GAPSS umps

[Byers]

Anyone else get a taste of the inconsistent, arrogant umps with the "I'm God" attitude at GAPSS this weekend?

 

[Finesse04]

Yes sir, had one ump that thought it was his show, not for the girls.

 

[Byers]

We actually had one ump call a foul ball on an obvious fair ball then turn around and tell the opposing catcher "That may have been a fair ball. I didn't have time to take my mask off to see it". It was right down 3rd base line. Then we had another ump today telling the opposing catcher where they should pitch our batter because of where she was standing in the box. Amazing!!!!

 

[BA824]

We actually had some very good veteran umps at 16u all weekend.

 

[LADY_KNIGHTS]

18U Umpires were really bad. Had two games where they were pretty decent. The ones at Arrowhead were flat out terrible!!!

 

[Byers]

The problem is that from the very first time your daughter steps on the rubber she is told don't throw it down the middle. Hit the corners. Keep it low. Don't hang it at the belt. They practice for more hours than you can keep track of to develop this skill. Then they get to the age where colleges are looking at them. Trying to get scholarships. You figure you need to go to big tournaments like me GAPSS so they can be seen. Then some arrogant ump (who seem to already know who is going to win the game before the first pitch is thrown)steps on the field and won't give them the corners. Forcing them to throw down the middle where ball after ball is getting bombed or people are getting walked. All while the college coaches are watching. There is no accountability for the umps.

 

[lewam3]

The problem is that from the very first time your daughter steps on the rubber she is told don't throw it down the middle. Hit the corners. Keep it low. Don't hang it at the belt. They practice for more hours than you can keep track of to develop this skill. Then they get to the age where colleges are looking at them. Trying to get scholarships. You figure you need to go to big tournaments like me GAPSS so they can be seen. Then some arrogant ump (who seem to already know who is going to win the game before the first pitch is thrown)steps on the field and won't give them the corners. Forcing them to throw down the middle where ball after ball is getting bombed or people are getting walked. All while the college coaches are watching. There is no accountability for the umps.

College coaches who are experienced know what a good pitcher looks like, regardless of what an ump is calling. When you have a crappy ump, they will look to see how DD pitcher adjusts to it, how she keeps her composure, etc. Your speed, movement, technique and demeanor is what is key and can be evaluated no matter what an inconsistent ump is doing back there. (that's what Ive been told by more than one college coach at least)

 

[HITTER23]

College coaches who are experienced know what a good pitcher looks like, regardless of what an ump is calling. When you have a crappy ump, they will look to see how DD pitcher adjusts to it, how she keeps her composure, etc. Your speed, movement, technique and demeanor is what is key and can be evaluated no matter what an inconsistent ump is doing back there. (that's what Ive been told by more than one college coach at least)

Nominated for most knowledgable post !!!

 

[Byers]

Then, conversely,. You get the ump that calls strikes 6 inches into the batters box that you can't possibly get a bat on.

 

[Creek01]

If you have a tight ump you have to adjust the best way possible. If you have a ump with a big zone you have to adjust the best you can. Softball you have to acquire knowledge & make adjustments during the game. Period. Strike up a conversation with an ump at a big tourney. It's common for them to do 7,8,9 games in a day. Yea, chances are they'll have a bad game just like players & coaches.

Lewam3 is exactly right. During Stingrays we felt like we were getting squeezed. I walk behind the plate & watch as I talked to a coach who has been following our pitcher. First thing out of her mouth was "You want to see where they're missing too? He's really tight."

 

[yossarian]

College coaches who are experienced know what a good pitcher looks like, regardless of what an ump is calling. When you have a crappy ump, they will look to see how DD pitcher adjusts to it, how she keeps her composure, etc. Your speed, movement, technique and demeanor is what is key and can be evaluated no matter what an inconsistent ump is doing back there. (that's what Ive been told by more than one college coach at least)

As frustrating as bad umps can be, that's great advice that can be applied far beyond the ball field.

 

[Byers]

I agree they need to adjust to pitch calling but you can't adjust to bad field calls. I just feel there should be some kind of accountability.

