I need to vent

[Richvee]

OK, Here goes....

I've been doing this a while..16 years. 14 high school varsity, 7 Juco, D3. Without sounding overly cocky, I think I'm a damn good umpire.

   I've seen and heard all the horror stories about poor sportsmanship, confrontational parents, etc. Sure, I've experienced it, but it's been on rare occasions, and the overwhelming amount of the times, I've had respectful coaches, players, and to a lesser extent parents. 

   Fast forward to this year. I thought it was me. I was starting to think my zone was inconsistent. Starting to think my judgement might be off. I know I'm getting slower. Maybe it's affecting my game. 

   I've been talking with some trusted colleagues, and it seems it's not me. The umpire hate is reaching new levels. The overall tone of the games, attitudes, it's filled with anger. Dirty looks from hitters from every close strike, looks of astonishment from fielders on safe calls that aren't even that close. Batter runners stomping up and down when they're put out at first by a full step. Fielder yelling a runner is off the bag when I'm right there looking at a hand on the top of the bag, coaches looking for help on routine plays, (Not asking ..Demanding "You GOTTA GET HELP). Grief on check swings, no matter if I call a strike as PU, or go for help...As BU, whatever I call on an appeal, I'm gonna hear crap from the other side.

    I had to give a college coach an official ball/Strike warning in the 8th inning with his team leading 22-1. Another one a few days ago after his starter walked 7 in 2+ innings...Most were pitches his catcher couldn't even catch. Besides the ball/strike stuff, these aren't issues or actions that require warnings/ejections. Just ornery attitudes... No one's happy with anything. Yesterday, as we're leaving the field of a home team run rule win, a group of passive- aggressive Dad's start in as we pass loud enough to be sure we're hearing them "Every call goes against us, they all suck this year. They got it out for us. Where do they find these guys?  They won by 12, yet they still found the need to make sure we heard them talking about how much we suck and that foul ball my partner called against their team in the second inning. ...  Last week we're leaving a college field and after we pass a group of ignorant morons who were on us from the start we hear "Better luck next time, blue." It's taking a lot of strength to ignore.

  I thought it was me until yesterday. I got calls from two colleagues in the span of a few hours lamenting the sme issues, and questioning if they want to do this anymore....It's not been fun this year" is what I'm hearing over and over.  

    Is it a bad stretch? Are attitudes worse? Am I worse? ....I'm rained out today. and you know what? Part of me is thinking "Thank God". I don't like feeling that. I want this to be enjoyable. It has been for 16 years, with the occasional misbehaviour here and there. This year it's rampant. The table has completely turned. The polite, no issue games have become the outliers.

   I'm going to put a big part of the blame on social media and the amount of umpire hate being spewed. From national media outlets, to Joe fan's ignorant hatred...It's trickle down to where players, coaches and parents all bring their keyboard warrior mentality to the field.

    Or.. Is this the way it is across the country, and somehow I've avoided it for the most part for 16 years?. 

   

[BLWizzRanger]

Maannnn, I got something raw and knawling at me but it is too soon to spill.  But, let's just say I left the field with someone hollering 'Hey Blue! You still suck!"  for all to hear including the herd of cows across the valley.

I hear you brother.

[wolfe_man]

For the record, thanks for sharing. I think there are far more of us out there feeling this way, but too many won't speak up for fear of others poking fun. 

First off, man, I'm so sorry.   I fully understand and sympathize with what you're experiencing. So far, the kids have been mostly okay - but I've been doing mostly 9th/JV until I was sure I could handle the speed of Varsity without issue. 

While this year hasn't been as bad as the last one I worked yet, I do feel like fan and coach behavior especially is getting worse.  Typically, the higher the level, the less issues I have with players and fans, but not always true with the coaches.  They can be jerks just trying to throw you off your game for the fun of it or get in your head so you'll call something their way the next time.  But I know you're familiar with all that.

I believe that you are correct in laying the blame at the feet of social media.  There is definitely an anti-umpire bias out there, I've even seen pages called "umpire hate" groups that supposedly post where they believe an umpire has missed a call.  You will notice there's never any substance to their post, just overall hate towards the profession. 

