Little League

[FlaUmp22]

The PU for the Japan/Chinese Taipei game was definitely not perfect and had his fair share of mess-ups, BUT it was a very well played games and he didn't do anything to take the spotlight off the best two teams in the international division and Little League Baseball

[SJA]

May be I missed something, but the PU in this game has done very well IMHO. What did he mess up?

SJA

[JaxRolo]

The PU for the Japan/Chinese Taipei game was definitely not perfect and had his fair share of mess-ups, BUT it was a very well played games and he didn't do anything to take the spotlight off the best two teams in the international division and Little League Baseball

 

U1 has been spot on all day and not robotic at all.

[FlaUmp22]

May be I missed something, but the PU in this game has done very well IMHO. What did he mess up?

SJA

 

Ok maybe mess up wasn't the right word  ... mostly I was referring to how he was pretty quick for about 3 innings in the middle of the game and took his mask off with the right hand and transferred to the left. But he did nail that play at the plate. 

 

IMO he has done a great job of letting the talent be showcased on the field which I think is the most important

[SJA]

How do you put your mask on? Do you grab it with your right hand and the harness with your left or vice versa?

?

[blue23ll]

How do you put your mask on? Do you grab it with your right hand and the harness with your left or vice versa?

?

I hold it between my knees and bend down and then use both hands to pull the harness over my head.....

[BigUmp56]

How do you put your mask on? Do you grab it with your right hand and the harness with your left or vice versa?

?

Your mask should always be pulled with your left hand. Of course, trained umpires are the only ones who notice this. At least we're the only ones who notice it until a PU bangs out a kid at the plate with his right hand (which is the hand that makes the signal), and either throws his mask and hits the runner in the head, or gets too close and smacks the runner with it. Then, everyone notices and understands why we do things certain ways.

Tim

[SJA]

The question was putting it on, not taking it off.

[mstaylor]

Your mask goes on with your left,taken off with your left and held in your left or under your left arm. 

[mstaylor]

I don't care if you umpire as a volunteer or as a person that gets paid. Any official in a championship should be assigned/selected solely on the basis of merit not on seniority. The best games should have the best officials. To do otherwise is a disservice to everyone that is involved. Just my opinion.

I agree but it happens year after year at all levels, LL,BR, Dixie, Fed, even college. I know many states have the most arbitrary and capricious methods where very good ummpires sit home and awful umpires get championship games. LL is not the lone strangers in having bad umpires at levels they don't belong. 

[mstaylor]

Point in case: the guy in the Delaware vs California game has his ball bag in the back. Not on his side/hip, but hanging down beside his ass. Why...?!

I didn't pay it much attention but GD pants make you do that

[SJA]

Correct! Take notice how many umps in various games, divisions, leagues, etc. that do just the opposite.

:-)

[SJA]

Point in case: the guy in the Delaware vs California game has his ball bag in the back. Not on his side/hip, but hanging down beside his ass. Why...?!

I didn't pay it much attention but GD pants make you do that

. . . and I believe the bag was blue?

[SJA]

I don't care if you umpire as a volunteer or as a person that gets paid. Any official in a championship should be assigned/selected solely on the basis of merit not on seniority. The best games should have the best officials. To do otherwise is a disservice to everyone that is involved. Just my opinion.

I agree but it happens year after year at all levels, LL,BR, Dixie, Fed, even college. I know many states have the most arbitrary and capricious methods where very good ummpires sit home and awful umpires get championship games. LL is not the lone strangers in having bad umpires at levels they don't belong.

I can state with personal knowledge that I've known 2 year umps that have BOUGHT their way into the LLWS games. Politics and $$$$ while very experienced and WORTHY umps have been sidelined.

Sad, but that's a reality.

SJA :-(

[sdix00]

Generally, Western Region umpires must attend a region clinic before getting a golden ticket, but that is not true in all regions.

Generally, WR umpires are the best umpires at the LLWS, year after year. Exceptions of course.

IMO, the Senior League WS has the best crews, year after year. No exceptions.

If anyone ever bought their way in to the WS, I think that would rock LL umpiring to its core. Until there is evidence to that effect, I won't believe it.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

[SJA]

Until there is evidence to that effect, I won't believe it.

What is it about my statement of PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE you don't understand? I have no reason to make any false accusations.

SJA

[sdix00]

Don't confuse personal knowledge with evidence.

I am not saying you are lying. I just don't believe it. If true I am surprised something like that could be kept quiet.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

[SJA]

My knowledge could be considered evidence. I really don't care whether you believe it or not. As far as being kept quiet? Are you for real?? Only those involved would know, and only two are still alive . . . that I know of.