 

[SOFTBALLS14]

No matter what tourney you are going to have "bad Umpires"
Here's how I have approached it as a coach every year with my team ..... ( you can ask any of them)
We will play a inner team game of 4 vs 4 vs 4 or 3 vs 3 vs 3 ....
Catchers call the pitches and I get to umpire the game .....LOL
Now I sometimes get it wrong... LOL... They get upset and I tell them that this happens in games get over it and move on! The coaches will deal with it!! .... Oh and my Calls ARE BAD!!
I feel this gets them used to the fact that Bad calls are made!! Its all part of the game !
Wait till you get in the big college games like the SEC and you get squeezed by the umpires ...you can either move on or complain or adjust and overcome....Its easier to move on and takes less energy!
You have to be ready to move on to the next play!!
I really feel we as a team do a good job of moving on and not letting it interfere with the Rest of the game !
The coaches deal with the calls, the players play the game, and the parents stay out of it! Let the coaches do there job!
So parents, Coaches, cheer on your players and help them learn to move on !!!
Some times we feel it was that one call, but I'm sure there where more errors that caused the loss, not the umpires!
JMO

 

[RedStormDad]

I was told there were bad umps. I didn't get to make it down this year but my DD (18U) said they were just inconsistent. Shes a catcher and she said after one game when she called me... "I'm still not sure where that Umpires strike zone is after 7 innings." No matter what tourney your in though there will ALWAYS be good umps and bad. Make adjustments not excuses...or something like that?

 

[Scott_K]

Agreed on having good/bad umps at any tourney. We had a mix at 14u. There was one older gent that called a very good game. He actually called spin pitches for strikes that cut the corners. Even drop balls thru the strike zone (not where catcher catches) and was consistent for both teams..
I gave him a compliment after the game. Pitcher's work hard to get spin pitches for location. He understood that and said the strike zone has always been the same, I ask him to tell that to all his colleges, lol. The championship game had 3 umps, and all of them made great calls!

 

[RADZ]

The picture is from a 14U game played at GAPSS this weekend. The ump called the runner safe, he said that the catcher separated the ball from her glove before she tagged runner. I understand that umps are human and they are going to make mistake, the problem i have with this is if you notice the ump is not even in position to make the call. The team fielding ended up losing the game by 1 run, not that it means anything, I am just saying.

 

[number5]

We are all human and miss calls. But at the 18u level this weekend we had an ump tell the 1st base coach since this is a showcase this is a warning and he needs to keep his player from leaving early. So when do we get warnings especially at 18u. One would think if your going to give breaks to another team one would not say it loud enough that the opposing team wouldn't hear it.

 

[Byers]

This is the kind of crap I'm talking about. That field ump can see the play also and makes no attempt to correct a horrible call. That's the kind of terrible umping I'm talking about. Balls and strikes are absolutely subjective. That is just an ump changing the outcome of a game.

 

[Louuuuu]

That field ump can see the play also and makes no attempt to correct a horrible call.

No umpire is going to volunteer "Hey, partner, you missed that call".

However, here's what you do:

Calmly call "time".
Address the umpire who made the call. Calmly.
Say "Blue, I believe the fielder pulled her foot/missed the tag/interfered, etc. Can you ask you partner if he/she saw that?"
The two umps will discuss. That's when they can overturn the call, if warranted. Or, not.
*But the idea is to mention what you think you saw - don't go fishing and hope that somehow,some way you'll get the call reversed.

 

[wow]

Bad Umps are like bad fields, bad weather, bad whatever. Their will always be "bad umps". There are always reasons why blue makes the call, however they are all outside of the control of players and coaches. Because calls are subjective, yes even the hit 14' in fair territory, its depends on who is on the receiving end. Most of the time one team or coach is bent. When both coaches see the same thing than you may have a legit concern. The problem is when you do, what do expect blue to change his mind? Unlikely.

Just like getting your first two strikes as a hitter or balls as a pitcher, let it go and go get the next one. Control what you can.