Please STOP taking one-man, 90ft, low paying games

[834k3r]

I post this here, because it's a very good take (not perfect, but worth reading) and the article points to issues germane to the shortage of umpires.

https://nypost.com/2024/08/29/sports/sports-tv-remains-bereft-of-dignity-and-common-sense/

[The Man in Blue]

I recommend the companion article (linked in that article) criticizing ESPN and LL.

I won't say that is the major factor driving me away a bit (that would be work), but my personal dedication is certainly waning due to the idiocy permeating the game.  While I will say it feels to me as if umpire abuse is going down, acting like a clown is going up.

[SeeingEyeDog]

Greetings brothers,

     I took two games today, 13U, solo...for $85 per game. Cash at the plate, if that matters. I just wanted to check in and make sure I have not violated the entire Brotherhood based on the subject line of this thread... @concertman1971?

~Dawg

[grayhawk]

44 minutes ago, SeeingEyeDog said:

Greetings brothers,

     I took two games today, 13U, solo...for $85 per game. Cash at the plate, if that matters. I just wanted to check in and make sure I have not violated the entire Brotherhood based on the subject line of this thread... @concertman1971?

~Dawg

 

[The Man in Blue]

[SeeingEyeDog]

2 hours ago, grayhawk said:

 

The next time I am in Oceanside, which will also happen to be the FIRST time I am in Oceanside, I'll take you to The Polo Steakhouse and get you a tomahawk...with the cash from these games, brother. Maybe you'll find it in your stomach errrrr...your heart to allow me to "rise from the dead"...

~Dawg

[grayhawk]

11 hours ago, SeeingEyeDog said:

The next time I am in Oceanside, which will also happen to be the FIRST time I am in Oceanside, I'll take you to The Polo Steakhouse and get you a tomahawk...with the cash from these games, brother. Maybe you'll find it in your stomach errrrr...your heart to allow me to "rise from the dead"...

~Dawg

Deal!

[concertman1971]

19 hours ago, SeeingEyeDog said:

Greetings brothers,

     I took two games today, 13U, solo...for $85 per game. Cash at the plate, if that matters. I just wanted to check in and make sure I have not violated the entire Brotherhood based on the subject line of this thread... @concertman1971?

~Dawg

If you are buying, I don't care HOW much you take games for!! 

[The Man in Blue]

@834k3r … I’m glad somebody finally got that reference.  I figured I was going with too deep of a cut there.

[StrasburgUmp80136]

I'm new to this, but can you define low-paying? I'm getting $75(9-14yr)or $100/game (HS age) for one man games in my area.

[JSam21]

1 hour ago, StrasburgUmp80136 said:

I'm new to this, but can you define low-paying? I'm getting $75(9-14yr)or $100/game (HS age) for one man games in my area.

That's $37.50 and $50 a person... is that the normal game fee for a crew of two?

 

[StrasburgUmp80136]

My apologies, the $75/$100 is for a one umpire game. Two man games are $60 each for youth games & $80 each for High school level games. We earn $50 for machine pitch, but at this time, neither son nor I are planning to call that level.

[The Man in Blue]

8 hours ago, StrasburgUmp80136 said:

I'm new to this, but can you define low-paying? I'm getting $75(9-14yr)or $100/game (HS age) for one man games in my area.

 

Any pay is too low for a one-umpire crew.  Easy.

[JSam21]

15 hours ago, StrasburgUmp80136 said:

My apologies, the $75/$100 is for a one umpire game. Two man games are $60 each for youth games & $80 each for High school level games. We earn $50 for machine pitch, but at this time, neither son nor I are planning to call that level.

So then you should at least be getting $90/$120 for a one umpire game, if not $120/$160. There are many places where we just don't have enough officials, but there are also many places that they just schedule 1 umpire to save money. 

[dumbdumb]

9 hours ago, JSam21 said:

So then you should at least be getting $90/$120 for a one umpire game, if not $120/$160. There are many places where we just don't have enough officials, but there are also many places that they just schedule 1 umpire to save money. 

i go with double work equals double pay $120/$160. i take it, the 75/100 as only getting a 25% raise rather than a 100% raise for 100%/double more work. or you could work it, the 120/160 from the high end and say you are only getting a 50% pay cut on both if you don't like the looks/optics of 100% raise from low to high vs 50% cut high to low.

 

[HumblePie]

Gentlemen ...

