RE-introduction

[WIUMP]

I used to be active on here about a decade ago when I was a rookie umpire. Back then I worked a bunch of summer HS games (when WI still had sanctioned summer baseball) along with some youth/travel ball. I even had the chance to work a 14U championship with @MadMax.

Around the time Wisconsin moved to a single spring HS season, I became a varsity head coach and later an athletic director, so my umpiring opportunities mostly disappeared. I still picked up a few games here and there and spent a few summers assigning for an inner-city league.

Fast forward to now: I’m no longer coaching, but part of my role as AD is overseeing baseball for our district. After losing a long-time assigner, we’ve had a rough time finding quality, competent umpires (and yes… sober ones—unfortunately not a joke). 😅 So this year I’m getting back on the field myself. I’m also implementing an internal umpire-rating system for our conference and hope to take over some or all of the assigning next year.

[orangebird]

The sober part has reinforced every stereotype I've ever heard about Wisconsin lol  

[DerekGDS]

Welcome back!

[johnnyg08]

On 3/4/2026 at 9:47 PM, Matthew Turner said:

I’m also implementing an internal umpire-rating system for our conference and hope to take over some or all of the assigning next year.

Who is doing the rating? 

[WIUMP]

10 hours ago, johnnyg08 said:

Who is doing the rating? 

Head coaches. Our state rating data is not shared with schools. It is used only for determining playoff assignments.

Truth be told, I'd really love to have a system where a master umpire evaluates umpires in our conference. Unfortunately, I'm the most experienced umpire in the employ of the district and our current assignor is probably not capable of offering that level of support. We would have to build some infrastructure before that could happen.

[The Man in Blue]

Thank you for putting up instead of shutting up, @Matthew Turner!

Just curious, does Wisconsin share that rating data with the umpires?  I ask because Illinois does not.  Additionally, I have been told the rating is simply a 1-5 star system with no real feedback.

I appreciate what you are trying to do.  I have had casual conversations with an assignor here about doing evaluations for him.  This would allow him to provide his schools access to better umpires, OR to show them he is working to develop umpires for them.   I cannot get out of school early enough to comfortably work a full HS schedule.  I have a hard time getting to a game for proper pre-game duties.  I can get there about game time though.  Right now, he has me working games with newer guys that he is not familiar with and providing feedback that way.

[johnnyg08]

3 hours ago, Matthew Turner said:

Head coaches. Our state rating data is not shared with schools. It is used only for determining playoff assignments.

Truth be told, I'd really love to have a system where a master umpire evaluates umpires in our conference. Unfortunately, I'm the most experienced umpire in the employ of the district and our current assignor is probably not capable of offering that level of support. We would have to build some infrastructure before that could happen.

Thanks. We used to have coaches ratings in our state and there were significant data between the winning and losing coaches. Winning coaches consistently rated the umpires higher. Coaches who know nothing about umpiring are trying to rate the umpires. 

I understand what you're doing and I think it's a step in the right direction. 

Good luck. 

[orangebird]

Yeah I mean I haven't worked an actual HS game yet, let alone tried to organize anything like this, but I'd assume any coach-based rating system needs some way to highlight what's honest feedback vs a sore loser coach to really be helpful

[WIUMP]

50 minutes ago, The Man in Blue said:

Thank you for putting up instead of shutting up, @Matthew Turner!

Just curious, does Wisconsin share that rating data with the umpires?  I ask because Illinois does not.  Additionally, I have been told the rating is simply a 1-5 star system with no real feedback.

I appreciate what you are trying to do.  I have had casual conversations with an assignor hear about doing evaluations for him.  This would allow him to provide his schools access to better umpires, OR to show them he is working to develop umpires for them.   I cannot get out of school early enough to comfortably work a full HS schedule.  I have a hard time getting to a game for proper pre-game duties.  I can get there about game time though.  Right now, he has me working games with newer guys that he is not familiar with and providing feedback that way.

If I recall, umpires can see their year-to-date average, three- or five- year average, and the state year-to-date average.

