LLWS Regionals -HPUs

[Jimurray]

I have done 2 regionals at the major level, 1 at the senior level and a world series at the big league. When I asked if there was anything specific, that they wanted us to follow - I was told do what you have done to get here. I have never been told to use the hammer on the plate or bases. As far as specific field mechanics, I have worked some "odd" coverages/rotations, but that is what they wanted - so we did it.

I use the point on the plate, and pretty subdued on the bases - I have been fortunate to get a plate in a semi or final game in these tournaments - when not on the plate in finals, an infield assignment. My mechanics seem to be OK with the bosses in those tournaments.

I wonder if the teaching of the hammer is to simplify the training? Most of the training is for the 60' diamond and is for baseball and softball. As we all know, the mechanics of the big field is a lot different (or should be).

Unless they have changed, don't the umpire schools teach the hammer and doesn't MiLB require it with first year umpires. I'm not a fan of the robot softball hammer but what I've seen them teach at the schools is not bad.

Edited August 15, 2015 by Jimurray

[grayhawk]

Yes, they (pro schools) teach the hammer because they need to be able to evaluate each umpire on an equal basis. I've seen 2 LL umpires today pointing strikes, so it's good to see that individuality isn't completely out the window.

[SJA]

@ grayhawk . Until LL  "pays the cost to be the boss", I'll do my mechanics as I want, and was trained to via JE, or they can find someone else to volunteer their time.

PS: I've never had any aspirations of going to LLWS either.

:-)

Edited August 16, 2015 by SJA

[James88]

basejester...thanks for that.  We are told by our District we are not to pay umpires and I thought that was the case LL wide.  Had I done better research, I probably would have ended up in a big fight at our District meetings..lol.

Personally I think It's crazy not to pay the umpires if the specific local league has the means to do so.  LL does make it hard on the local leagues in terms of money since there is no admission fee to watch ballgames.

It would have made life so much easier if we could have charged the adults something nominal like $1.00.  

[johnnyg08]

The guy tonight in So. Cal vs Hawaii is excellent.  I'd work with him any day of the week. 

[basejester]

basejester...thanks for that.  We are told by our District we are not to pay umpires and I thought that was the case LL wide.  Had I done better research, I probably would have ended up in a big fight at our District meetings..lol.

Personally I think It's crazy not to pay the umpires if the specific local league has the means to do so.  LL does make it hard on the local leagues in terms of money since there is no admission fee to watch ballgames.

It would have made life so much easier if we could have charged the adults something nominal like $1.00.  

I don't know if this does you any good, but you can charge admission to games in the Intermediate Division and above.

 

[basejester]

I thought the crew for the Great Lakes championship did a nice job.  Plate umpire was excellent.

 

 

[johnnyg08]

The baseball hammer, at least the one I use, is far, far different from the softball hammer where the arm is raised sky high with a fist at the top.

That being said I can barely spell softball so I won't try to pretend to know the SB mechanics.  

I will say with confidence that a baseball hammer and a softball hammer are not always the same.

[jpperez14]

Why would it be necessary to have a LF and RF line umpire, if U3 is never in before the pitch? The fields are much smaller and I just don't see much of a point having 6 umpires? Be gentle.

[grayhawk]

PU in New England championship game is all softball, and way too fast to boot. Painful to watch.

[Richvee]

PU in New England championship game is all softball, and way too fast to boot. Painful to watch.

The whole crew is pretty painful. Besides the robot PU, U1 and U3 are just as robotic..stiff legged, robotic calls, and not a chance of a read step or adjustment on any plays. 

[johnnyg08]

Why would it be necessary to have a LF and RF line umpire, if U3 is never in before the pitch? The fields are much smaller and I just don't see much of a point having 6 umpires? Be gentle.

Perhaps it gets more umpires in the highly coveted post season games?

[Rich Ives]

 

Personally I think It's crazy not to pay the umpires if the specific local league has the means to do so. 

OK then, we'll pay you the same as we pay the managers, coaches, BoD members, the President, the various VPs, other league officers, concession manager, concession workers, etc.   Sounds fair to me.  How about you?

[jpperez14]

Perhaps it gets more umpires in the highly coveted post season games?

maybe. I could completely understand if U3 was in, but he is out and he could go out easily on fly balls from F7 to F9 and U2 and U3 have the fielder's going to their respective lines.

[grayhawk]

Apparently, every time a pitch is fouled straight back in the Mid-Atlantic championship game, there's a "stick up" in progress on the PU. And he's another guy using softball mechanics.

[jpperez14]

Apparently, every time a pitch is fouled straight back in the Mid-Atlantic championship game, there's a "stick up" in progress on the PU. And he's another guy using softball mechanics.

what do you think about the 'high move to the left' strike mechanic?

