Worst Partner I've Had

[Typhoon]

Last year I was doing the provincial U14 softball championships. Due to a no show (car accident) and an injury I had to work 6 plates in a row. At 71 I am too old for that s--t. One of my partners had never worked a softball game before. It was his first year as an umpire and all he had worked was some coach pitch and machine pitch. I'll tell you that was an adventure. I had to keep postioning him throughout the game. We were lucky that it was an easy game, but I told the UIC to get rid of him. His response was that he needed a warm body and so he put him with me because of my experience. I liked the kid, he showed alot of enthusiasm and hustle except sometimes he hustled to the wrong place so I had to keep one eye on him all the time. Give him a year or two and he will be fine. Its hard to be trying to do your own job and babysitting at the same time.

 

Tony

[umpstu]

Last year I was doing the provincial U14 softball championships. Due to a no show (car accident) and an injury I had to work 6 plates in a row. At 71 I am too old for that s--t. One of my partners had never worked a softball game before. It was his first year as an umpire and all he had worked was some coach pitch and machine pitch. I'll tell you that was an adventure. I had to keep postioning him throughout the game. We were lucky that it was an easy game, but I told the UIC to get rid of him. His response was that he needed a warm body and so he put him with me because of my experience. I liked the kid, he showed alot of enthusiasm and hustle except sometimes he hustled to the wrong place so I had to keep one eye on him all the time. Give him a year or two and he will be fine. Its hard to be trying to do your own job and babysitting at the same time.

 

Tony

If he's got potential, don't get rid of him. Keep him and train him right the first time. Don't let him develop bad habits.

[TStokes97]

Certainly not the best of partners, but if that's the worst partner you've ever had, you're doing OK. I've had plenty I've had to search for in the parking lot(s), had no knowledge of mechanics or signals, AND every ball/strike call seemed like he was flipping a coin. Pitches in the dirt for strikes, pitches belt high, MAYBE an inch off the plate balls. Flinching, jumping up out of his stance before the pitch hit F2's glove....Consider yourself lucky.

I had issues with Flinching and leaving my stance, It can be broken I just holding onto my legs tight and that fixed it, now Im used to staying in there its not a problem any more,

[TStokes97]

Last year I was doing the provincial U14 softball championships. Due to a no show (car accident) and an injury I had to work 6 plates in a row. At 71 I am too old for that s--t. One of my partners had never worked a softball game before. It was his first year as an umpire and all he had worked was some coach pitch and machine pitch. I'll tell you that was an adventure. I had to keep postioning him throughout the game. We were lucky that it was an easy game, but I told the UIC to get rid of him. His response was that he needed a warm body and so he put him with me because of my experience. I liked the kid, he showed alot of enthusiasm and hustle except sometimes he hustled to the wrong place so I had to keep one eye on him all the time. Give him a year or two and he will be fine. Its hard to be trying to do your own job and babysitting at the same time.

Tony

If he's got potential, don't get rid of him. Keep him and train him right the first time. Don't let him develop bad habits. Yea 3 umps Ive worked with have really helped me, instead of trying to end my career they trained me, and told me everything I needed to know and gave me confidence about my ability, I'm doing well now and they are a big reason for that, don't give up on young umps, with some teaching we can become something

[thunder6661980]

Last year I was doing the provincial U14 softball championships. Due to a no show (car accident) and an injury I had to work 6 plates in a row. At 71 I am too old for that s--t. One of my partners had never worked a softball game before. It was his first year as an umpire and all he had worked was some coach pitch and machine pitch. I'll tell you that was an adventure. I had to keep postioning him throughout the game. We were lucky that it was an easy game, but I told the UIC to get rid of him. His response was that he needed a warm body and so he put him with me because of my experience. I liked the kid, he showed alot of enthusiasm and hustle except sometimes he hustled to the wrong place so I had to keep one eye on him all the time. Give him a year or two and he will be fine. Its hard to be trying to do your own job and babysitting at the same time.

 

Tony

So you told the UIC to get ride of him because he didn't have the experience. And then you say that he would be fine with more experience? How he's he going to get that experience if you fire him?

[Typhoon]

 

Last year I was doing the provincial U14 softball championships. Due to a no show (car accident) and an injury I had to work 6 plates in a row. At 71 I am too old for that s--t. One of my partners had never worked a softball game before. It was his first year as an umpire and all he had worked was some coach pitch and machine pitch. I'll tell you that was an adventure. I had to keep postioning him throughout the game. We were lucky that it was an easy game, but I told the UIC to get rid of him. His response was that he needed a warm body and so he put him with me because of my experience. I liked the kid, he showed alot of enthusiasm and hustle except sometimes he hustled to the wrong place so I had to keep one eye on him all the time. Give him a year or two and he will be fine. Its hard to be trying to do your own job and babysitting at the same time.

 

Tony

So you told the UIC to get ride of him because he didn't have the experience. And then you say that he would be fine with more experience? How he's he going to get that experience if you fire him?

 

This was a high level tournament and he was completely lost. I told the UIC to remove him from the tournament not from our asscociation. I blame the UIC for bringing him in. We would have managed somehow without him. We were offered a couple of umpires from another association, but would have to pay them mileage and he was trying to cut costs. It was just a bad sitch all the way around. I tried to help the kid but it is hard to hold a clinic in the middle of a game. That particular UIC has since been removed from the position. There were many other factors that led to this.

