Assigners preference to workhorses, and limits for important games

[Umpire942]

So one of the big tournament leagues in the us , I work for , which has great games, but dont get first cracks at tournament assignments.

Why?

I dont do all 6 games of the day.  I told them I am fine with that.  I can not physically or mentally do it.  But im curious out there.  

So I only get 3, if another person only wants 3.    Otherwise, no assignment.

Now what kind of umpire are you, after doing 4 games of highest level of travel ball.   I understand it fits great for assigners and makes it easy.  

 

So in conclusion, is it just me, doing over 4 games counter intuitive to having a crew that is on point.  The last 2 games are usually for championships.  I would not want an umpire who is on his 12 game (or more) doing that game.  Am i wrong?

[SH0102]

I’ve done 6 games in a day a couple different times, and I’ve done 6 and 5 on back to back days, and I could barely walk by the end.  It didn’t help that it was 90 out so hotter on turf.

But I generally agree, while it’s easier on assignors to have one crew rather than 2-3 per field, the quality goes down, it has to. No one can be as sharp on game 6 as game 1/2.

For me, 4 is normal, anything more than that and I’m in survival mode, ie, not hustling/running as much, conserving energy, expanding strike zone a bit. 
 

If it was 3-man six games, could maybe manage for a day, still only 2 plates, but wouldn’t be fun drawing last 2-games straw!

[BobUmp]

I do a good amount of tourney ball, and I think the answer is, for most of us, trying to concentrate, rotate, get into position, hustle, and generally be mentally engaged over more than just a few hours is not realistic.

When I started out years back, I did the 4-6 games in one day thing, trying to get "experience hours" in and be a good soldier that the assignors would remember. 

Over the years as I became more experienced I have been really striving to make every game I officiate a full quality effort from mechanics, timing, hustle, game management etc. I have realized that, for ME, if I keep it to one to two games in one day I will (most likely) perform at a top level that I can be satisfied and proud with, when honestly looking back on my performance. In fact, if I am able to keep it to one or two in a day, I will actually be able to assess and implement improvements to my performance and become a better umpire- the day's work will help me become better for future days.

Now, with officials' shortages (especially at the "higher" levels) and the sheer volume of tourney and travel league ball out there, there are many weekend days (and mid-summer, weekdays!) where the assignors will push 3, 4 or more games on me in one day and I will accept them all. Its just nature of the beast. And yes, sometimes I get away with it and have a 4 game set where I am happy with my performance throughout. But being totally honest with myself - first, the majority of my ejections are on those "3 or more games" days, maybe indicating my performance may have had a contribution to the situation; - second, I am probably not actually improving myself or my techniques during that long day, just getting by.. and, maybe, taking a step or two back...

Anyhow, the assignors know now that they should sparingly throw more than 2 or 3 in one day at me because I will not do it weekend after weekend, and i will just block out and enjoy a weekend or two off if they abuse it.

And yes, they have their "Iron Men" that for many legitimate reasons including they need/want the paycheck or they love being on the field all day or whatever.. In spite of this, many times these past couple of years I will get on the "higher level/ higher exposure" games and tourneys, one or two at a time, and they know I will bring my "A" game and probably be improving my game as the season goes on.

So I think that once you know and stay below your personal limit where your performance/health/personal life will suffer, and if you are blessed to not have to crank out 6 games a day for the money, you will actually become a valuable option to the assignors based on the quality of officiating you will bring to your 1, 2, or 3 games that weekend.

[Umpire942]

Here is the major example and why i am bringing this thread up.  Game 12 on a double 6 weekend this summer, there was a pitching change.  I said count is 2 and 1.  Indicator was at 2 and 1.  After the delay, i said 2 and 1... play.   Then foul ball , ball, and (non punch out) strike 3, batter stays in box.   Then ball 4, batter goes to first.  Coach (who asks for time, who was probably looking for a double play) says you said 2 and 1, he was out.  Im like sh*t your right , batter your out, runner go back.  Other coach refuses, multiple times, to me, and partner.  