As an athletic director, I would like to see more evaluation of officials across all team sports. With challenges scheduling officials, though, I'd rather hire that official for a contest than have them show up to evaluate the other officials. In your situation, it seems like a logical solution and great opportunity for that assignor/association.

[WIUMP]

This is definitely a weakness of the system. I think if it helps us weed out the umpires committing egregious offenses, like umpiring under the influence, it will be useful. We're definitely not in a position to nit pick umpires. Adding a degree of accountability is the goal.

[WIUMP]

UPDATE:

I've got a handful of games under my belt. Eight varsity. One JV. 

Observations:

• Gear: F3 mask. Scull cap. Enduro. F3 shins.
  • F3 mask + scull cap combo is taking a while to get used to. I'm committed to make it work. I don't like the feeling of the mask sitting on the brim but tightening the straps to pull it into my forehead makes it almost impossible to remove without the scully flying off. I'm probably thinking of it too much like a catcher setup.
  • Enduro is superb. I love the mobility. I struggled to throw balls back to the pitcher with my Schutt VX. The Schutt breathed a little better but the added mobility of the Enduro makes up for the slightly more swampy environment.
• I started the season using the venerated All-Star indicator but found it to be heavy. Switched to an aluminum Japanese model which felt better in my hand but the sharper corners are tearing up the bottom left corner of my mask. Worked today without an indicator. As it turns out, I can count to four without aid.
• Every partner I've had to this point, seems to be in a hurry to get up to the field. There's no need to watch teams take their pregame. Let's relax, have a pregame discussion, maybe a quick snack, and not worry about policing pregame protocols.
• No one seems to know rules changes from the last four years. P2P conferences, pitching positions, play cards on belts, etc. Umpires included. Exception: jewelry. All the players know they can bling out with as many gaudy faux gold chains as their neck will support.
• Double digit balks so far. I haven't had a game without calling a balk.
• On-field coaches not in uniform in three games. 
• Worked a Varsity game in a small town about 40 minute outside of the city. Partner was the Chief of Police. Everyone addressed him as "Chief." I thought they were being extremely informal until I put the pieces together. Game management wasn't an issue.
• I had my first dugout-to-catcher comm device today. They were faster getting pitches called when they had comm trouble in the first inning and had to resort to traditional signals.
• I wish someone would do legit evaluations. I want constructive, hurt-my-feelings feedback from an unbiased party.
• I worked a game for the school I am the AD at, a school I was the head coach at, and a game with my alma matter. All parties were aware of my current and past affiliations. No issues.

[grayhawk]

1 hour ago, WIUMP said:

I started the season using the venerated All-Star indicator but found it to be heavy.

Do you even lift, bro?

[jimurrayalterego]

3 hours ago, WIUMP said:

UPDATE:

I've got a handful of games under my belt. Eight varsity. One JV. 

 

• •  I struggled to throw balls back to the pitcher with my Schutt VX. 

Give them to F2 unless he's off in space watching a foul ball🙂. That's when you can show off your gun to the.........

[WIUMP]

2 minutes ago, jimurrayalterego said:

Give them to F2 unless he's off in space watching a foul ball🙂. That's when you can show off your gun to the.........

I don't throw it back often, usually when the catcher goes to the fence for a potential play on a foul ball. But I like to know that I'm able to show off the howitzer. There are other mobility advantages as well.

Maybe I'll pull a Doug Eddings next time I have the plate. Need to get that work in for my 45+ mens league start.

[Velho]

3 hours ago, WIUMP said:

F3 mask + scull cap combo is taking a while to get used to. I'm committed to make it work. I don't like the feeling of the mask sitting on the brim but tightening the straps to pull it into my forehead makes it almost impossible to remove without the scully flying off. I'm probably thinking of it too much like a catcher setup.

Not suggesting it but you reminded me - I've seen at least 2 MLB PUs take that take their helmet (I assume it's a helmet) and mask off as a unit. Gabe Morales and one other (I didn't look up the name).

3 hours ago, WIUMP said:

I wish someone would do legit evaluations. I want constructive, hurt-my-feelings feedback from an unbiased party.

