Plea to Umps & TD's

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As the season is getting underway, I ask that the Umpires give the teams & girls their due!!!
We all hear complaints about coaches one-uping another by using stall tactics & such during time limit games. At least that is a strategy - Right or Wrong....

What drives me crazy to no end are the Umpires who cheat the girls out of playing by calling games early, so they can go rest longer. I have seen it all over in the past. This is suppose to be a game with no time limit!!! The time limit is meant to keep a tourney running on time, so it is needed. But many Umps are using it more like a football game & wanting paid for 75 minutes, etc.......

I hope that TD's & UIC's will keep their crews in line on this. We played in a friendly on Saturday & the Ump called the game 5 minutes early cause he wanted to go home. Couldn't get a much nicer day than we had on Saturday, so if he is gonna do that then, imagine what he will do in July! He told me we were winning & still had other games to play....So????? It was about getting girls swings & practice in, not about winning or losing. TD's & UIC's need to get these kind of guys OUT!!!! I know it is a thankless job & hard to get good individuals to do it. But if they are not doing it for the right reason - they need to go!!!

 

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Next time wait till the games are over to pay them.

 

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Not that this always helps, because no Ump wants to proven wrong, but what we've done is: Immediately after Blue calls Play Ball, mosey on over to the other team's score keeper and confirm the start time of the game. Then, you both write it in your score books. When Blue tries to make an early exit, at least you have evidence of when the game should officially be over. ('Cause the losing team always wants one last chance to catch up, and the winning team wants more at-bats...)

 

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does the ump start the clock at beginning of the warmups or the first pitch...this past weekend I think the ump started the clock when he walked on the field we lost 8 min somewhere

 

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Play in tourney's that that play longer, like 90 min. and finish the inning, that should be a full game.

 

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Someone mentioned about the ump on a friendly. We had the same thing occur. We had one of our better umps stay as long as we wanted for the same amount because in his words "this is good ball" We stayed tied through nine so went to ITB and ended things. On the other end the next day we had a guy that was enforcing the 60 seconds between half inning changes, moving the game along at his pace and when we got up after five he said "well, thats a mercy" and moved along.

 

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In all the years I have been involved in this sport, and a few others, I can only remember one time when the game didn't go the allotted time. And it was simply the umpire looking at his watch incorrectly when the game started. Not sure if a callout of all TD's and Umpires is needed because of one incedent at a friendly - just sayin.

To answer a question above, the clock is supposed to start when the coaches meeting at home plate is concluded.

 

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Play in tourney's that that play longer, like 90 min. and finish the inning, that should be a full game.

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At this age, mst can easily play 7 innings in less than 90 minutes........The problem is Umps who want to cheat the girls on time, doesn't matter if it is 70, 80, 90 or 120 minutes.....If they are being lazy & taking things upon themselves, they are not suppose to

 

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Immediately after Blue calls Play Ball, mosey on over to the other team's score keeper and confirm the start time of the game.

I agree. When I was scorekeeping for the home team, when the ump yelled "play ball", I'd say "I have a time of 6:35" and I'd share it with the visiting scorekeeper.

 

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an no sun dials either.. don't get me going on this one. Ugh.

 

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This weekend it was raining all day. Our first game was at 9am. We started the game at 9am. After the first pitch was thrown the ump called time and walked onto the field kicking his feet around and called the game because it was too slippery. Seriously? If that wasn't a money grab I don't know what is! It was rediculous. Why have the girls warm up inthe rain and go out and throw a pitch if you knew you were going to call it anyway! I know that most unpires wouldn't do this but this one really stuck in my crawl. We set up our easy up and everything only to have to take it back down wet. We could have stayed in our car and stayed dry.

 

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This weekend it was raining all day. Our first game was at 9am. We started the game at 9am. After the first pitch was thrown the ump called time and walked onto the field kicking his feet around and called the game because it was too slippery. Seriously? If that wasn't a money grab I don't know what is! It was rediculous. Why have the girls warm up inthe rain and go out and throw a pitch if you knew you were going to call it anyway! I know that most unpires wouldn't do this but this one really stuck in my crawl. We set up our easy up and everything only to have to take it back down wet. We could have stayed in our car and stayed dry.

What kind of game was this? Tournament? High School? Generally the umpires have ZERO authority to cancel or suspend a game prior to it starting. Before the game starts, that responsibility lies with the school administrators/coaches or tournament officials.

If it was raining "all day", it doesn't sound like conditions suitable to play softball. Unfortunately, umpires cannot stop play until the game actually starts. If an umpire really thinks that conditions are unsafe or unsuitable to play, that's the only option he has- let the game start, then suspend it.

If this was, say, a high school game, then the only person you'd have to blame for making everyone warm up in the rain would be the school administrator...NOT the umpires.

 

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What kind of game was this? Tournament? High School? Generally the umpires have ZERO authority to cancel or suspend a game prior to it starting. Before the game starts, that responsibility lies with the school administrators/coaches or tournament officials.

If it was raining "all day", it doesn't sound like conditions suitable to play softball. Unfortunately, umpires cannot stop play until the game actually starts. If an umpire really thinks that conditions are unsafe or unsuitable to play, that's the only option he has- let the game start, then suspend it.

If this was, say, a high school game, then the only person you'd have to blame for making everyone warm up in the rain would be the school administrator...NOT the umpires.

Didn't know that. This was a tounrament (12u division) south of columbus. Forecast called for 100% chance of rain all day Sunday and we got there at 8am to warm up and after the first pitch the game was called. I didn't see anyone on the field other than the girls and umpires. I was unaware that the umpires could not call the game. My apologies because that's what appeared to happen at the time. Either way it was poor execution by the responsible party. What if our pitcher had slipped and tore a hammy while throwing that first pitch? Could have been a bad situation. IMHO that risk could have been avoided.

 

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On our Monday night dayton metro i keep a timer with a 90 min count down and i start it infront of blue when he calls start time. No beep is no time limit lol

 

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egg timers are the best tool......................lmao

 

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Just use your toes and fingers lol.......

 

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egg timers are the best tool......................lmao

You just want me to get going on the timer subject don't you....

 

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You just want me to get going on the timer subject don't you....

Not really!

 

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You just want me to get going on the timer subject don't you....

Hahahaha..... that is funny! Do most umps keep a timer on the backstop? Ive seen a few do this. Weve been fortunate enough to have good officials lately. Down at midvale, i thought they dis an excellent job. Heck they even threw one of our girls out of the game...... and it was the right call.

 

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Bread timer... 60 minutes...for a 90 minute game. Uuuuummmm....and the ump's bread timer was more accurate than our digital count down timer....lost a game due to not hitting and then strategically swung at every pitch to get to the next inning. Then blue said game over with 3 minutes left. Maaaaaadddder than a skunk.