Bad umpires or teams not playing as well as they should???

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I am not mad about the umpires, just baffled at how many of you think that everyone came to watch you or at least your actions say that. Just too many arrogant umpires.

WOW Extreme, your posts thoughts sound just like the umpires you are dogging. Arrogant, and wanting to be "right" about your everything.

The meetings start this winter "Mr I have to be Right". Put your beliefs of umpiring to the test, and lets see what you've got. With the way you won't let this thread die, I think you would crumble when you get behind the plate for game 8 of the day in 90 degree heat. Not saying that alot of the umpiring personnel don't need some improvement, but continuing to belittle the whole profession, and not being willing, or able to get involved and help shows your true colors.

To conitinue complaining and not being willing to help the process improve shows what you are made of. Suit up, or shut up skippy.

I will be at those meetings, just like all the meetings for the past many years. Taking my tests, going to the many 2 hour classroom sessions at nights and on the weekends, paying my fees, buying new equipment, spending my money on gas, & studying my rulebook. Just so I can try to get every call I make correct, and the girls can have the experience of playing this great game.

Oh BTW, you are probably the person who NEVER says thanks, you called a good game to my fellow umpires. You NEVER say thanks to us for busting our butts to get into position, to get the call right. You just want to chirp about one call in a game of hundreds of calls that you thought was questionable for your little suzie. Get a grip, and suit up if you think you can handle it. Otherwise, if you are not willing to do that, just play the hand you've been dealt and continue to complain on these anonymous message boards.

Herb
 
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While the umps at certain locations were a bit long in the tooth i would like to do one of my patented "just saying" diatribes

Never once in all our playing years from 12u to 18u has a game been decided by a bad call or bad umps. Of course there have been those last out moments, but in the end, it's the errors our own team makes, or outs we get from not swinging (and those from swinging as well) and the countless other factors in a 7 inning game that wins or loses a game for you.
One of our coaches used to say, "control the controllables". The more the girls complain about the umps, or the parents, it eventually gets into their heads and they make excuses. Wanna change bad umping. Become an ump and see how easy it is to call a third strike.
just sayin
 
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Yep, Stattie, we saw a young lady this season completely lose it in the circle because she thought a batter runner should have been out (the ball came close to hitting the batter outside of the box but in fact did not). As the pitcher was being taken out a few batters later, she was still chirping that they should have been out of the inning because of that play. Ted pointed out to our players that once you start worrying so much about umpires' calls, you often lose the ability to control the things that you can control.

We ask our players to try to take the umpires out of the game by such things as swinging in the hitters' zone (which we define to be larger than the strike zone) and getting quicker and more accurate on defense. Precisely because no one is perfect, there are still times that we have failed to take the umpire out of the game and we have had questionable calls go against us. If it seems to be the wrong application of a rule or the umpire didn't have a good look, Ted will approach calmly in the manner others have described here. Our players know that is not going to happen very often and that for the most part they need to just accept an arguably bad call and get on with trying to win the game.

What bothers me about Extremist's opening and other posts is the notion that the vast majority of umpires are arrogant egoists. I just don't think that's correct. I'm aware of some that seem to want to make the game about the umps and not the players, but that list is relatively short compared to the general population of umpires. (My most common complaint about umpires is an inconsistent strike zone and I rarely believe that the zone is because of the umpire's arrogance or ego; in any event, arguing balls and strikes is a good way to get tossed).
 
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Yes, arguing balls and strike is surely your best chance for getting tossed as a coach.

It's that word after "you" that usually does it.

I have never figured out why a coach feels they can do or say anything they wish to an umpire... and when tossed.. wonder why ????

Arguing balls and strikes is pretty much useless for a coach.

But, I always laugh when a coach can't seem to figure out that one girl may be 5'2" and the another is 5'9".. but that "same" strike you called on the 5'2" girl at the knees.. MIGHT NOT be a strike for the girl who stands 5'9".. but it's the old saying.. "We didn't get that strike !!!"