You don't get this from the teams and crowd every game? Oh, unbiased.. got it. (Joking aside, I love this and am blessed to have multiple partners where this is the norm).

[WIUMP]

41 minutes ago, Velho said:

Not suggesting it but you reminded me - I've seen at least 2 MLB PUs take that take their helmet (I assume it's a helmet) and mask off as a unit. Gabe Morales and one other (I didn't look up the name).

That was a consideration but I suffer from a severe case of hat-head. While my genes blessed me with a full head of hair into my mid-40s, my semi-curly locks can get unwieldy. Think Kosmo Cramer with a bad hair day. I'm not trying to win a beauty contest but I don't want to scare the women and children.

[grayhawk]

4 hours ago, WIUMP said:

Double digit balks so far. I haven't had a game without calling a balk.

You might be trying too hard to find balks. 10 or more in 9 games with 8 of them varsity? I'm guessing most of them are no stops? Don't make a balk your best call.

[WIUMP]

8 hours ago, grayhawk said:

You might be trying too hard to find balks. 10 or more in 9 games with 8 of them varsity? I'm guessing most of them are no stops? Don't make a balk your best call.

Possibly. But I don't feel like I'm watching for balks. I try to keep a soft focus on the pitcher rather than having laser eyes.

I should mention that about half of the varsity games are lower level, often urban programs where many players don't have the opportunity to receive coaching outside of the 12 weeks of high school ball.

I've also had a good number of obvious ones.

• Pitcher stops mid-delivery when catcher says "step off."
• Feint to 1B without disengaging.
• Pitcher "winds up" from set position foot placement.
• Pitcher goes to mouth and then directly to ball.
• Several start-stop that were too obvious to "not see."
• Pitching without coming set with hand together.

I also had a pitcher taking signs while not engaged with the rubber. The game was 15-0 at that point and the VT was out of pitching. I called time and had the SS explain the rule to the pitcher.

[MadMax]

15 hours ago, WIUMP said:

I wish someone would do legit evaluations. I want constructive, hurt-my-feelings feedback from an unbiased party.

When’s / Where’s your next game? I’ll bring my (infamous) clipboard! 

And I promise to say much, much more than, “Guhr, your timing was good.”

[BLarson]

On 4/25/2026 at 10:40 PM, WIUMP said:

That was a consideration but I suffer from a severe case of hat-head. While my genes blessed me with a full head of hair into my mid-40s, my semi-curly locks can get unwieldy. Think Kosmo Cramer with a bad hair day. I'm not trying to win a beauty contest but I don't want to scare the women and children.

I'm 56 and same, except mines grey.   I wear a headband under my helmet, like a skull wrap headband.

I could get a short hair cut, but, eh, I still have a lot of hair, might as well flaunt it

 

[Velho]

23 minutes ago, BLarson said:

I could get a short hair cut, but, eh, I still have a lot of hair, might as well flaunt it

[834k3r]

On 4/26/2026 at 6:06 AM, WIUMP said:

I should mention that about half of the varsity games are lower level, often urban programs where many players don't have the opportunity to receive coaching outside of the 12 weeks of high school ball.

If not all your games are varsity--especially if the kids are not entirely proficient--I'd suggest loosening up your balk calls (pregaming it with your partner, of course).

[concertman1971]

On 4/25/2026 at 7:53 PM, Velho said:

Not suggesting it but you reminded me - I've seen at least 2 MLB PUs take that take their helmet (I assume it's a helmet) and mask off as a unit. Gabe Morales and one other (I didn't look up the name)

@tpatience has entered the chat

 

[Velho]

1 hour ago, concertman1971 said:

On 4/25/2026 at 7:53 PM, Velho said:

Not suggesting it but you reminded me - I've seen at least 2 MLB PUs take that take their helmet (I assume it's a helmet) and mask off as a unit. Gabe Morales and one other (I didn't look up the name)

@tpatience has entered the chat

Saw a third yesterday. What's the tea T?

[tpatience]

8 hours ago, concertman1971 said:

@tpatience has entered the chat

 

I’d do it more if I had better hair