Umpires that need to move to Freshman/JV

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We played a JV game on Monday, where our girl stole 3rd, stretched and still had her toe on third, the 3rd baseman from the other team told him that our player had her foot on the bag, and the ump still called her out!

That whole game was a fiasco! Sour grapes? Yep! We lost the game, I'm not blaming the whole outcome of the game on the ump, our defense fell apart, but the other team had a lot of girls called safe at 3rd and all of ours were called out.

I could go on about the other things that happened at the game with the ump, with the hope of sympathy, but not so sure I'd get it here!! Don't want to look like a cry-baby!

 

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CoachJWB; BlueDevilDad did not make an "ignorant comment". Having the use of only one eye is quite the handicap when it comes to depth perception.

How can an ump determine if a pitch broke plane before or after the plate when depth perception is limited? (Try catching a curve ball with one eye closed.....) This is a huge responsibility when umping behind the plate. I'm sure no disprespect was intended - just stating a fact.

 

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Sorry, Sally ... but I have to disagree with you as well. And, by the way, I did not take it as disrespect, just ignorance of what a person with one eye can do and what you claim are the facts. While having 2 eyes certainly is advantageous with regards to depth perception, there are many other ways a person with one eye is able to compensate and still have depth perception. Believe me, I have read a lot about this over the years and I dare you to take me on in a 3 point basketball contest!

 

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Sorry, Sally ... but I have to disagree with you as well. And, by the way, I did not take it as disrespect, just ignorance of what a person with one eye can do and what you claim are the facts. While having 2 eyes certainly is advantageous with regards to depth perception, there are many other ways a person with one eye is able to compensate and still have depth perception. Believe me, I have read a lot about this over the years and I dare you to take me on in a 3 point basketball contest!

I meant no direspect.

I guess your right "One eye is better than two" Sorry I forgot.

Put your ego away.

 

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I think it's a huge mistake to try and declare whole demographic groups unsuitable for umpiring girl's softball.

As long as the person is well-versed in the rules and is physically able to perform their duties that's all you have a right to expect.

You can't make age, height, weight, color blindness, left-handedness, six-toed-ness, too many moles-ness, tendency to spit-ness, prefers boxers to briefs-ness or anything else-ness a reason to exclude them. It's called discrimination and it ain't right.

You will find folks at every stage of life who are good at their jobs, and those who are not.

Probably one of the best umps I ever saw working a game was an elegant older gent who was probably well into his 70's. He was spry and graceful, presented the count to both sets of stands every pitch and had the smoothest game management skills I ever saw.

There is definitely something to be said for experience and temperament.

 

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Lack of athletic fitness or not having the ability to see out of one eye is not discrimination.

If they can not get in the right position to make a call then they should not be umpiring. Period.

Again, you can not see better out of 1 eye then 2. Period

Do we have any common sense anymore or are we all a bunch of bleeding hearts?

If a 400 pound man want to be a fighter pilot he would not be able to. Is it discrimination. He may be a great piolt but is not suitable to fly a fighter. So he could go fly a transport plane.

Maybe we can have a man with no legs umpire he knows all the rules who are we to say what he can and cant do.

 

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...As long as the person is well-versed in the rules and is physically able to perform their duties that's all you have a right to expect.

LOL---I guess it's a good thing reading with comprehension isn't also one of the requirements. Looks like you missed the part where I said "is physically able to perform their duties".

 

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Where is the line on physically fit?

If an umpire can not get into position because of his fitness, he should not be umpiring?

If any umpire has one eye is that physically able?

When it comes to age there should be a line drawn or they should be rated by someone who is not a homer.

 

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maybe we should base it upon the physical fitness of the men in blue.... I mean policemen. Ooops, bad correlation...

 

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Where is the line on physically fit?

If an umpire can not get into position because of his fitness, he should not be umpiring?

If any umpire has one eye is that physically able?

When it comes to age there should be a line drawn or they should be rated by someone who is not a homer.

I don't know what the cutoffs should be. I'm not the one "drawing lines" and trying to exclude folks.

Your initial post asked for our thoughts and I just gave mine.