As an umpire, then we KNOW who has common sense and who doesn't.. when it comes to coaches.
 
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@CGS, very well said and some great points for me to bring up to our players. We always tell them do not let the umpires decide a game and they can not win or loose the game for them. Keep their bats hot and it will decide the outcome.

I really like these two points that I will drive home to them " swinging in the hitters' zone (which we define to be larger than the strike zone) and getting quicker and more accurate on defense"
 
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I agree that umpires do not usually determine whether a team wins or loses - I only ask that they try to do their best. At Sparks yesterday, a plate ump would rarely brush the dirt off of home plate with field conditions that were extremely dry and dusty. If a player slid home, the plate disappeared completely. At one point, our coach asked our catcher to brush it off with her glove so the pitcher could see it. Then the ump made a big show of digging out his brush and clearing the rest of the dirt.
 
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WOW Extreme, your posts thoughts sound just like the umpires you are dogging. Arrogant, and wanting to be "right" about your everything.

The meetings start this winter "Mr I have to be Right". Put your beliefs of umpiring to the test, and lets see what you've got. With the way you won't let this thread die, I think you would crumble when you get behind the plate for game 8 of the day in 90 degree heat. Not saying that alot of the umpiring personnel don't need some improvement, but continuing to belittle the whole profession, and not being willing, or able to get involved and help shows your true colors.

To conitinue complaining and not being willing to help the process improve shows what you are made of. Suit up, or shut up skippy.

I will be at those meetings, just like all the meetings for the past many years. Taking my tests, going to the many 2 hour classroom sessions at nights and on the weekends, paying my fees, buying new equipment, spending my money on gas, & studying my rulebook. Just so I can try to get every call I make correct, and the girls can have the experience of playing this great game.

Oh BTW, you are probably the person who NEVER says thanks, you called a good game to my fellow umpires. You NEVER say thanks to us for busting our butts to get into position, to get the call right. You just want to chirp about one call in a game of hundreds of calls that you thought was questionable for your little suzie. Get a grip, and suit up if you think you can handle it. Otherwise, if you are not willing to do that, just play the hand you've been dealt and continue to complain on these anonymous message boards.

Herb




About the only thing on here I agreee with you on is that it is not the whole profession, however there are alot of them out there,as far as me umping, I have done it before, definately not easy, especially behind the plate. I wouldn't crumble, I would probably have to carry you! I can tell you want someone to feel bad for you because you had to work all day. (greedy) Sounds like you are one of the umps we are talking about, (look at me)!! Let me guess , you roll your sleeves up too! As far as going to the meetings,sounds like you should be going, and maybe even staying late after everyone else goes home , you know , just to get some special one on one training. By the way, usually when you are umpiring, ITS HOT!!! Don't like it? QUIT and go home! UMPY! You probably double as a body guard somewhere too! Never been thrown out of a game, because I don't argue the calls, unless it is a call you could ask for help on. I do thank good umpires, even when we lose, if they have done a good job. I can understand if maybe you don't get any thank yous, by the way you talk. Don't try and fool anyone , you are there for the MONEY. Once the kids have grown and moved on I 'll come back and umpire, sounds like you need some help!
 
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The umps are just fine.

The better the teams the better the umps..........it is amazing.

Bad pitchers that have poor control make umpires look bad because they are all over.

Additionally, good teams hit the ball and do not rely on the umpire to call walks and strike outs. I will say that now that we have a better team I find the field umps needing some work. I care more about positioning than the actual calls.
 
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The umps are just fine.

The better the teams the better the umps..........it is amazing.

Bad pitchers that have poor control make umpires look bad because they are all over.

