How much power does an Umpire have?

[Guest Umpre4Future]

I wanted to know how much power one could achieve by becoming an Umpire? Do Umpires have a lot of power? I want to be an Umpire one day.

[Umpire in Chief]

I'll try to give a serious answer...

Power - Very little. In terms of game administration the big decisions are made by the leagues, conferences, athletic directors and such. Umpires execute their decisions as they relate to administering the rules of the game. While the entire profession of umpiring is based on making decisions and applying them to a given situation; we are not doing it as a matter of power or control, we are doing it in accordance with the prescribed rules and interpretations and actually have very limited scope of what we can do in any given situation.

Responsibility - Tremendous. Every time we make (or don't make) a call it has an effect on the game. It is our duty to administer the game to the absolute best of our ability. To do this we must train, practice, prepare and improve at any opportunity we get. Remember the standard we are measured against is perfection. A player makes a throwing or fielding error. No real big deal, it's just another mark on the scoresheet. An umpire makes an error (or even is perceived to have made an error all hell breaks loose).

There are hundreds of reasons people get into umpiring; stay involved with the game, pursue a profession, money, and the list goes on and on. And all of those reasons are generally good ones. However, the only truly bad answer is because they want some sort of power. Over the years I have seen new umpires come and go who get into it for power & control and I have not seen one who continues with it too far because it is just not there and to be a successful umpire you need some level of passion for umpiring itself. Umpiring is the most thankless job you could ever imagine. 

So @Umpre4Future if you are looking to umpire so you can have power and authority. Umpiring will not be for you.

If you are looking to umpire to be an integral and tremendously responsible manner within the parameters we are given, then you may want to give it a try.  

[Guest]

Don't feed the trolls.....

[Guest Umpre4Future]

I want to know if I would have a lot of control

[NorthTexasUmp]

I wanted to know how much power one could achieve by becoming an Umpire? Do Umpires have a lot of power? I want to be an Umpire one day.

If you are looking for power, DON'T become an umpire!!

[Replacematt]

I would also suggest not getting married.

[noumpere]

Exactly.  I'm thinking several of the questions here recently might be in this vein.

[Mudisfun]

Only if you hold up the mighty bat and chant the incarnation "By the power of Grayskull!" becoming He-Umpire defender of the OBR!

[stkjock]

Only if you hold up the mighty bat and chant the incarnation "By the power of Grayskull!" becoming He-Umpire defender of the OBR!

I was just thinking of the same cartoon

 

[Mudisfun]

Great minds @stkjock...

[MadMax]

I must have a lot of power, because folks approach me in the parking lot wanting me to bring my car and j'ump'er cables to start their car.

[Umpirechick1]

It must be the full moon making someone ask a question like that.  

[Rich Ives]

If he head power he'd be hitting 3, 4, or 5 - not umpirng. 

[ElkOil]

Look at a picture of Earth from space to realize just how much power any of us really have...

[grayhawk]

Not sure, but I do require all game participants to address me as "All Being, Master of Time, Space, and Dimension."

 

 

For Steve Martin fans out there.

[ElkOil]

Not sure, but I do require all game participants to address me as "All Being, Master of Time, Space, and Dimension."

Is that covered during the plate meeting?

[maven]

I wanted to know how much power one could achieve by becoming an Umpire? Do Umpires have a lot of power? I want to be an Umpire one day.

Solar umpires have more power during day games.

[Aging_Arbiter]

Are they running on 110v or 220v?

[Aging_Arbiter]

[ElkOil]

Are they running on 110v or 220v?

220, 221... whatever it takes.

Anyone?

[MadMax]

220, 221... whatever it takes.

Anyone?

I know softball umpires are low voltage... Umpire of Soft Ball. USB.

[BretMan]

We are gods. Women want us and men want to be us. We will crush the puny humans that disobey us. Resistance is futile.

[chuck]

Mr. Mom. Martin Mull

[chuck]

And Billy Crystal, Teri Garr. Hit submit before finished. 

[chuck]

Sorry it was Michael Keaton, not Crystal. Old enough to remember, almost. 

[ElkOil]

Sorry it was Michael Keaton, not Crystal. Old enough to remember, almost. 

Ding ding!  We have a winner!