Normally, I would be like ok coach thats what you want to do?  When i say play ball, im calling outs.  But because i was tired, I said ok we will sit here.  As he wanted to call into the league.  20 minutes and only my partner arguing later, we have an out and runner moves back.  The team that brought up the out, was trailing and lost 20 minutes of possible another inning, as they were coming back and lost by one run.

Obviously i will not be that lazy again, and im normally all over coaches, even if its my mistake. 

[Catch18]

Here is the major example and why i am bringing this thread up.  Game 12 on a double 6 weekend this summer, there was a pitching change.  I said count is 2 and 1.  Indicator was at 2 and 1.  After the delay, i said 2 and 1... play.   Then foul ball , ball, and (non punch out) strike 3, batter stays in box.   Then ball 4, batter goes to first.  Coach (who asks for time, who was probably looking for a double play) says you said 2 and 1, he was out.  Im like sh*t your right , batter your out, runner go back.  Other coach refuses, multiple times, to me, and partner.  
Normally, I would be like ok coach thats what you want to do?  When i say play ball, im calling outs.  But because i was tired, I said ok we will sit here.  As he wanted to call into the league.  20 minutes and only my partner arguing later, we have an out and runner moves back.  The team that brought up the out, was trailing and lost 20 minutes of possible another inning, as they were coming back and lost by one run.
Obviously i will not be that lazy again, and im normally all over coaches, even if its my mistake. 

Refuses?

Haha, that’s a good one.

“Play”

[MadMax]

On 9/27/2022 at 5:34 AM, Umpire942 said:

I said count is 2 and 1.  Indicator was at 2 and 1.  After the delay, i said 2 and 1... play.   Then foul ball, ball, then I announced the count of 3-2, and [then] (non punch out) strike 3, batter stays in box. 

Just this little bit, this missed step would have saved ya all that grief. 

In the venues, events, and locations I’ve worked, 4 games is/was typically the norm, with the … I can’t say “expectation”, but perhaps “gruff hope” of 6-7 being placed on ya by an assigner. Why? As we know, things like water, electricity, lava, half-awake teenagers going to school follow a path of least resistance. These assigners are employing a solution of least resistance. If they’ve got 2 umpires who will work on 1 field together for 6 games, then why would they mess with that, and introduce a component of resistance? A variable, if you will? 

I had reached a “level of clout” in my career a few years ago wherein I was doing a tournament event back in my home state, for a tournament host who allows for self-assigning on a web portal, and I conducted an experiment… I assigned myself to a seemingly random scatter of games across levels and fields within the 7-field complex. Now, I certainly made sure not to have any overlaps or conflicts in the schedule, and I had made it very clear I would not dodge a plate. The intention was to see how umpires and participants alike would react to having a “local dignitary” on their field for a game. I had it all worked out, all arranged, all prepared (with my wide variety of shirts and gear) to do 6 games, from 10U – 17U. 

The night before, the tournament host (who I have a tremendously trusted and friendly relationship with) called me and proffered to erase my entire schedule and put me on Field #5 – 17Us – all day. He understood and appreciated what I was attempting to do and demonstrate, but it was way too radical of a logistical process. And so, I did 6 games of 17U baseball that Saturday. Now, we had 2 60-90 fields running, so day-of, we rotated partners between the 2 fields, so I got to work with 3 different umpires, 2 games each. 

The point I was making then, and the point I’m making now by recounting this story, is that variety attracts attention and acuity, while monotony imposes stagnation and loss of attention. A change of venue, a change of participant-level, a change of venue (field), a change of partner, hell! – a change of shirt will contribute to rebuilding or rejuvenating your mental acuity.  

[Umpire942]

@MadMax You have allot of valid points.

But not all umpires are built the same.  Yes for an assigner there are pros to 6 same umpires at same field.  But there is also cons.

- The later games, which sometimes on the last day is the semis and championship you might have a worn out umpire.

- Injury, heat exhaustion 

- snubbing out umpires who just cannot do 6 and 6, and will work somewhere else ending up in a churn of your crew.  So when they complain umpire shortage, its not just because of the shortage, you lost your crew because they left or let other assigners in , in which they are no longer dedicated to the assigner.

 

The first bullet point i think is the most important.