[grayhawk]

what do you think about the 'high move to the left' strike mechanic?

Not a fan

[James88]

OK then, we'll pay you the same as we pay the managers, coaches, BoD members, the President, the various VPs, other league officers, concession manager, concession workers, etc.   Sounds fair to me.  How about you?

I'm not trying to fuss over this, but my opinion was formed during my 2 years as president of our local league.  I never had trouble getting managers, coaches, board members, officers, concession managers, workers, etc., but I had MUCH difficulty getting umpires.  All-stars was particularly difficult because you're competing with paid summer league games and travel tournaments.

That said, I don't disagree with the premise that LL should be an all volunteer organization, at least on the local level.  However, I think that's getting increasingly difficult to do with umpires.

 

[Richvee]

 

That said, I don't disagree with the premise that LL should be an all volunteer organization, at least on the local level.  However, I think that's getting increasingly difficult to do with umpires.

 

I sort of think the opposite holds true for umpires.  Around here we're paid until the state sectional tourney. Getting guys to do regular season games for free is tough. As you say, there's high school, travel, weekend tourneys going on from April through July. After the district tourneys, once the sectionals come around, the "paid" games are diminishing, finding a few good umpires to volunteer do a few sectional tourney games shouldn't be as difficult. I know I enjoy the sectional games when I get a chance to do them. I feel like it's the least I could do to give back to the game.

[BRUMP]

I sort of think the opposite holds true for umpires.  Around here we're paid until the state sectional tourney. Getting guys to do regular season games for free is tough. As you say, there's high school, travel, weekend tourneys going on from April through July. After the district tourneys, once the sectionals come around, the "paid" games are diminishing, finding a few good umpires to volunteer do a few sectional tourney games shouldn't be as difficult. I know I enjoy the sectional games when I get a chance to do them. I feel like it's the least I could do to give back to the game.

to go off what rich said...if you wanna give me a plate in a 10-11 yr old sectional semi final game (which i had this yr) you will have no problem getting me to volunteer (and 3 others as we went with a 4 man crew) however if you want me to volunteer to do a 9 yr old regular season little league game for free when i could be studying/down the shore/hanging out w friends thats where you lose me

[webspinnre]

While I can't speak for others, the way I got into umpiring as a teenager was being paid for it. If it hadn't paid, I'm not sure I ever would've started doing it. These days, I'm willing to do it for free (though I don't object to being paid when that's an option), but I doubt I would've been willing to do it growing up, at least not at the level of activity I did. I made $500 a summer umpiring games starting at the age of 13. Now that I'm UIC of our small league, I can get an occasional teenage volunteer, but have very little success getting any kind of regular commitment from even 1 or 2 teenagers. I certainly understand the all-volunteer goal, but in most instances, the axiom "you get what you pay for" holds true, particularly for regular season games for 9 and 10 year olds.

[RichMSN]

OK then, we'll pay you the same as we pay the managers, coaches, BoD members, the President, the various VPs, other league officers, concession manager, concession workers, etc.   Sounds fair to me.  How about you?

Nope.  I have no kids playing in the league nor have I in the past nor will I in the future.  

How many of those other people fit that description?

I volunteer for my own reasons, but my job is different than the other jobs.  My relationship with the league or the district is different, too.

[Rich Ives]

Nope.  I have no kids playing in the league nor have I in the past nor will I in the future.  

How many of those other people fit that description?

I volunteer for my own reasons, but my job is different than the other jobs.  My relationship with the league or the district is different, too.

I see neither of our positions have changed over the years. 

[RichMSN]

I see neither of our positions have changed over the years. 

No, but my respect for you and what you do hasn't diminished either.

[grayhawk]

The culture of each league dictates the extent that an "all volunteer" umpiring roster will work for the regular season.  There are specific elements that must be in place:

1. The managers can't rule the roost
2. The board has to back the umpires
3. The league should have a "zero tolerance" policy with respect to how the fans and coaches treat the umpires
4. The league must provide the necessary gear, and keep it in good condition
5. Each team (manager) needs to be held accountable to do their share
6. A training program needs to be in place

I was the chief umpire of our league for 2 years, and we were all volunteer and filled 99% of the 2 man crews for every game on the schedule.  I think in 2 years, and 360 games (180 each year), we only had solo umpires for 2 or 3 of those games.  While there were a couple of guys that umpired for us that did HS ball, every other umpire was a parent, coach, or manager (and all of the coaches and managers had kids in the league).  I think in total, we had about 80-90 people work at least one game, while some worked more and a few worked much more often.  Did some of these folks stink it up out there?  Sure.  Did the kids remember 5 minutes after the games when they were eating their snacks and playing with their friends?  Nope.