divisions on the 'big field' seem to be more or the mechanics we are used to using. I checked out the LL umpire web site and the mechanics that they seem to preach are softballesque.

They don't teach that at the Western Region. They do teach the hammer, but not to verbal while down. They also teach the baseball hammer (grab air and pound the door), not the softball hammer (punch the sky).

[mw94]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the shoes that the Mexico Panama plate umpire is wearing....

I have not seen that many games but I think this guy is the most solid at least

Jeff - via Tapatalk

he is wearing Muzino Plate Shoes., is he from Japan?  He takes his mask off with the right hand. , than transfers it to his left

[grayhawk]

Next game coming up on ABC - WA vs CT.

[blue23ll]

Watching the Sr. League finals from Bangor. They mentioned several suspensions for the Panama team, the manager and a coach, and two players. I know the Manager/player suspension was for using an illegal bat. Any idea why the other coach and player are suspended?

 

They just announced, the other suspensions were for Unsportsmanlike Conduct.

[BRUMP]

Watching the Sr. League finals from Bangor. They mentioned several suspensions for the Panama team, the manager and a coach, and two players. I know the Manager/player suspension was for using an illegal bat. Any idea why the other coach and player are suspended?

 

They just announced, the other suspensions were for Unsportsmanlike Conduct.

really surprised that they even announced this......usually LL is very instrumental in the "I dont cheat" and "its all about sportsmanship" BS

[blue23ll]

The Senior League uniforms do not include the "I Don't Cheat" patch.

[UMP45]

 

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.

I honestly can't watch the games.  It gets my blood boiling.  I'll turn it on for about 15 minutes and have to change the channel.  Even my 3 year old thinks the umpiring is "funny".  Plus, 6 umpires on a field that small is overkill.

 

I understand they are nervous.  Most of them have never been on local TV, much less national.  I can remember walking onto the field at TD Ameritrade and a CBS Sports camera was about 5 feet from my face, following me as I walked from the tunnel to home plate.  It gets the butterflies going.

 

I appreciate the fact these umpires volunteer and put their own money into this, but as I say every year, you can't tell me someone involved with Little League baseball isn't getting rich off of all of this.  ESPN is surely paying good money to hold the broadcasting rights.  It's a helluva racket...don't pay the umpires, grounds crew, score keepers, concessionaires, etc.  Where's the money made going???  "Little League Baseball...We Get What We Pay For."

 

What they should do is bring the umpires in 3-4 days in advance and have MLB Umpire Camps work with them.  

 

The only thing is it most likely wouldn't help. They say it takes 10-20 years to get there. The bad habits are second nature. When under pressure they will go back to there "comfort zone".

[Jocko]

Ok. Positive note....senior league championship. This crew looks sharp. Comfortable. Seasoned. Relaxed.

[maineump]

Watching the Sr. League finals from Bangor. They mentioned several suspensions for the Panama team, the manager and a coach, and two players. I know the Manager/player suspension was for using an illegal bat. Any idea why the other coach and player are suspended?

 

They just announced, the other suspensions were for Unsportsmanlike Conduct.

The other player suspension was for spiking the first baseman according to the newspaper. Apparently the other coach didn't stop talking soon enough

[blue23ll]

Agreed, this is a good ball game too. I have generally found that the 90' umpires in little league are top notch, having spent a number of years doing this level work.

 

Watching the Sr. League finals from Bangor. They mentioned several suspensions for the Panama team, the manager and a coach, and two players. I know the Manager/player suspension was for using an illegal bat. Any idea why the other coach and player are suspended?

 

They just announced, the other suspensions were for Unsportsmanlike Conduct.

The other player suspension was for spiking the first baseman according to the newspaper. Apparently the other coach didn't stop talking soon enough

 

 

EJ'd for the argument, or for the spiking?

[maineump]

Ok. Positive note....senior league championship. This crew looks sharp. Comfortable. Seasoned. Relaxed.

Very good crew - they have lots of experience and had fun at the same time.

HP - Paul Sammon 22 years

U1 - Wayne Beaumier 15 years

U2 - Keith Allison 20 years

U3 - Ken Peterson 33 years

[maineump]

Agreed, this is a good ball game too. I have generally found that the 90' umpires in little league are top notch, having spent a number of years doing this level work.

 

Watching the Sr. League finals from Bangor. They mentioned several suspensions for the Panama team, the manager and a coach, and two players. I know the Manager/player suspension was for using an illegal bat. Any idea why the other coach and player are suspended?

 

They just announced, the other suspensions were for Unsportsmanlike Conduct.

The other player suspension was for spiking the first baseman according to the newspaper. Apparently the other coach didn't stop talking soon enough

 

 

EJ'd for the argument, or for the spiking?

