Post-LLWS critique (from the cheap seats)

[DevildogUmp]

Sitting here in my living room, I have come up with the following from this year's World Series:

1. The umpires this year, as a whole, are probably the best I've seen recently at Williamsport behind the plate. I didn't see every game, but I didn't see any of the opposite batter's box strikes that seem to creep in every year.

2. You can tell which umpires are pointers outside of Williamsport. Not sure why LL has a bee in their bonnet for the hammer, but all of the guys I saw did a great job make the transition with a few hesitations where it looked like they wanted to point and remembered to hammer.

3. Not sure what book they use for their rotations, but it doesn't match what is being taught at regions. U2 going out on all fly balls, full rotation with RISP. Little things that would make it easier if the whole organization was working from the same book.

4. Speaking of rotations, they looked good. If one was missed (and I didn't notice one) the crew covered.

And now for my soapbox:

I hope Little League prepped the 16 selected umpires that the crew chiefs were going to be working so many games. Everything I heard prior to the series was the crew chiefs were supposed to be mentors to help guide guys getting to that stage for the first time. In my opinion that does not translate to working a full rotation starting on day three and then having 2 crew chiefs on each of the US and International final games and then 2 of the chiefs coming right back on the final game. What I take that to mean is that LLI either has not given the Regional evaluators and staff to appropriate guidance on what they want from an assigned umpire or (and I really doubt this) the Regions know and basically don't follow that guidance. Of the 16 umpires assigned to the tournament, 1 only worked 4 games and 1 worked 5 games. Only 4 assigned umpires worked more games than the crew chiefs. They didn't even give the assigned umpires a full rotation of a game at each spot before dropping the crew chiefs into the games (btw, once in, the crew chiefs worked a normal rotation around the diamond). 3 assigned umpires didn't get a shot at each position. Out of the 16 assigned umpires, only 6 were considered good enough to do the last 3 games? To me that is a LL problem that they took out on the guys they assigned.

The amount of time and effort that umpires put into being selected for the World Series - working local, district, section, state, and regional tournaments (and some of them have done another level World Series), over a good amount of years - plus paying your own travel for those tournaments (I know there is some assistance), taking time off of their regular job (both for the 2 weeks of the tournament, plus the week training session earlier this year), personally I feel like it is almost a slap in the face to sit someone on the bench after day 4. 

It sounds like going forward Little League is going to implement a camp program that anyone wanting to get Regional or World Series assignments will have to attend in order to be evaluated by LLI. That is great if that is where they want to go in the future, but it really looks like this year, LL punished those guys who got a ticket under the current system.

Matt

[tpatience]

It wasn’t a punishment. They put the best umpires on the field. Some of the umpires  are just better than others 

[JonnyCat]

1 hour ago, DevildogUmp said:

It sounds like going forward Little League is going to implement a camp program that anyone wanting to get Regional or World Series assignments will have to attend in order to be evaluated by LLI. That is great if that is where they want to go in the future, but it really looks like this year, LL punished those guys who got a ticket under the current system.

Full disclosure, I personally know 2 of the umpires that were there this year, one that was selected, and one that was a crew chief.

With that being said, I agree that some of the umpires were shortchanged. True, the umpiring was better from what I saw, as well. However, LL's failure, IMO, was they used the old system to SELECT the umpires, while implementing the new system for working games. That was not right to this incoming class.

There is an orientation at Williamsport prior to the world series that all selected umpires attended. I believe it was in May, or somewhere around there. It was basically a mini clinic working on rotations, cage work, etc. At that orientation, LL flat out told those umpires that some of them might not even get any plates, and might not be working many games, especially towards the end. That's fine if you want to implement a different system moving forward, but that was way different than past years, and not at all what the umpires were expecting. LL changed it up at the last minute and I think may of the umpires were blindsided by the new policies.

I was not a fan of how the crew chiefs were used. I though they worked way too many games. I didn't feel it was fair to those umpires that hardly worked any games. Again, if LL wants better umpires, it's their show, but to change it up midway like this was a little unfair.

The system will be much different going forward. Gone are the days of rewarding long time volunteers with a regional or WS. You should see better umpires in future events, but it's going to hurt those umpires in some States that are far away from regional centers, and either can't travel to the new ID camps, or are just not well know enough to be even offered an invitation.

As far as the rotations go, that's a directive from LL. They want U1 locked all the time with runners in scoring position, unless going out on a trouble ball. They never come inside to split with RISP. U3 always busts up to the working area when U2 goes out, regardless of RISP or not.

I used that rotation for a few games this year when working with my friend that worked the WS, he wanted to practice it. It actually has it's merits on the small diamond, so it's worth a look. I didn't find it as bad as I though I would. It's actually not bad.

[dumbdumb]

so, they are using the ole right field line type umpire for a 5 game division series method. wonder where that came from.

and the group above eliminated any possibility of an umpire getting 2 plate assignments in a 7th game scenario.

and so

they are "intentionally and pre-meditatedly" setting up some umpires for extra/more lifetime opportunities (eric lindros syndrome) to get a serious concussion/heart punch versus others, just like intentionally and pre-meditatedly throwing at an opponents head, but without having to try and read their minds, since they intentionally and pre-meditatedly know they are setting them up for this.

sounds fair that the greatest/of the greatest/of the greatest/best of the best/of the best get all those intentional extra lifetime opportunities (eric lindros syndrome) to get an extra intentional lifetime possibilities of a career ending injury situation right on national tv in person in front of their family.

and yes, they should just tell everyone in the original invitation (not once they get to Williamsport for the May orientation, that not because there are not enough games, but because you are not good enough), starting now, that you may not work as a PU and are just a BU, so they have the opportunity to decline the invitation to start with and not even go to orientation.

and you can take a waiver and stick it, cause they do not have to set things up like this (no plate work and only base work) and more intentional concussion opportunities for some more than others, they are intentionally doing it that way versus the old way.

[ArchAngel72]

From what I heard.  

LL is done with taking DA's and etc. word on who is a really good umpire.  They are now holding evaluation classes and etc. and even having instructors invite nominated umpires to their area if local to do games in front of them.  1 for critique and 2. for instruction.  Least that is what happened in my area.  It worked well and they do weed out Umpires whom they feel are not up to snuff, whether it be they are not doing the calls like they instructed and or just do not handle the pressure of a situational game like that well. Which imho knowingly being evaluated can and will put more stress on an umpire.  Its not that big game but it can and will induce pressure to perform.

After that they were called to a camp later on to go over calls and rotation and etc.. 

Myself being introduced to this rotation, I wont say it was new to me but yeah I had not done it before. 

 

[Vegas_Ump]

First, I agree that the degree of standardization was the best I've ever seen.

Second, I think all the umpires were US (maybe Canada).  Thus they all had been to some Regional Clinic and likely a Regional tournament to get a high-level evaluation.  Without a didactic WPort standardized training, the variations among the umpires from their respective Regions was minimal, IMO.  So maybe some of the basics taught at Regional clinics probably had some Headquarters' spin.

I saw a lot of games, and I did recognize three of my buds--one of whom did the plate at the championship.  In all the games, I thought the zones were pretty consistent and the rotations were pretty crisp.

Having done EMEA three times, I fear some of the umpire development programs overseas has suffered, likely due to COVID and the Ukraine War.  But some of those umps are really quality officials.  It's going to take years to settle all this out, but we need mentors to go overseas and run clinics.  Try to get a Regional Clinic that's as involved as let's say WR Clinic.  I'd volunteer for that.

I think the umps pretty much were transparent.  They all hustled, and they made it a great tournament.

Cheers!

Mike

Las Vegas, D-4, WR-2017