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LLWS Umpires "Over calling".....

KLAH316

By KLAH316
in Youth Recreation Ball

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Majordave

Majordave

Posted
Posted

It's either the Russians stole someone's password OR

Little League Baseball, INC. (Emphasis on the INC.!) doesn't like anyone dissing them and their volunteer umpires.

My .02 and theory on the mystery of the disappearing posts.

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Richvee
Richvee

I understand they're nervous, they're volunteers, etc. I can just shake my head and continue watching at most of it. What really drives me though is how many of these guys are calling pitches literall

Rich Ives
Rich Ives

I keep wondering why so many people that can't stand watching LL games watch the games. 

Dean
Dean

I like watching the kids play, I don't necessarily like watching the umpires on the field - like I do at most every other level. 

Jimurray

Jimurray

Posted
Posted

I watched that RBI baseball Senior League thing, and it was ok. Notice that the plate guy was wearing creme and the base guys were in black? Now that's some funny stuff.

I believe that is acceptable in 3 or 4 man in Milb.

MidAmUmp

MidAmUmp

Posted
Posted

 

There does seem to be a system malfunction. Several posts on this topic before my rant are also gone, including the one with the brochure I made reference to.

I want to read the rant. Please please please???????

 

The abbreviated version was my issues with Little League Baseball is not about the players, the games, or even the umpires (with the exception of you get what you pay for with LL umpires).  My issue is someone is (or a few someones are) making money and a lot of it while asking the dumb-masses to volunteer their time, efforts and talents to make it successful.

 

Someone posted a pdf of a LL umpire clinic.  The cost of the clinic is $85.00 and they take 75 umpires for 2 different sessions.  That's $12,750.00.  I asked where that money was going?  The umpires are volunteers.  You'd think that would mean the LL instructors are volunteers...or that would seem to go against the "Little League Way".  They house and feed the umpires for a day & 1/2, but I just think it's another racket.

 

ESPN was the top bidder to televise the games.  When their contract is up, if NBC offers more money, NBC will get the games.  Again, where is that money going?  Not back to the local leagues...as far as I can tell.

 

That was basically my rant.  When things were deleted, I assumed that I upset someone with editing abilities and they deleted my post and some others who were negative about Little League baseball.

blue23ll

blue23ll

Posted
Posted

I saw the pdf of the flyer, and I had a question about copyright violations and such. However, under no circumstances, should anyone's post be deleted just because they offer a point of view that Little League doesn't agree with. 

basejester

basejester

Posted
Posted

 I happened to have this post up on my computer when I left for work.  I've reconstructed it here, more or less.

 

Here's my knock on Little League Baseball, and it has nothing to do with the kids or the games. Yes, the umpiring isn't very good for the most part.  I firmly believe that Little League Baseball's motto should be "Little League Baseball: You Get What You Pay For".

:ranton: Someone is making a ton of money off Little League Baseball while demanding others "volunteer" their time, efforts and talents. A prime example is this umpire clinic brochure. They are charging $85.00 per person to train you to be a volunteer umpire. They specifically say in the brochure that umpires "often receiving no pay". They take 75 umpires. I'm assuming that's per session, so they are making $12,750.00 off volunteer umpires to train them to work games for free the "Little League way". Where is that $12,750 going? 2 Breakfasts, 2 lunches and 1 dinner. They say they house you in their dormitory...bet that's a bunch of fun. Wonder what time Aunt Bea will be along to tuck everyone in. Good night John Boy. Are they paying the instructors? Wouldn't that be against the Little League way???

ESPN pays for the exclusive rights to televise the games - regional and world series. They were the highest bidder. Where is that money going each year? I drive all over hell's half acre each spring working games and I see some pretty crappy little league fields along side the road, so they obviously aren't kicking that money back to the local programs to fix up their facilities. No, they rely on volunteers to fix the fields. They even run a commercial for Musco lights - easy for volunteers to install.

Again, someone is (or a small groups for someones are) making a ton of money off of this. It's great for people to give back to their communities and the great game of baseball, but many are too blind to see they are being taken advantage of in the process. :rantoff:

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JaxRolo

JaxRolo

Posted
Posted

I happened to have this post up on my computer when I left for work. I've reconstructed it here, more or less.

Here's my knock on Little League Baseball, and it has nothing to do with the kids or the games. Yes, the umpiring isn't very good for the most part. I firmly believe that Little League Baseball's motto should be "Little League Baseball: You Get What You Pay For".