Argument or I might say extreme displeasure

[dumbdumb]

 

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.

I honestly can't watch the games.  It gets my blood boiling.  I'll turn it on for about 15 minutes and have to change the channel.  Even my 3 year old thinks the umpiring is "funny".  Plus, 6 umpires on a field that small is overkill.

 

I understand they are nervous.  Most of them have never been on local TV, much less national.  I can remember walking onto the field at TD Ameritrade and a CBS Sports camera was about 5 feet from my face, following me as I walked from the tunnel to home plate.  It gets the butterflies going.

 

I appreciate the fact these umpires volunteer and put their own money into this, but as I say every year, you can't tell me someone involved with Little League baseball isn't getting rich off of all of this.  ESPN is surely paying good money to hold the broadcasting rights.  It's a helluva racket...don't pay the umpires, grounds crew, score keepers, concessionaires, etc.  Where's the money made going???  "Little League Baseball...We Get What We Pay For."

 

What they should do is bring the umpires in 3-4 days in advance and have MLB Umpire Camps work with them.  

 

per guidestar 2012, 990 form for Little League International. Williamsport, PA

 

name and title..................................avg hr per week........reportable compensation...............other compensation from the organization

 

Stephen Keener (Pres. & CEO)....................45..................................347,047..............................77,377..........................on revenue of 24,531,00

 

Don't know if this qualifies as getting rich, because somebody will say this is about right, based on yada, yada, yada, and the forever justification of you

get what you pay for, and all those other justifications like a 12b1 fee, and the standard I do not apologize and I cannot work for free. Just saying.

 

This is a raise (roughly 9%) from $319,793 and $76,810 for the same 45hr work week in 2011, on revenue of 22,688,000 in 2011.

 

2012 total assets......84.0 million, net assets 78.4 million versus total assets of 78.9 million, net assets of 74.0 million in 2011.

[blue23ll]

I met Keener several years ago, and there is no doubt in my mind that he is a good professional CEO. Little League Baseball, Inc. is a profitably business entity, and CEO's get compensated based on the performance of their companies. If excellence in officiating was a priority, they would have it. Obviously they are happy with what they have.

[Jocko]

Ok. Positive note....senior league championship. This crew looks sharp. Comfortable. Seasoned. Relaxed.

Very good crew - they have lots of experience and had fun at the same time.HP - Paul Sammon 22 yearsU1 - Wayne Beaumier 15 yearsU2 - Keith Allison 20 yearsU3 - Ken Peterson 33 yearsit shows. They're wearing PWs, their caps are creased. They look like they belong in uniform. And Paul looks like he's been to a camp or 10. Very polished and professional crew. They way the corner guys stand ready is the way I'm told its taught at HWUS. And the way I see MiLB crews do it.

[grayhawk]

Ok. Positive note....senior league championship. This crew looks sharp. Comfortable. Seasoned. Relaxed.

Very good crew - they have lots of experience and had fun at the same time.HP - Paul Sammon 22 yearsU1 - Wayne Beaumier 15 yearsU2 - Keith Allison 20 yearsU3 - Ken Peterson 33 yearsit shows. They're wearing PWs, their caps are creased. They look like they belong in uniform. And Paul looks like he's been to a camp or 10. Very polished and professional crew. They way the corner guys stand ready is the way I'm told its taught at HWUS. And the way I see MiLB crews do it.

Someone bronze this post. Jocko had something nice to say about LL umpires!

[dumbdumb]

Well, here is the list again and one can see if they have someone from their area.

 

2013 Little League® Baseball World Series (Aug. 15-25; South Williamsport, Pa.)

(by Name, Place of Residence)

Luis C. Alvarado (Cayey, Puerto Rico), John Bell (Milford, Pa.), Nicholas James Bonnar (Glace Bay, Nova Scotia), James Gregory (Coon Rapids, Minn.), Jon Gregory (Columbus, Texas), Wayne Hurm (San Tan Valley, Arizona), John Ignacio (Adams, Tenn.), Chuck Latini (Trenton, N.J.), Bruce Marcellus (Fremont, Calif.), Richard Muffley (Arlington, Va.), Ron Nagy (Kelseyville, Calif.), Markus Rucker (Heindelberg, Germany), Vincent Sarullo, Jr. (Milford, Conn.), Cynthia Smith (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Paulo M. Tabirara (Caloocan City, Philippines), Garland Timms (Lubbock, Texas)

 

 

Did someone where a balloon one year, let's say in the past 5 years, or was that in a State, District, or Regional?

[grayhawk]

I think there was a gal from Mexico that used the balloon 2 years ago.