Additionally, good teams hit the ball and do not rely on the umpire to call walks and strike outs. I will say that now that we have a better team I find the field umps needing some work. I care more about positioning than the actual calls.

well by what you are saying then, better execution of base running and sliding better field umps! Just saying!
Umpires strike zones this year have been the worst I have seen in 10 years and not just USSSA, but ASA this year too. I find very few umpires give corners, call strikes at the plate or on a normal stance or don't seem to see the girls offer on bunts or swing. In the cases of not seeing them offer or swing, I have noticed alot of umpires turning their heads or ducking when the pitch comes in even when its caught by the cathcer.
The worst umpires I saw were at Tipp City, they used OHSAA umpires for the plates and teenage boys for the field. I had the field umpire call a girl out for leaving early after the other coach talked to him, even though the pitcher was not in the circle, he had his back to her and plate umpire said he didn't see it. He waited to make the call till after the coach spoke to him, if she wouldnt have called time and walked out there, he had already set himself for the next pitch. The next time I had a girl steal second and the 2nd basemen was 2 feet from 2nd base on the 1st base side, my girl slid into second and when the 2nd basemen went to tag her she lost the ball on my girls chest because she hit my girls face mask when she went for the tag. The teenage field ump called her out, plate ump said he wasnt looking?! these two call were the 2nd out in innings where we were begininng to come back, those bad calls and awful strike zones cost me runs and I feel cost me the game. I could care less about a trophy, but if we loose it needs to be because we played bad or the other team brought it, not because we had to play the other team and the umpires. The team we were playing were also complaining about the umpires strike zone and the day before had even called for the TD against the same umpires!
 
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I also have had several umpires call time during play and even had one call time when a third basemen tripped and started crying. We had girls running bases and he made them stop and go back. The ball was in left-center and out fielders were running to get it, the other teams coach ran out when his girl fell and before the umpire called timed. The girl started crying when he got to her and mind you my batter and 2 girls on base were still running and then the umpire called "DEAD BALL". We just had to stand there with our jaws on the ground!!
 
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This maybe a little off topic, but I have a funny umpire story that happened today at the pregame meeting at home plate: 10U Pool Play game: I have 2 girls out as captains. The ump explains ground rules then pulls out this oversize coin with an Indian head on it about the size of a relish lid. He then starts to explain tothe girls the significance of this coin. He says that #1) he has this big coin because his eyes are starting to get bad and he cant see so well as he gets older. #2) He married a native American and the Indian on the coin is his wife's great Grandfather and #3) he shows the girls the year on the coin which shows 1877 and says " this is the year I was born.
Us coaches are chuckling and the girls are looking at him buying everything he is saying. When he is done he asks the girl from the other team if she believes him. She shakes her head up and down and says Yes.

This gentleman clearly enjoyed what he was doing and showed it with his enthusiasm towards these young softball players.
 
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oiler pride,

Thanks for sharing. I'm still laughing myself. I can close my eyes and see the look on those young girls' faces as he went thru THAT routine. I like umps like that because they normally go to work and call a good game. They just make bad choices when it comes to the age of their auidiences when doing their comedy skits. lol. After all; it is just a game!

An old saying I've never forgotten is: "Your best umpires are the ones that call an entire game and you can't remember them being there."
 
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About the only thing on here I agreee with you on is that it is not the whole profession, however there are alot of them out there,as far as me umping, I have done it before, definately not easy, especially behind the plate. I wouldn't crumble, I would probably have to carry you! I can tell you want someone to feel bad for you because you had to work all day. (greedy) Sounds like you are one of the umps we are talking about, (look at me)!! Let me guess , you roll your sleeves up too! As far as going to the meetings,sounds like you should be going, and maybe even staying late after everyone else goes home , you know , just to get some special one on one training. By the way, usually when you are umpiring, ITS HOT!!! Don't like it? QUIT and go home! UMPY! You probably double as a body guard somewhere too! Never been thrown out of a game, because I don't argue the calls, unless it is a call you could ask for help on. I do thank good umpires, even when we lose, if they have done a good job. I can understand if maybe you don't get any thank yous, by the way you talk. Don't try and fool anyone , you are there for the MONEY. Once the kids have grown and moved on I 'll come back and umpire, sounds like you need some help!

I can feel the hate you have burning in you, in your words. I find it hard to believe that this never comes out at a game. I feel sorry for you, and anyone associated with you.