:ranton: Someone is making a ton of money off Little League Baseball while demanding others "volunteer" their time, efforts and talents. A prime example is this umpire clinic brochure. They are charging $85.00 per person to train you to be a volunteer umpire. They specifically say in the brochure that umpires "often receiving no pay". They take 75 umpires. I'm assuming that's per session, so they are making $12,750.00 off volunteer umpires to train them to work games for free the "Little League way". Where is that $12,750 going? 2 Breakfasts, 2 lunches and 1 dinner. They say they house you in their dormitory...bet that's a bunch of fun. Wonder what time Aunt Bea will be along to tuck everyone in. Good night John Boy. Are they paying the instructors? Wouldn't that be against the Little League way???

ESPN pays for the exclusive rights to televise the games - regional and world series. They were the highest bidder. Where is that money going each year? I drive all over hell's half acre each spring working games and I see some pretty crappy little league fields along side the road, so they obviously aren't kicking that money back to the local programs to fix up their facilities. No, they rely on volunteers to fix the fields. They even run a commercial for Musco lights - easy for volunteers to install.

Again, someone is (or a small groups for someones are) making a ton of money off of this. It's great for people to give back to their communities and the great game of baseball, but many are too blind to see they are being taken advantage of in the process. :rantoff:

Good job!

LMSANS

LMSANS

Posted
Posted

Warren is out of town.  We may need to wait till he gets back to get an answer to what happened.  I don't have the access or knowledge to look into it

Majordave

Majordave

Posted
Posted

I'm so glad I don't have cable or satellite to have to endure the LLWS.

You guys get a life.

At least watch MLB or go see a MiLB game and watch professionals instead of the "all volunteers" amateurs with idiotic make it up as we go rules and the hypocritical "American Institution" of LLB, INC.! (Emphasis on INC. $$$)

  • Like 1
Richvee

Richvee

Posted
Posted

I'm so glad I don't have cable or satellite to have to endure the LLWS.

You guys get a life.

At least watch MLB or go see a MiLB game and watch professionals instead of the "all volunteers" amateurs with idiotic make it up as we go rules and the hypocritical "American Institution" of LLB, INC.! (Emphasis on INC. $$$)

So anyone who enjoys watching the kids play in spite of the downfalls of LL have no life? Pretty harsh. 

  • Like 1
zm1283

zm1283

Posted
Posted

It must be something wrong with the site. I had a post deleted from last night too that wasn't even controversial. I can't remember which thread it was in.

Majordave

Majordave

Posted
Posted

@Richvee

If you enjoy watching the kids play that's great. But this thread is about LLWS umpires and their calls. Most of the posts are critical of the umpires. A group of admittedly untrained or minimally trained guys when compared to higher level baseball umpires. It's just sad.

As MidAmUmp said earlier in his now deleted post "you get what you pay for". LLB, INC. makes a ton of money from TV and endorsement contracts yet finds a way to get umpires for free. I played LL as a kid. I coached LL in a league and in local state level all-stars. I was a local LL Board Member. I've umpired LL at league and state all-star tournament level. I was paid to umpire it. Some of the guys I worked with elected to not be paid so they could work regional tournaments and have a chance at LLWS. One guy did and was plate umpire for the US vs International overall championship game. More power to them. I didn't think the volunteer guys were all that good but I didn't criticize them for it. If they asked me for advice or critique I gave it without bias or sugar coating.

I'm just not a fan of the business side of LL and I'm definitely not going to watch it and critique the umpires. So yes, get a life. Or at least find something else to critique and discuss.

Rant over. PM me to discuss. I won't be wasting any more of my time reading this thread topic.

JaxRolo

JaxRolo

Posted
Posted

@Richvee

If you enjoy watching the kids play that's great. But this thread is about LLWS umpires and their calls. Most of the posts are critical of the umpires. A group of admittedly untrained or minimally trained guys when compared to higher level baseball umpires. It's just sad.

As MidAmUmp said earlier in his now deleted post "you get what you pay for". LLB, INC. makes a ton of money from TV and endorsement contracts yet finds a way to get umpires for free. I played LL as a kid. I coached LL in a league and in local state level all-stars. I was a local LL Board Member. I've umpired LL at league and state all-star tournament level. I was paid to umpire it. Some of the guys I worked with elected to not be paid so they could work regional tournaments and have a chance at LLWS. One guy did and was plate umpire for the US vs International overall championship game. More power to them. I didn't think the volunteer guys were all that good but I didn't criticize them for it. If they asked me for advice or critique I gave it without bias or sugar coating.