I'm sorry again though.  When these start piling up over a few games, it does get you to start asking "is this worth continuing".   When I'm hurting and doing my best just to get back on the field and giving it everything I've got and then parents are jerks, it does take a lot of internal calming to keep yourself from letting them know all you've done to get there and call a game so their kids could play... and them complain.

Hang in there if you can.  Whatever your decision is, I will support you as a friend and brother.  

 

 

 

[Marcus6]

Umpiring has definitely lost some of its luster at least at the high school levels, over the past 15-20 years IMO. Part of it is the abuse/comments and part of it is the game fees not making it worth a lot of people's time.

[SeeingEyeDog]

@Richvee, I am seeing this in my market as well. It used to be poor losers crying and complaining about the umpiring and now we're seeing "poor winners" who didn't even need umpires on their game as they beat their opponents by 15, 20 or 25 runs...it really is bizarre. What's ironic is when I talk to guys who were umpiring in the 2000s and 1990s they tell me it was worse in those days.

As for the walk from the field back to the cars...think about your route out as you are walking IN. Is there an outfield gate or a foul territory gate past either dugout that you could use on the way out? Nobody likes a long walk back and forth from cars to the field but, are you parking as out of the way as possible? Away from where the team buses might be and the bulk of fan parking? Conduct your post-game as efficiently as possible and depart the facility as efficiently as possible.

I think the saddest part of this entire situation is...NOBODY, nobody thinks they are the problem. No coach, parent or player thinks they have ever said anything inappropriate or abusive towards an official. It's not golf...I get it. Officials are always going to hear something negative about their work from fans whose team the calls go against but, there's room for improvement and nobody is interested in improving the culture except the officials. And I'm sure coaches, parents would say, we don't have to respect the officials...that's what the money's for.

One thing's for sure...nobody loves sports like the officials. Why else would we put up with it decade after decade? And even if we did blow the call and your kid lost the Intergalactic Champeenchip Of Duh World? So what...it's a god damn game. They're kids. They will experience far WORSE disappointments as adults then anything that will ever happen to them on a baseball field as a kid.

~Dawg

[grayhawk]

Nah Rich, it's you

Seriously, sorry you've had a rough year. I can't say I've seen a difference between this year and previous years, but I did have an ejection of an assistant coach and I haven't had one for a while. I suspect most of the issues you've had have been in HS and not college? I know you mentioned some idiotic fans at a college game, but this is more the exception I hope?

Hang in there and just make sure you and your brothers have each others' backs. They're the only ones that matter.

[Richvee]

2 hours ago, grayhawk said:

Nah Rich, it's you

Seriously, sorry you've had a rough year. I can't say I've seen a difference between this year and previous years, but I did have an ejection of an assistant coach and I haven't had one for a while. I suspect most of the issues you've had have been in HS and not college? I know you mentioned some idiotic fans at a college game, but this is more the exception I hope?

Hang in there and just make sure you and your brothers have each others' backs. They're the only ones that matter.

It's actually been both. The ball/Strike warning was a coach up by 18 in the eighth. I'm chalking it all up to just a bad run of games/teams. rainout today, off day tomorrow for a wedding. Hopefully a reset for 2 college DH's this weekend. 

[grayhawk]

3 minutes ago, Richvee said:

It's actually been both. The ball/Strike warning was a coach up by 18 in the eighth. I'm chalking it all up to just a bad run of games/teams. rainout today, off day tomorrow for a wedding. Hopefully a reset for 2 college DH's this weekend. 

Hope they all go well! Heading into JUCO Regionals this weekend. U1 tomorrow, then PU for Regional final Sunday and U3 for the IF game.

[Richvee]

3 minutes ago, grayhawk said:

Hope they all go well! Heading into JUCO Regionals this weekend. U1 tomorrow, then PU for Regional final Sunday and U3 for the IF game.

Congrats on the regionals. Have fun!! D3 playoff implication regular season DH Saturday, Juco finishing off the season Sunday, and a Juco playoff next Saturday. That finishes off college for the year. 