 

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I had an umpire at the Spano Dome this year who was about 75 and he was horrible!! He was mean to the girls. At one point a girl almost slid into a bat and we all yelled hey move the bat and he told us it wasn't his job to move bats and if she slides into it, it isn't his problem. He couldn't get into the right positions to make calls and just all around stunk! We also had this young girl at the Dome who was just as bad. She nit picked everything, had a horrible, inconsistent strike zone both ways, and was never paying attention when the play was going on. She missed half the game arguing with fans. Just horrible. I think you have to judge each umpire individually though because I have also seen very good umpires at all ages. Although I would have to draw the line on the umpire with the eye-patch behind the plate. If it is discrimination to have a problem with that, than I would have to be guilty of discrimination. I would NOT be happy with that. Why couldn't he switch with the guy in the field? Sorry but I agree that you need 2 eyes opened and focused to call pitches at the upper levels of play. I know, boo I sukk, but that is JMHO.

 

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I am not going to defend bad umpires, and yes I do realize they do exist. Please do not try to lump everyone that may not be a perfect specimen into the unable to handle the job. An umpire with one eye, MAYBE not my first choice, but before I you decide that it can't be done, do a little research on former OSU player Brit Vanderink to see what she could accomplish with impaired vision. I have seen plenty of physically fit umpires, that didn't know the rules, never bothered to get into position, etc. Before you start handing existing umpires pink slips, try recruiting better ones, or better yet, take the class, strap on the gear and do a few games.

 

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I am not going to defend bad umpires, and yes I do realize they do exist. Please do not try to lump everyone that may not be a perfect specimen into the unable to handle the job. An umpire with one eye, MAYBE not my first choice, but before I you decide that it can't be done, do a little research on former OSU player Brit Vanderink to see what she could accomplish with impaired vision. I have seen plenty of physically fit umpires, that didn't know the rules, never bothered to get into position, etc. Before you start handing existing umpires pink slips, try recruiting better ones, or better yet, take the class, strap on the gear and do a few games.

Dogsdad, you are correct... put their shoes on first..

ON a more serious note...I plan on doing this very thing when I retire at age 75.... umpiring games and referee'in b-ball games will be my primary source of income!!! Then I can work at Wal-Mart and McDonalds in the off seasons...can't wait, another 42 years!!!

 

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BlueDevilDad ... nice guy, thanks. Don't think I am the one with the ego problem ...

 

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It doesn't have to be put in a mean spirited way but ump's should be somewhat physically fit with two eyes and two legs. Many of our DD's work extremely hard with a lot of time and effort to develop their skills. Some coaches work very hard (like Les) =) and parents spend a lot of money all so the girls can play their best in a highly competitive game. These games need to umpired by someone who can move into position quickly to judge a play, see a runner leaving early out of the corner of their eye, judge a tag at a base, etc. They deserve it. Not everyone is in a condition to umpire. That's just life, just like I'm not big enough to be a defensive end for the Chicago Bears or tall enough to play forward for the Bulls or like some girls are not athletic enough to play fastpitch. JMHO
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musty... you would be a mean wing eater at Hooters!!!!

 

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I am not going to defend bad umpires, and yes I do realize they do exist. Please do not try to lump everyone that may not be a perfect specimen into the unable to handle the job. An umpire with one eye, MAYBE not my first choice, but before I you decide that it can't be done, do a little research on former OSU player Brit Vanderink to see what she could accomplish with impaired vision. I have seen plenty of physically fit umpires, that didn't know the rules, never bothered to get into position, etc. Before you start handing existing umpires pink slips, try recruiting better ones, or better yet, take the class, strap on the gear and do a few games.

I am a umpire.

 

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It doesn't have to be put in a mean spirited way but ump's should be somewhat physically fit with two eyes and two legs. Many of our DD's work extremely hard with a lot of time and effort to develop their skills. Some coaches work very hard (like Les) =) and parents spend a lot of money all so the girls can play their best in a highly competitive game. These games need to umpired by someone who can move into position quickly to judge a play, see a runner leaving early out of the corner of their eye, judge a tag at a base, etc. They deserve it. Not everyone is in a condition to umpire. That's just life, just like I'm not big enough to be a defensive end for the Chicago Bears or tall enough to play forward for the Bulls or like some girls are not athletic enough to play fastpitch. JMHO
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Well said

 

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musty... you would be a mean wing eater at Hooters!!!!

Now ur talking

 

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Well said

Thank You and I'm not even drinking tonight