I'm just not a fan of the business side of LL and I'm definitely not going to watch it and critique the umpires. So yes, get a life. Or at least find something else to critique and discuss.

Rant over. PM me to discuss. I won't be wasting any more of my time reading this thread topic.

:wave: :wave:

We will miss you!!! lol

Did any one see the "do over" last night!!! Incredible.

basejester

basejester

Posted
Posted

I think to make a fair criticism you'd need a thorough understanding of the expenditures in addition to the income.  I've never done that study, but nothing from my first-hand experience suggests that the money is disappearing.   The TV contract is $7.5 million / year.  There are 2.4 million players and 6,500 leagues. If all of that money went back to the local leagues it comes to $3.13 / player or $1,154 / league.

 

I couldn't drive by a league and assess whether they had a $15,000 budget or a $16,200 budget.  And I wouldn't know if Little League International had dug their well, or provided their legal defense, or paid for their recreational team's trip to the Urban Initiative tournament.

Fittske24

Fittske24

Posted
Posted

 

The abbreviated version was my issues with Little League Baseball is not about the players, the games, or even the umpires (with the exception of you get what you pay for with LL umpires).  My issue is someone is (or a few someones are) making money and a lot of it while asking the dumb-masses to volunteer their time, efforts and talents to make it successful.

 

Someone posted a pdf of a LL umpire clinic.  The cost of the clinic is $85.00 and they take 75 umpires for 2 different sessions.  That's $12,750.00.  I asked where that money was going?  The umpires are volunteers.  You'd think that would mean the LL instructors are volunteers...or that would seem to go against the "Little League Way".  They house and feed the umpires for a day & 1/2, but I just think it's another racket.

 

ESPN was the top bidder to televise the games.  When their contract is up, if NBC offers more money, NBC will get the games.  Again, where is that money going?  Not back to the local leagues...as far as I can tell.

 

That was basically my rant.  When things were deleted, I assumed that I upset someone with editing abilities and they deleted my post and some others who were negative about Little League baseball.

LL is Non-Profit, but that doesn't mean no one is making money. LL has around 100+ full time employees that get paid a salary. There was an article that came out in July talking about this same topic. Below are some excerpts and the link to the full article: http://www.pennlive.com/little-league-world-series/2014/07/little_league_not_a_big_busine.html

 

"People say Little League is a big business, but it is not, said Stephen D. Keener, president and chief executive officer. It has only 105 full-time employees, most of them at its headquarters in South Williamsport. Little League functions with so few employees because of 1.5 million program volunteers around the world, he said."

 

"According to a filing with the Internal Revenue Service for the fiscal year ending last Sept. 30, tax-exempt Little League generated $24.6 million in revenue compared to expenses of $23.4 million."

 

"A major revenue source has been the television contract with ESPN. An eight-year, $76 million contract that takes effect next year is more than double than the $30.1 million agreement that is expiring. Local leagues benefit from the television money. When the current TV contract was signed, league charter fees were reduced from $18 to $16 a team. Next year when the new contract takes effect, they will be reduced again, Keener said."

 

"The major expenses are salaries and benefits ($7.3 million), operating costs, insurance, supplies for the leagues and travel, he said."

 

"Little League pays about $400,000 a year to provide each league with 125 free criminal background checks on managers, coaches and volunteers."

 

Keener had a base salary of $351,060 for the year ending last Sept. 30. Including retirement and other benefits that must be reported to the IRS as income, the total was $430,844. The base pay for David Houseknecht, senior vice president and chief financial officer, was $210,000. By comparison, according to an IRS document, the base compensation for the executive director of the Boy Scouts in 2011 was $543,341.

  • Like 2
Rulekeep

Rulekeep

Posted
Posted

Now if you really want to talk greedy. Today's news is that the NFL wants the performers to pay the NFL for the right to perform at the Super Bowl.

zm1283

zm1283

Posted
Posted

I watched the last inning or two of the Chicago/Philadelphia game last night. I believe it was the Chicago catcher who was pulling the hell out of every pitch and holding pitches for 2-3 seconds on the plate umpire. Is that something they don't worry about in LL most of the time?

 

The plate guy was goofy as can be, using softball mechanics and was fidgety, but during the innings I saw his zone was pretty good. He wasn't going well off the plate like some of the other guys have done and wasn't rewarding the catchers for yanking pitches out of the dirt.

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