I'm also struggling with what the future holds for me. I'm getting slower, aching more. I'm not sure the travel and grind of college ball is worth it much longer. Weekend Dh's mean out at 9AM the latest, probably 1-2 hour drive, home around 7-8 PM. It's wearing me out. But the ball and money is good. It's the northeast, and especially this year, the weather sucks.(we're still in the 50's..low 40's at night) Being out there in 25-30 weather makes me question my sanity. The friendships and comradery of college ball is second to none. Weighing the pros and cons....I need to figure it out.  

[grayhawk]

19 minutes ago, Richvee said:

Congrats on the regionals. Have fun!! D3 playoff implication regular season DH Saturday, Juco finishing off the season Sunday, and a Juco playoff next Saturday. That finishes off college for the year. 

I'm also struggling with what the future holds for me. I'm getting slower, aching more. I'm not sure the travel and grind of college ball is worth it much longer. Weekend Dh's mean out at 9AM the latest, probably 1-2 hour drive, home around 7-8 PM. It's wearing me out. But the ball and money is good. It's the northeast, and especially this year, the weather sucks.(we're still in the 50's..low 40's at night) Being out there in 25-30 weather makes me question my sanity. The friendships and comradery of college ball is second to none. Weighing the pros and cons....I need to figure it out.  

I'm happy that my furthest travel time is about an hour. DHs are a grind, especially when it's two 9s. 

[Marcus6]

Not sure if others are seeing this, but “by me” there’s a lot of turnover of high school coaches and you’re getting younger and younger head coaches who don’t have relationships with umpires and/or “don’t know how to act.” The days of the 20-30 year head coach by us are really over. I think that feeds into a lot of the chirping, complaining, and problems.

[SH0102]

8 hours ago, Richvee said:

OK, Here goes....

I've been doing this a while..16 years. 14 high school varsity, 7 Juco, D3. Without sounding overly cocky, I think I'm a damn good umpire.

   I've seen and heard all the horror stories about poor sportsmanship, confrontational parents, etc. Sure, I've experienced it, but it's been on rare occasions, and the overwhelming amount of the times, I've had respectful coaches, players, and to a lesser extent parents. 

   Fast forward to this year. I thought it was me. I was starting to think my zone was inconsistent. Starting to think my judgement might be off. I know I'm getting slower. Maybe it's affecting my game. 

   I've been talking with some trusted colleagues, and it seems it's not me. The umpire hate is reaching new levels. The overall tone of the games, attitudes, it's filled with anger. Dirty looks from hitters from every close strike, looks of astonishment from fielders on safe calls that aren't even that close. Batter runners stomping up and down when they're put out at first by a full step. Fielder yelling a runner is off the bag when I'm right there looking at a hand on the top of the bag, coaches looking for help on routine plays, (Not asking ..Demanding "You GOTTA GET HELP). Grief on check swings, no matter if I call a strike as PU, or go for help...As BU, whatever I call on an appeal, I'm gonna hear crap from the other side.

    I had to give a college coach an official ball/Strike warning in the 8th inning with his team leading 22-1. Another one a few days ago after his starter walked 7 in 2+ innings...Most were pitches his catcher couldn't even catch. Besides the ball/strike stuff, these aren't issues or actions that require warnings/ejections. Just ornery attitudes... No one's happy with anything. Yesterday, as we're leaving the field of a home team run rule win, a group of passive- aggressive Dad's start in as we pass loud enough to be sure we're hearing them "Every call goes against us, they all suck this year. They got it out for us. Where do they find these guys?  They won by 12, yet they still found the need to make sure we heard them talking about how much we suck and that foul ball my partner called against their team in the second inning. ...  Last week we're leaving a college field and after we pass a group of ignorant morons who were on us from the start we hear "Better luck next time, blue." It's taking a lot of strength to ignore.

  I thought it was me until yesterday. I got calls from two colleagues in the span of a few hours lamenting the sme issues, and questioning if they want to do this anymore....It's not been fun this year" is what I'm hearing over and over.  

    Is it a bad stretch? Are attitudes worse? Am I worse? ....I'm rained out today. and you know what? Part of me is thinking "Thank God". I don't like feeling that. I want this to be enjoyable. It has been for 16 years, with the occasional misbehaviour here and there. This year it's rampant. The table has completely turned. The polite, no issue games have become the outliers.