I also retract my offer for you to umpire. You would be one of the worst ever with the hatred that you hold. Go ahead and continue to critique everyone with your written tantrums. I am sure it makes you feel better. See ya round the diamonds.
 
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@ump5671 and Extremist:

We lost a game yesterday on a really bad call re foul ball/fair ball deep into right field, but I'm still agreeing with ump5671. Our coaches and our team make a ton of mistakes in any given game but I would be appalled if someone called either the coaches or the team arrogant or egotistic.
 
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Our tourney this weekend had some ridiculous umpiring--it all began at the coaches meeting when the UIC said he was not familiar with NSA rules and would have to work with the coaches on rule decisions. The umpiring crew had mostly been umping high school baseball games. We had an ump TWICE blow the look back call--the second time the baserunner admitting she should have been called out. But, that said, in a game yesterday, the ump blew a call on a girl who switched her plate stance without calling time, and when we spoke to him and the field ump, they admitted they were not sure what the call should be. After the game, the ump came up to us, admitted they were wrong, and apologized for blowing the call. We are human, and mistakes will happen.
 
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I can feel the hate you have burning in you, in your words. I find it hard to believe that this never comes out at a game. I feel sorry for you, and anyone associated with you.

I also retract my offer for you to umpire. You would be one of the worst ever with the hatred that you hold. Go ahead and continue to critique everyone with your written tantrums. I am sure it makes you feel better. See ya round the diamonds.


From the way you talk,, I might be the worst ever but it would still just be a tad better than you. I feel sorrry for you too and anyone associated with you also. I don 't have hate for anyone, just commenting on what I see, just like alot of others on here, maybe we will meet on the diamonds together one day, I'll just look for the ump with his sleeves rolled up! Good luck with your career.
 
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Our tourney this weekend had some ridiculous umpiring--it all began at the coaches meeting when the UIC said he was not familiar with NSA rules and would have to work with the coaches on rule decisions. The umpiring crew had mostly been umping high school baseball games. We had an ump TWICE blow the look back call--the second time the baserunner admitting she should have been called out. But, that said, in a game yesterday, the ump blew a call on a girl who switched her plate stance without calling time, and when we spoke to him and the field ump, they admitted they were not sure what the call should be. After the game, the ump came up to us, admitted they were wrong, and apologized for blowing the call. We are human, and mistakes will happen.



Sounds like they were good umpires put into a bad situation. You won't see that everyday.
 
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JMO.... is it that umps are getting bad or TO MANY TOURNAMENTS IN THE SAME AREA! My point is I have notices allot of tourney’s having to use Umps that normally would not do fastpitch or they don’t normally do the sanction that is being held I have been fortunate to have the same umps come to our tournaments for as long as I can remember and they do a fantastic job I can not remember the last time we held a tournament without getting compliments about the ump’s. Example is July 15th weekend you had Jaguar, Cinderella and Gapps I believe all the same weekend and between the 3 tournaments alone you’re talking over 300 games in 3 days! That’s allot of games for just ASA umps! I have noticed ump’s jumping from ASA, NSA and USSSA tournaments which a few years ago you seen the same umps at ASA and seen different one’s at NSA and so forth. JMO We need more umps. This is just my 2 cents.
 
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well we are back to the good-ol-boy union. I just spoke to an umpire who umped a game out of his area and has not been called since by his normal assigner. really? I know the ump, he is good! too bad for the kids he won;t be umping and I just wonder who goes in his place. Perhaps some baseball umps not used to softball rules. (not bad-rapping them, it is a bad situation though they may be good!). just like sunday play, put your best players on the field!
 
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You must live in a backward area with respect to umpire associations. Speaking central Ohio ASA and NFHS:

- I have worked other sanctions and never had any repurcussions from assignors. I've never been told by any santioning body that if I worked for another one I would lose games or not get assignments.

- The central Ohio ASA and NFHS group does not assign baseball umpires to games. They certify only softball umpires, trained in softball rules and softball mechanics.

It might be like that wherever you are, but it's definitely not like that everywhere.
 
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