I'm going to resurrect this thread because I just called an 11u scrimmage two Fridays ago that called for an umpire on the day-of, because they were only able to schedule the scrimmage that same day, and they just got "stuck" without time to plan.  This is not a case where they were necessarily trying to save money ... they just wanted at least one real umpire calling balls and strikes instead of having a dad or mom step out of the stands to do it.  Normally, I fall into the camp of not calling solo games on principle.  I did this more to appease my assignor than anything else.  If he had not used the word "scrimmage," I likely wouldn't have taken it.

I have umpired in three states, and am about to start in my fourth state in 2025. I have seen all kinds of manipulation by leagues, by coaches, by commissioners, by schools, by ADs, by Tournament Directors, by moms, and by city officials in an effort to save money and milk all they can milk out of impressionable or weak umpires.

I did five years in prison for a vigilante' crime.  I have been intimidated for the last time in my life.  I'm not about to be intimidated by people who have poor planning skills, and play on our sympathies by using the, "Come on, now, it's for the kids" bull****.

BUT .........

I think there are a lot of facts and truths that are being unspoken on this thread that annoy me just as much, perhaps more, from our own fraternity.

I'm currently in Oregon, and I'll state it this way ... the umpiring I.Q. and level of pride to wear the uniform is far superior here than in my last stop (Tennessee).  There could be a hundred different reasons for it, but it's my experience.

I've worked with an umpire who asked a Varsity Coach, classlessly, at the plate meeting, what day we should get paid ... and if the upcoming spring break is gonna cause a delay, because he's got bills to pay.  I've had guys step out of their cars, and before we even fist bumped each other, say, "Man, let's get this S--- overwith ... I'm playing golf this afternoon."  I've had guys literally say, "Let's try to get a mercy rule out of this one."  I've had guys try to impose mercy rules after four innings that didn't exist.  I've had guys make horrendous "out" calls late in games just to "end it" because the score is lopsided.  I've had guys purposely take games they never intended to call, then cancel 30 minutes prior, to allow their partner to fly solo and make double pay or at least time and a half under the guise of a family emergency.  I've had guys take conflicting games from three different assignors, knowing that they would have to turn back two of the three, just to wait as late as they could to take the best offer, then leave the others stranded.  I've had guys cancel on varsity games an hour prior to first pitch because they "forgot their equipment bag, and were coming straight from work."

Anyone who has umpired for even 5 years knows that you wind up with FAR more mercy rules that shorten games than you end up with EXTRA INNINGS games that lengthen them.  I once had a partner walk off the field of an Adult League game because the game was tied 1-1 after 9 innings, and he suddenly didn't feel it was right for us to keep playing without getting paid extra for it.  I finished the game by myself, reported it to the assignor (actually the Head Coach had beat me to it) and he was never used again.

My point is ... there have been enough BAD umpires ... unprofessional umpires ... who tarnish our reputations, that if I can help out a well-meaning coach, or commissioner, or TD, by calling a game solo in a pinch, I'm probably gonna do it.  It's not about the money ... it's about giving him/her a breath of fresh air that says, "Wow ... that guy and his assignor are dependable ... THAT's where we need to go for all our umpires in the future."  If the pinch becomes a habit, then I'm out.

I've got one final tournament to call here in Oregon before I move, and I've already told my assignor that there is one person I refuse to work with.  He starts every game or every day of multiple games with the "Let's get this overwith" crap ... or talks about how tired he is, or about what he gave up to take these games.

My sentiment is, "STAY THE F--- HOME!  I'm here to enjoy my favorite hobby."

Many years ago, there was a particular high school in Middle Tennessee that had a bookkeeper and AD who would do anything and everything to screw the umpires coming to the school to call a Double Header.  The state policy was simple:  If Game 2 was scheduled for no more than 90 minutes later than Game 1, meaning a JV short game followed by a Full Varsity Game, then a DH discount applied.  Otherwise, we were to be paid for 2 distinct games.

This particular school tried to skirt the policy, and they had enough spineless or ignorant umpires who just took what they were given and never complained about it, that I had enough.  I told the bookkeeper one day of her error, and before I finished my sentence, she tried to silence me with the "No one else has ever complained" bulls***.  So, after getting my corrected shortfall 3 weeks later, I stood up in an Association meeting, and in front of our Assignor and all of our Officers, I implored 115 umpires to refuse assignments to this particular school.  I explained that even if you don't mind taking the discount for doing two distinct games, you're screwing all the guys that come behind you, because you've established the wrong precedent.