   I'm going to put a big part of the blame on social media and the amount of umpire hate being spewed. From national media outlets, to Joe fan's ignorant hatred...It's trickle down to where players, coaches and parents all bring their keyboard warrior mentality to the field.

    Or.. Is this the way it is across the country, and somehow I've avoided it for the most part for 16 years?. 

   

Rich,

I don’t know you but I know what organization you work for. 

the comment “nothing warrants an ejection” is not accurate. USC warnings are team warnings, use them, and use them early. 
 

guys stomping, throwing arms up, saying things are demonstrative actions and are USC. Shut it down, give that official warning the ncaa loves, and then eject someone if they don’t stop.

also, If you feel you’re almost done who cares?

I won’t say where but I had a series this year, first 2 games were church (blowouts), third game was competitive and got very chippy. We issued warnings to both teams, half inning later we had an ejection. Rest of game 3 and game 4 were church. Shoot the first monkey, the rest of the barrel falls in line.

I know those tests and answers make it seem like we can’t warn and eject much, but our job is to control the game.

i am not saying go be a red-a$$, but if the grind is so bad you’re miserable, you’re at the warn and eject if it continues stage.

fans, nothing can do there; try to find humor in their ridiculousness

best wishes for last couple weeks

[Kevin_K]

I have had worked several games with @Richvee this year and probably close to a hundred with him in total. He and I are good friends and I enjoy working with him, poking fun at each other, and sometimes getting dinner after games.

He and I have had the "Is this worth it?" conversation this year and I am beginning to think there is merit in considering hanging 'em up, especially for those 9-10 hour DH days for JUCO.

Rich is a very good umpire who is technically sound and has good judgment on the field (I did say we were friends, so off the field judgment may be suspect). I think I do a pretty  good job on the field as well and I am seeing a lot more of the stink eye, the histrionics from pitchers, and catchers shrugging when the dugout asks about location. I also officiate volleyball and I have issued more yellow cards this year than in several seasons combined.

Perhaps the solution lies with the tools at our disposal that maybe we need to use more often. Rich and I were working a bad JUCO DH when there was an unnecessarily hard tag at 3B from a team that had been getting its ass handed to them all day and of course the runner had to come up shoving F5. I got in both of their faces and used language I probably shouldn't have but my aggressiveness immediately got their attention and the situation was diffused. I also had to issue my first official ball/strike warning this year to a team losing by 15 runs in the third inning. Truth told, I kind of relish doing those things sometimes.

Like @SH0102 just mentioned and @BigUmpire used to say frequently, shooting one monkey usually gets the other to fall in line. Maybe that approach will work. Maybe not, but at least you may have the chance to work on your ejection mechanics. And fans aren't worth anything except the check they write for teams to pay our game fees. I treat them like red-headed step children (sorry gingers).

Keep at it Rich. You enjoy this too much to let the rats take it away from you. 

 

 

[Richvee]

1 hour ago, SH0102 said:

Rich,

I don’t know you but I know what organization you work for. 

the comment “nothing warrants an ejection” is not accurate. USC warnings are team warnings, use them, and use them early. 
 

guys stomping, throwing arms up, saying things are demonstrative actions and are USC. Shut it down, give that official warning the ncaa loves, and then eject someone if they don’t stop.

also, If you feel you’re almost done who cares?

I won’t say where but I had a series this year, first 2 games were church (blowouts), third game was competitive and got very chippy. We issued warnings to both teams, half inning later we had an ejection. Rest of game 3 and game 4 were church. Shoot the first monkey, the rest of the barrel falls in line.

I know those tests and answers make it seem like we can’t warn and eject much, but our job is to control the game.

i am not saying go be a red-a$$, but if the grind is so bad you’re miserable, you’re at the warn and eject if it continues stage.

fans, nothing can do there; try to find humor in their ridiculousness

best wishes for last couple weeks

Thanks. I’m thinking you’re right. But like Kevin said. It’s not necessarily USC. It’s a stink eye after a called strike. A shrug from the catcher into the dugout after a ball call. A sigh and a roll eyes 🙄 and a finny look  from a fielder when you call a runner safe. These things- which I don’t  think are warning worthy…. But they’re getting more frequent, and it wears on you. 

