Now I Understand - To Dan Kepple

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Kathy Graf is correct!

 

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We definitely have had our share of bad umps this year but three things.

1. Very rarely did one cost us a game - only my sanity.

2. Try to keep it to myself as much as I can outside of a conference with the umps. Too easy for the girls (especially at the younger ages) to get into that excuse zone and parents jump on that too.

3. If I or any coach really has a bad game with an umpire, then call someone in charge of umpires for Central Ohio. Dan or whoever. I have found him to be very open to a well reasoned discussion and he will make it a point to go out and get to the bottom of it.

I have tried to keep a cool head over the years and that has allowed me to get to know many of the umpires well. I am not sure it has got me alot of calls but I think maybe a little respect and they will listen. They may not always say, hey, you were right but it is funny how those calls end of evening out if you approach it the right way.

Last point, bad umpires (and there are some out there), make bad calls for both sides. Rarely do they purposely side with one team.

Just some perspective:

Coach Murph

I totally agree with every word you just said. You had to be there...

 

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We definitely have had our share of bad umps this year but three things.

1. Very rarely did one cost us a game - only my sanity.

2. Try to keep it to myself as much as I can outside of a conference with the umps. Too easy for the girls (especially at the younger ages) to get into that excuse zone and parents jump on that too.

3. If I or any coach really has a bad game with an umpire, then call someone in charge of umpires for Central Ohio. Dan or whoever. I have found him to be very open to a well reasoned discussion and he will make it a point to go out and get to the bottom of it.

I have tried to keep a cool head over the years and that has allowed me to get to know many of the umpires well. I am not sure it has got me alot of calls but I think maybe a little respect and they will listen. They may not always say, hey, you were right but it is funny how those calls end of evening out if you approach it the right way.

Last point, bad umpires (and there are some out there), make bad calls for both sides. Rarely do they purposely side with one team.

Just some perspective:

Coach Murph

I 100% agree with every word also.... and the horrible umpires did not cost us any games - they were bad for both sides. My analogy would be going to a theater to see a movie you were excited about watching and having an employee sit next to you and talk loudly on a cell phone while throwing popcorn at you the whole time. Sure it doesn't change the movie... just makes it su ck.

 

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When I first arrived at GAPSS yesterday I saw you talking to an umpire about a huge strike zone and something about getting tossed. Didn't catch all the details of the conversation and was thinking about our upcoming games, but after having had the same ump behind the plate twice today - I totally get it.

Usually I defend the men in blue but this guy is special. He chased me down 20 minutes before our game while we were warming up so we could do the coin flip and "get an early start". Tried that once with him earlier and turned out to be bad luck. You know, we're 10U and the girls want the experience of doing the flip at home plate - ON THE FIELD! So I say "I don't even have my line-up, it's in my truck. Can we do it on the field?" Little did I know how vindictive he was.

When we were up, EVERYTHING was a strike. Dude I am not exaggerating. Bounced in the dirt "strike". Over her head "strike!" A foot outside "strike!"

He could not keep track of balls and strikes. I can't tell you how many times he would announce "3-1" and it was the first pitch! Then we had a girl from the other team foul it over the backstop and the count went from 1-2 to 2-2. I said "she fouled it". And he said "it's 2-2". I say " are you messing with me? How do we go from 1-2 to 2-2 after a foul?" The best is yet to come however.

I'm warming up a new pitcher because our catcher made the last out and he says "Are you taking her one pitch?". I say "She's a NEW pitcher!"

His reply? "One more out of you and you're out of here!" OMG it was all I could do not to go totally Billy Martin on him!!!!! Blue if you're out there please do us a favor and retire - TODAY!

Tony, to put it as politely as I can, the umpires we had for our second pool play game and first bracket play game just plain old ****ED!!!!! They should be banned from doing any more games period. I wouldn't let them near a rec field.

 

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I still can't believe he threatened to eject me for pointing out our new pitcher who gets more than one warmup pitch. I hadn't said a single derogatory word but we did have to constantly keep him straight on the pitch counts. Not my fault he was incompetent. I still think he was holding a grudge because I wouldn't do the coin flip in the grass 200 yards from our playing field 20 min before game time (by the way he had no idea where the opposing coach was!!! I think he expected me to assist him in a man-hunt instead of gathering up our players and heading to the field.) The game before we did this to "speed things up". Got on the field and he had no game balls so we still didn't get an early start.

 

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I still can't believe he threatened to eject me for pointing out our new pitcher who gets more than one warmup pitch. I hadn't said a single derogatory word but we did have to constantly keep him straight on the pitch counts. Not my fault he was incompetent. I still think he was holding a grudge because I wouldn't do the coin flip in the grass 200 yards from our playing field 20 min before game time (by the way he had no idea where the opposing coach was!!! I think he expected me to assist him in a man-hunt instead of gathering up our players and heading to the field.) The game before we did this to "speed things up". Got on the field and he had no game balls so we still didn't get an early start.

We were also asked to do the flip in the warm up area 30 minutes before the game. Oh well, I think I'm more upset that the Losers Bracket was canceled so early in the morning when we still had a very good shot at the win. Cancelling the 10u losers bracket at 10:30 only left ONE game to be played, and an entire NICE day for them to finish that ONE game. It could have been played out and if I wasn't so upset about that - I wouldn't be complaining as much about the bad officiating. Just disappointed in the whole GAPSS experience this year.

 

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I was there...also disappointed we didn't get to finish it out. I agree with Derek in that the ump was having some heat related issues. He did seem a little disoriented. He was consistent both ways though. Before one of our girls had the game winning RBI she took 6 balls in that at bat. We had girls takin called strikes in their eyes and on their shoelaces. You have to play the game, whining to the ump will not get you anywhere and eventually he will throw you out for something petty. I may question a call occasionally but its best to do it in a respectful manner. I try to set a good example for the girls in every aspect of the game.Take care of what you have control of and let the rest be.

With that being said, I usually don't get into that nonsense, but it was great to play some good talent this weekend. Congrats to Tadd and the Lasers Purple on another tourney win!! Congrats to Jerry and the Dragons on the success they had also! Good Luck to everyone!!

 

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Congrats to Tadd and the Lasers Purple on another tourney win!! Congrats to Jerry and the Dragons on the success they had also!

I second that. Well done !

 

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Dan i told you when i saw him coming to the warm up area he wanted to get the flip and get started. we had him in our pool play game too, and nothing changed all i can say is nose to toes lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!