I'm done on this subject.

SJA

[grayhawk]

Just want to weigh in.  I got started in LL.  I have been a LL board member for 3 years, UIC for two of those years.  I have attended LL mechanics clinics as both student and instructor.  I have umpired LL games from AA (minor B to some) to Big League, and everywhere from my local league, to other local leagues, through district, section and sub-division (last level before state in CA).  I have never taken money to umpire a LL game.  I also umpire for travel ball, Pony, USSSA, AAU, high school, Mickey Mantle, etc - all for money.

 

The selection criteria is obviously not consistent from region to region and from country to country.

LL values a long history of volunteerism over skill and ability.

LL wants to "spread the wealth" in terms of representation from around the country and world.

In some cases, the umpires selected have volunteered for years, but are also very skilled. (RichMsn was excellent last year)

I don't think those at the very top of LL care about mechanics nearly as much as we do.

LL has instant replay to fix incorrect calls made by unskilled (and even skilled) umpires.

It's unrealistic to expect a clinic right before the LLWS to correct years of bad habits.  In fact, they would think too much and it would make it worse.

Only those of us that take our umpiring seriously notice the majority of the poor mechanics shown in the LLWS games.

The average viewer only cares about a good zone and correct calls.

 

In short, the LLWS, from an umpiring point of view is very much it's own animal.  It can't be compared, effectively, to any other tournament or level of baseball umpiring.  And it ain't going to change anytime soon.  For the record, I would love to be selected - I think it could be a great experience.  It could also be a frustrating experience, as I have heard from others who have been there.  Never know until you get there, I guess.

[carolinablue]

Do they just arbitrarily assign the crews for the whole tournament or do they try to identify the better ones as the tournament progresses and give them the better games, such as winners games and championships?

[Dannytheman]

Generally, Western Region umpires must attend a region clinic before getting a golden ticket, but that is not true in all regions.

Generally, WR umpires are the best umpires at the LLWS, year after year. Exceptions of course.

IMO, the Senior League WS has the best crews, year after year. No exceptions.

If anyone ever bought their way in to the WS, I think that would rock LL umpiring to its core. Until there is evidence to that effect, I won't believe it.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

WR has it's idiots, one was in last year, but I agree WR,Texas and Florida have the best LL umps IMHO.  They also happen to the most games and generally get to work all year.

That being said I am sure there are great guys everywhere, I just wish we as fellow umps were not so quick to analyse and beat up the odd balls.

[blue23ll]

Danny, I don't feel that I am beating anyone up. This is the same stuff that I would tell them in a clinic or in a post game discussion.

[Dannytheman]

There is constructive critisism and there there is WAYYYYY over the top.  Not pointing at any individuals.  But they know that I know that they know that I know who they are. 

[maineump]

Generally, Western Region umpires must attend a region clinic before getting a golden ticket, but that is not true in all regions.

Generally, WR umpires are the best umpires at the LLWS, year after year. Exceptions of course.

IMO, the Senior League WS has the best crews, year after year. No exceptions.

If anyone ever bought their way in to the WS, I think that would rock LL umpiring to its core. Until there is evidence to that effect, I won't believe it.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

In the East you are required to have LL clinics too. I agree with the SLWS ump comment. If my memory is correct the championship plate guys have been a good mix of all of the US regions - I remember FL, PA, Midwest, NJ, CA, TX guys doing them.

[Thunderheads]

 

 

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Volunteers.. They do it for the love of, not the revenue from. Leave them alone!!

I hate to but I must take exception. I understand the volunteer yaya but come on. If someone volunteered to carry your groceries and dropped them all over the place would you sing their praises? IMO, it's disrespectful to the game for some of these guys to be as bad as they are. I get paid. And make a lot of $ doing what I love. But I honor the game by trying to be the best umpire on the field. Look sharp. Good timing. Good mechanics. Good positioning. Good rules knowledge. Seems to me LL likes smitty or they'd do something about it.

And with all the $$$ LL is making, they ought to provide a week long pro clinic for the WS officials.

 

It is a requirement that WS Umpires have attended a LL Regional Clinic.

They are what they are and what LL accepts.

If you don't like what you see, turn off the TV.

They didn't volunteer for years and pay their own way to deserve to be ripped apart by those who feel they must correct every mistake they make.

Get a Life.

 

then obviously you're totally ok with what you see on TV, Lou?

Come on, don't "get a life" someone when you know your own standards are SO MUCH HIGHER ... please