[The Man in Blue]

Early in the year, I was hearing quite a bit of umpire grumbling for being grumbled, but it seems to have dropped off.  That or I'm just not hearing it as much.  I've been lucky this HS season . . . probably because I've been much more selective on what I will do. 

I have cut out 2 of 4 assignors, and that eliminated a significant percentage of the local schools for me.  Many of them were places I wasn't being sent anyway.  I'm not sad to see any of those go.  OK, maybe a couple of schools.

I really cut my schedule back this year.  I have not done more than 3 nights in a week, and that 3 night week only happened the week I was on Spring Break.  I am saying NO daily, even as I watch 5-10 e-mails a day begging for umpires.

In recent years, I have been at the point you are at, @Richvee, and right about this time in the season.  I don't know what the future holds for me, but I'm not hating it at the moment because I have taken steps not to. 

Physically, I am questioning myself.  I'm 51, so I know I am younger than most umpires, and I still move better than them.  However, I don't want to be them.  I don't want to be 70 and standing in one spot "because we need umpires."  If I can't give it my best, I don't want to be a detriment.  I know I need to lose some weight, but I am not any heavier than the last few years.  That said, I am not moving like I used to and I am sore far more often.  I think I am not going to work as much summer ball, and may work on losing some weight to see if that changes things.

 

Just some theories of a rambling old man:

As for the general attitudes around the game . . . Are we at the point that the generations of entitled travel ball kids are reaching JUCO?  I'd think we would be well past that, but we know it got worse and worse each year (just like my freshmen classes get lower and lower when they come in each year).  Has it just aged up?  Add to that many JUCO teams are glorified HS teams, and mommy and daddy still come to the games.

Social media?  Sure, that's part of it.  I would say the general state of the world is going to make this a bad summer for baseball umpires.  Not just the ABS system in MLB, but just the depressing state of the country and world, a crumbling economy, and gas that has jumped $1 here in the last few days.  People look for somewhere to take it out, and isn't that what their check and gate fee entitles them to do?

[grayhawk]

2 hours ago, Richvee said:

Thanks. I’m thinking you’re right. But like Kevin said. It’s not necessarily USC. It’s a stink eye after a called strike. A shrug from the catcher into the dugout after a ball call. A sigh and a roll eyes 🙄 and a finny look  from a fielder when you call a runner safe. These things- which I don’t  think are warning worthy…. But they’re getting more frequent, and it wears on you. 

Do what I do - don't look at the players! You won't see the scowls and you'll be much happier.

[Jonump]

12 hours ago, Richvee said:

Congrats on the regionals. Have fun!! D3 playoff implication regular season DH Saturday, Juco finishing off the season Sunday, and a Juco playoff next Saturday. That finishes off college for the year. 

I'm also struggling with what the future holds for me. I'm getting slower, aching more. I'm not sure the travel and grind of college ball is worth it much longer. Weekend Dh's mean out at 9AM the latest, probably 1-2 hour drive, home around 7-8 PM. It's wearing me out. But the ball and money is good. It's the northeast, and especially this year, the weather sucks.(we're still in the 50's..low 40's at night) Being out there in 25-30 weather makes me question my sanity. The friendships and comradery of college ball is second to none. Weighing the pros and cons....I need to figure it out.  

I'd just like to say that as a 3rd year, 57 year old umpire with aspirations to be better, you have been a helpful and inspiring voice on this forum for me since I started and I'm sure thats been true for others. Sounds like you are in a tough stretch and I hope it gets better. But you should know that what you do and share has a really meangingful impact. Thanks.

[Velho]

12 hours ago, SH0102 said:

fans, nothing can do there; try to find humor in their ridiculousness

💯 I've been focusing on this more lately. Of course, calling mostly 12U makes this easier for me.

[SH0102]

12 hours ago, Richvee said:

Thanks. I’m thinking you’re right. But like Kevin said. It’s not necessarily USC. It’s a stink eye after a called strike. A shrug from the catcher into the dugout after a ball call. A sigh and a roll eyes 🙄 and a finny look  from a fielder when you call a runner safe. These things- which I don’t  think are warning worthy…. But they’re getting more frequent, and it wears on you. 