My Assignor started to freak out, but I stood my ground and told him to use my name when he deals with that school, and I'll testify before the state board over what they are doing.  Wouldn't you know it ... our Assignor finally realized he had no other choice but to tell the school that he could no longer assign them officials until they signed an agreement to abide by all the state's policies, and that if ANY umpire gets paid incorrectly again, he will immediately stop sending them officials.

There's a time to acquiesce, and there is a time to shut it down.

[Velho]

Bro @HumblePie, wow. Thanks. Would love to hear from you a lot more than just the 11 times you've posted. 😁

Sounds like you're going from Oregon to Florida?

[The Man in Blue]

I love about 95% of what you said @HumblePie!

Here is the one issue I have, and where your Friday game went all wrong:

because I just called an 11u scrimmage two Fridays ago that called for an umpire on the day-of, because they were only able to schedule the scrimmage that same day, and they just got "stuck" without time to plan. 

That’s where the problem begins.  A game that just comes together that day is a sandlot game and does not need an umpire.  “Stuck without time to plan” is the problem.  A proper officiating staff MUST be part of the plan.  If they don’t care enough to make us a part of the plan, that tells you how important we really are to them.

If you won’t work for a school trying to screw you out of $15 (or whatever the amount actually was), then why would you work for a group that doesn’t care enough to make sure the umpires are part of their plan.  You are willing to stand up in front of your association (and I applaud that!), but you acquiesce and bail these people out.

[SeeingEyeDog]

I have said it before and I will say it again...yes, most of us working HS and down are independent contractors but, ANYTIME we can see an opportunity to stand together when it comes to game fees, or how we are paid or how often we are paid? WE NEED TO DO THAT.

I'm not saying let's get so militant that we are presenting terms that effectively cause the season to be shutdown but, as umpires, as sports officials we need to understand that WE HOLD THE POWER. You cannot have competitive sports without officials/umpires. In most, NOT ALL, markets it's one association serving the schools and leagues in that area. I suppose in larger metropolitan areas there is some competition from multiple associations but, again the officials and umpires hold the power. We just as a group have not learned how to wield it to our advantage consistently.

This message goes out double hard to our brothers out there who serve schools and leagues without the benefit of an association backing you up. I don't care if you live in a small town with 2 high schools and 5 umpires...if you are not part of an officials/umpire's association, you should start one immediately. Heck, the smaller the group is, the easier it is to form up, consider your position relative to your clients and figure out where the deficiencies are, stand together and negotiate or re-negotiate your terms. Why in 2024 with electronic banking, checks and or good ol' fashioned cold, hard simoleans are some of us waiting 3 to 4 months to get paid because "the culture is" we get paid 3 times per year? Services rendered...payment due...immediately following the game. Let's go!

~Dawg

[HumblePie]

20 hours ago, The Man in Blue said:

I love about 95% of what you said @HumblePie!

Here is the one issue I have, and where your Friday game went all wrong:

because I just called an 11u scrimmage two Fridays ago that called for an umpire on the day-of, because they were only able to schedule the scrimmage that same day, and they just got "stuck" without time to plan. 

That’s where the problem begins.  A game that just comes together that day is a sandlot game and does not need an umpire.  “Stuck without time to plan” is the problem.  A proper officiating staff MUST be part of the plan.  If they don’t care enough to make us a part of the plan, that tells you how important we really are to them.

If you won’t work for a school trying to screw you out of $15 (or whatever the amount actually was), then why would you work for a group that doesn’t care enough to make sure the umpires are part of their plan.  You are willing to stand up in front of your association (and I applaud that!), but you acquiesce and bail these people out.

Thanks, Blue, I always respect your input, and we traded thoughts many times before my 5 years away.

Let me shed just a little light on the situation with my recent 11u scrimmage.  It may not change a thing in your mind, which is fine, but it just wasn't a situation where I was feeling like I had to be a hard a$$.

Thursday night, the Royals, a well-established 10u team who has just turned 11, were trying to book a field time for a practice on Friday, and saw there was only one hour available from 6 - 7.  A brand new 11u travel team, the Colts, had booked the field for their practice from 7 - 8.  The two team moms contacted each other and floated the idea of combining for a scrimmage, wearing their uniforms, taking photos, and getting umpires to make the boys feel legit.  It was the first time some of the boys from the Colts would be pitching with runners off the base.

