speaking of umpires

[DanMaz]

how are the umps doing this year?

are there a large group of younger breeds coming out to umpire games or do we still have a majority of 50+ aged guys and gals out there? just wondering....

 

[daboss]

I have received numerous calls from parents about the performance of home plate umpires and their strike zone, more than I have ever received before-----ever. Most that have called have girls pitching on CBC conference teams and the others are in an area north of Clark County. I had 1 parent tell me that during a HS game a home plate umpire had to be approached by both coaches, and a conference ensued discussing rules that apparently the umpire was not versed. This same umpire and numerous others have shrunk the strike zone to pie pan in size, belt high over the middle of the plate and refusing to call anything else. One umpire was heard to have told a couple of parents after a game that he had never seen a ball move around as much as one of the pitchers was throwing but she couldn't get it over the middle of the plate. Chief Umpires have their work cut out for them.

We knew the umpire situation was eventually going to worsen in many ways for a variety of reasons. They appear to be making it unbearable, even to the teams that are winning. The only solution I can come up with is paying more money. The more it costs the more reluctant people will be willing to participate including schools. It'll no longer be a sport for everyone but only for those that can afford it.

The passion for the game for umpires to be involved is gone. It's a "Show me the money" world.

 

[DanMaz]

It'll no longer be a sport for everyone but only for those that can afford it.

i think its already close to that right now. I retired last year from coaching and i saw numerous bat prices that parents were spending on bats alone.... and from my experience these bats lately break more than i can ever remember. I mean 11u breaking more than 1 baats just over the fall and winter? yes, you might get a new one if it breaks but why are $400+ bats breaking? fees, bats, cleats, fuel food, gate fees...... lol you have to give up a lot to have your kids play travel.

 

[Mike_Craig_-_Ohio USSSA]

I have received numerous calls from parents about the performance of home plate umpires and their strike zone, more than I have ever received before-----ever. Most that have called have girls pitching on CBC conference teams and the others are in an area north of Clark County. I had 1 parent tell me that during a HS game a home plate umpire had to be approached by both coaches, and a conference ensued discussing rules that apparently the umpire was not versed. This same umpire and numerous others have shrunk the strike zone to pie pan in size, belt high over the middle of the plate and refusing to call anything else. One umpire was heard to have told a couple of parents after a game that he had never seen a ball move around as much as one of the pitchers was throwing but she couldn't get it over the middle of the plate. Chief Umpires have their work cut out for them.

We knew the umpire situation was eventually going to worsen in many ways for a variety of reasons. They appear to be making it unbearable, even to the teams that are winning. Thew only solution I can come up with is paying more money. The more it costs the more reluctant people will be willing to participate including schools. It'll no longer be a sport for everyone but only for those that can afford it.

The passion for the game for umpires to be involved is gone. It's a "Show me the money" world.

It is getting worse on the bloated travel ball market. When we ask another state UIC or come across "umpire groups" wanting to work, the first question is always how much a game and how many games? I understand not wanting to put in a couple of hundred miles to make $20 a game but it was never that way in the past. It was more can you house them for the weekend first? Guys/Gals used to just enjoy working other areas and seeing different teams occasionally to break up the grind of summer ball.

And now the upstarts are running pay at the plate single man games all over Ohio especially these great new tournament groups. Maybe you could run 10u with a single in pool play like when I started (we actually ran 10u/12u with singles all day in pool games) over 20 years ago. But these girls at the 12u level and higher are just getting too good for one official to keep track of everything including leaving early, missing bases, etc. But everyone wanted to have travel teams so this is what they get in return.

 

[Eddie Hoffmeier]

I have received numerous calls from parents about the performance of home plate umpires and their strike zone, more than I have ever received before-----ever. Most that have called have girls pitching on CBC conference teams and the others are in an area north of Clark County. I had 1 parent tell me that during a HS game a home plate umpire had to be approached by both coaches, and a conference ensued discussing rules that apparently the umpire was not versed. This same umpire and numerous others have shrunk the strike zone to pie pan in size, belt high over the middle of the plate and refusing to call anything else. One umpire was heard to have told a couple of parents after a game that he had never seen a ball move around as much as one of the pitchers was throwing but she couldn't get it over the middle of the plate. Chief Umpires have their work cut out for them.

We knew the umpire situation was eventually going to worsen in many ways for a variety of reasons. They appear to be making it unbearable, even to the teams that are winning. Thew only solution I can come up with is paying more money. The more it costs the more reluctant people will be willing to participate including schools. It'll no longer be a sport for everyone but only for those that can afford it.

The passion for the game for umpires to be involved is gone. It's a "Show me the money" world.

This correspondence is from the tournament in Columbus Ohio May 27/28 2023.

 

[BruisedShins]

"Maybe you won't"??? That should be definitely.