Rich,

    All good stuff shared here, and glad to see someone mentioned you’ve made a difference for them; that’s the highest compliment.

I agree no single act mentioned in the quoted post is warning worthy but persistent actions in a game are.

Kinda like how the first snarky comment to the other team doesn’t get a bench warning (unless it’s real bad). But if it keeps going, here it comes, even though that single comment isn’t awful. The point is to prevent the other team from reacting and now it goes back and forth except now you’re the other team in your situation.  “Hey bill, none of your guys have said anything horrible, but the constant questioning of every pitch and call is making it hard to stay focused on the game, can you help me out here and tamper it?”

Now, if it happens again, you give the warning , then again, eject. If they’re dumb enough to get to the eject after a kind “help me out here” and official warning, oh well.

[834k3r]

14 hours ago, SH0102 said:

fans, nothing can do there; try to find humor in their ridiculousness

Working a varsity game two weeks ago, I heard a HT fan that actually got me to grin. Pitch is on the upper outside corner but it's been a strike all game. "Mr. Rogers in the neighborhood"--I hadn't heard that one.

Back on the OP, @Richvee you--as well as most of the folks here--have been a great resource for me (nigh unto a mentor) and it's a depressing indictment on amateur baseball to hear the parents, players, and coaches are getting to you.

I think with the emergence of baseball replay accounts--looking at you Jomboy--that have 0 knowledge of the finer points of the rule book as fed into this a lot. In my corner of the country, the fans are still pretty docile--but I fear it's only a matter of time before the disease reaches high school here.

[Velho]

1 hour ago, 834k3r said:

In my corner of the country, the fans are still pretty docile--but I fear it's only a matter of time before the disease reaches high school here.

No surprise given how many Seattleites and Californians that are moving your way (said by someone was/is from those places)

[Richvee]

Thanks to all the replies. It all helps. I'm sure it's a bad stretch that will improve. (Doesn't mean I can see the end of the college road not fay ahead. 

Special thanks to those who have said I've made a difference in their umpiring career. That's the best compliment I can ever receive. ❤️

 

[Richvee]

3 hours ago, SH0102 said:

Rich,

    All good stuff shared here, and glad to see someone mentioned you’ve made a difference for them; that’s the highest compliment.

I agree no single act mentioned in the quoted post is warning worthy but persistent actions in a game are.

Kinda like how the first snarky comment to the other team doesn’t get a bench warning (unless it’s real bad). But if it keeps going, here it comes, even though that single comment isn’t awful. The point is to prevent the other team from reacting and now it goes back and forth except now you’re the other team in your situation.  “Hey bill, none of your guys have said anything horrible, but the constant questioning of every pitch and call is making it hard to stay focused on the game, can you help me out here and tamper it?”

Now, if it happens again, you give the warning , then again, eject. If they’re dumb enough to get to the eject after a kind “help me out here” and official warning, oh well.

You're 100% right. And it's time I take this advice. I don't usually hear a lot of crap.... Until recently it's never even bothered me it's been so little. Sure, there's been warnings and ejections, but they've been rare. ( and mostly "no brainers") So my tolerance is probably too high given the way things are going lately. Thanks

[Velho]

19 minutes ago, Richvee said:

So my tolerance is probably too high given the way things are going lately

Probably. Sounds like it. (not a dig at you, we all are probably too easy to some degree)

Just don't get carried away (and look out for Reggie Jackson)

 

[BigBlue4u]

On 4/30/2026 at 9:02 AM, Richvee said:

Fielder yelling a runner is off the bag when I'm right there looking at a hand on the top of the bag, coaches looking for help on routine plays, (Not asking ..Demanding "You GOTTA GET HELP). Grief on check swings, no matter if I call a strike as PU, or go for help...As BU, whatever I call on an appeal, I'm gonna hear crap from the other side.

Unfortunately, this is where we are.  When this happens, the time for diplomacy is long past.  On the coach demanding You GOTTA GET HELP your first response, in a calm voice is, "Coach, talk to me like that again and you will be ejected." If you get into a situation like you described, get both coaches together and tell them to get their teams and themselves un der control. And tell them if they can't do it, you'll do it for them.  Most of the time situations can be handled with a little diplomacy.  This is not one of them.