One of the team moms posted something on FB saying she needed two umpires for a 6pm - 8pm 11u scrimmage.  My assignor contacted her, and tried to get her two umpires, but I was the only one available (many do football on Friday nights) and I had to work at 7:00 pm.  I know my assignor fully explained to her that this was very unusual, but since it was a scrimmage, and not counting for any league, he would get her one "elder" umpire who may be helpful explaining pitching mechanics rather than just calling balks without a teaching element. He went out of his way to explain to her that he doesn't send umpires solo to work games, and that this would be a valid exception.

The original offer was $60 per man with a 1:45 time limit, which wasn't changed when he could only find one, but someone threw a $20 bill in as a tip (I'm guessing), and I made $80, had a good scrimmage, and got to work only 15 minutes late or so, after getting someone to cover for me.  It won't happen again, because I wouldn't even hear about it or know about it if it did ... my assignor would simply tell her no, that was a one-time accommodation. 

I felt good about that.

Comparing the "innocence" of a group of parents putting together a new 11u travel team with the hardened savvy of a Public High School AD and Bookkeeper blatantly trying to buck the system is REALLY comparing apples with oranges.  The former is a little sloppy and learning as they go.  The latter was stealing money.  At that time, a Varsity or JV game paid $80.  A qualified DH paid $135.  They were screwing umps out of $25.  Most of us elder statesmen would have to admit that we're not doing this for the $$$, but the young guys need that $25, and yet they are the ones who aren't savvy enough to fight for it.

And Karma is alive and well in Middle Tennessee.  That school was later audited and busted and fined and humiliated for financial malfeasances (nothing criminal, supposedly).

**One other afterthought:

Another High School, also in Middle Tennessee, once hosted a big tournament which was paying $80 per man per game straight up.  I worked 2 games, and was set to come back the next day.  They handed me my check, but I never looked at it.  I called another umpire who had also worked the tournament, and the same comptroller who handed him and his partner checks for $160, handed me and my partner checks for $135.  When I got to the park on Sunday (Day 2), I asked to see her, and I asked her to her face, how is it that she's paying certain guys $135 for two games and other guys $160 for two games.

Her reply, "I was told to try to pay the DH rate unless we receive pushback, and then to pay the $80 per game rate."

I asked her,
"And you can sleep at night? By whom were you told to do this?" 

She wouldn't say. Clearly, it was her boss, who was the high school's AD.

I handed her back my first check and told her unless I receive a corrected check for Day 1, and unless my partner receives the same, and unless I receive an accurate check before the first pitch for Day 2, I'll be heading home and taking my partner with me.

I called my assignor and reported all this, and one by one, he discovered that 5 other umps had been underpaid.

That is the quintessential definition of stealing money.

[HumblePie]

On 10/23/2024 at 11:07 AM, Velho said:

Bro @HumblePie, wow. Thanks. Would love to hear from you a lot more than just the 11 times you've posted. 😁

Sounds like you're going from Oregon to Florida?

Georgia, actually, outside of Atlanta.  I believe I worked 114 baseball games in my brief stop here in Oregon, but it was a wonderful 5 months.  Georgia, as I'm sure you know, has 10 times as much baseball as Oregon.

[Velho]

5 hours ago, HumblePie said:

Georgia, actually, outside of Atlanta

👍 I used to live in Dunwoody and worked in Marietta.

I think I've been driving through your Oregon working area going to/from Eugene for my son (Scoducks!).

[Biscuit]

On 10/25/2024 at 5:56 AM, HumblePie said:

Georgia, actually, outside of Atlanta.  I believe I worked 114 baseball games in my brief stop here in Oregon, but it was a wonderful 5 months.  Georgia, as I'm sure you know, has 10 times as much baseball as Oregon.

Oh, you NEED to get in contact with United Umpires if you're out in that neck of the woods. They are a phenomenal group run by and for umpires. They are changing the way umpire training is done, and you're right where they are there. They assign a bunch of college stuff out there (if you're looking for that), but they also do a bunch of youth stuff in the Atlanta area. Connot reccomend them enough. 

[Richvee]

On 11/3/2024 at 9:58 PM, Biscuit said:

Oh, you NEED to get in contact with United Umpires if you're out in that neck of the woods. They are a phenomenal group run by and for umpires. They are changing the way umpire training is done, and you're right where they are there. They assign a bunch of college stuff out there (if you're looking for that), but they also do a bunch of youth stuff in the Atlanta area. Connot reccomend them enough. 

Specifically Lakepoint. I think United runs the whole umpiring program there. And yes, their training is top notch.