 

Tony

[bam]

Last year I was doing the provincial U14 softball championships. Due to a no show (car accident) and an injury I had to work 6 plates in a row. At 71 I am too old for that s--t. One of my partners had never worked a softball game before. It was his first year as an umpire and all he had worked was some coach pitch and machine pitch. I'll tell you that was an adventure. I had to keep postioning him throughout the game. We were lucky that it was an easy game, but I told the UIC to get rid of him. His response was that he needed a warm body and so he put him with me because of my experience. I liked the kid, he showed alot of enthusiasm and hustle except sometimes he hustled to the wrong place so I had to keep one eye on him all the time. Give him a year or two and he will be fine. Its hard to be trying to do your own job and babysitting at the same time.

 

Tony

So you told the UIC to get ride of him because he didn't have the experience. And then you say that he would be fine with more experience? How he's he going to get that experience if you fire him?

This was a high level tournament and he was completely lost. I told the UIC to remove him from the tournament not from our asscociation. I blame the UIC for bringing him in. We would have managed somehow without him. We were offered a couple of umpires from another association, but would have to pay them mileage and he was trying to cut costs. It was just a bad sitch all the way around. I tried to help the kid but it is hard to hold a clinic in the middle of a game. That particular UIC has since been removed from the position. There were many other factors that led to this.

 

Tony

Because there's nothing more important than a high level tournament softball game.

Got it.

[Richvee]

 

Certainly not the best of partners, but if that's the worst partner you've ever had, you're doing OK. I've had plenty I've had to search for in the parking lot(s), had no knowledge of mechanics or signals, AND every ball/strike call seemed like he was flipping a coin. Pitches in the dirt for strikes, pitches belt high, MAYBE an inch off the plate balls. Flinching, jumping up out of his stance before the pitch hit F2's glove....Consider yourself lucky.

I had issues with Flinching and leaving my stance, It can be broken I just holding onto my legs tight and that fixed it, now Im used to staying in there its not a problem any more,

 

I've adopted the HOK Gerry Davis plate stance and love it. Locks me in like never before and gives me the best view of the whole  zone. 

[treydawgmt]

In Illinois you can't wear an IHSA patch or IHSA embroidered shirt unless you are an IHSA registered official.  Otherwise, who the hell cares?!

[Jocko]

Last year I was doing the provincial U14 softball championships. Due to a no show (car accident) and an injury I had to work 6 plates in a row. At 71 I am too old for that s--t. One of my partners had never worked a softball game before. It was his first year as an umpire and all he had worked was some coach pitch and machine pitch. I'll tell you that was an adventure. I had to keep postioning him throughout the game. We were lucky that it was an easy game, but I told the UIC to get rid of him. His response was that he needed a warm body and so he put him with me because of my experience. I liked the kid, he showed alot of enthusiasm and hustle except sometimes he hustled to the wrong place so I had to keep one eye on him all the time. Give him a year or two and he will be fine. Its hard to be trying to do your own job and babysitting at the same time.

Tony

If he's got potential, don't get rid of him. Keep him and train him right the first time. Don't let him develop bad habits. Yea 3 umps Ive worked with have really helped me, instead of trying to end my career they trained me, and told me everything I needed to know and gave me confidence about my ability, I'm doing well now and they are a big reason for that, don't give up on young umps, with some teaching we can become somethingI love working with seasoned veteran umpires. Makes EVERYTHING that much smoother and the trust factor alone is worth the price of admission. But I also enjoy working with young/less experienced partners. So long as they listen and try to adapt. Part of being a good partner is training. Sharing wisdom/experience. The 19 year olds of today will be the assignors/UICs of tomorrow.

[TStokes97]

Last year I was doing the provincial U14 softball championships. Due to a no show (car accident) and an injury I had to work 6 plates in a row. At 71 I am too old for that s--t. One of my partners had never worked a softball game before. It was his first year as an umpire and all he had worked was some coach pitch and machine pitch. I'll tell you that was an adventure. I had to keep postioning him throughout the game. We were lucky that it was an easy game, but I told the UIC to get rid of him. His response was that he needed a warm body and so he put him with me because of my experience. I liked the kid, he showed alot of enthusiasm and hustle except sometimes he hustled to the wrong place so I had to keep one eye on him all the time. Give him a year or two and he will be fine. Its hard to be trying to do your own job and babysitting at the same time.

Tony

If he's got potential, don't get rid of him. Keep him and train him right the first time. Don't let him develop bad habits. Yea 3 umps Ive worked with have really helped me, instead of trying to end my career they trained me, and told me everything I needed to know and gave me confidence about my ability, I'm doing well now and they are a big reason for that, don't give up on young umps, with some teaching we can become somethingI love working with seasoned veteran umpires. Makes EVERYTHING that much smoother and the trust factor alone is worth the price of admission. But I also enjoy working with young/less experienced partners. So long as they listen and try to adapt. Part of being a good partner is training. Sharing wisdom/experience. The 19 year olds of today will be the assignors/UICs of tomorrow.I love working with experienced partners, they teach me alot and always have my back, one time I was BU with a guy with 40years experience as PU, one play in that game I made a close call at first for an out #3 1st basecoach is up in my face about the call, next thing I know the PU is already(like lightining speed) up the line next to me yelling at the coach to go sit down and to leave the both of us alone, that was my first partner game I had no clue what to do about that coach but boy did the PU take care of that problem fast

[millerforrest]

@fallschum04 - You stole my picture!!!!