COMMON BLUE !!!

[Softballshouldbefun]

Excellent...that explains it. To be honest, I haven't seen it called very much, but I just wanted to make sure I was on the same page as the rules.

Thanks!

D

[skahtboi]

I am just curious why the umpire in the OP was a "common blue." What makes a "common blue?" How does that compare to an "uncommon blue?"

Uncommon blue, one that actually knows the rules.

Yeah! Sort of like a coach who knows strategy or what a rule book even looks like. I hear ya!

[upurbox]

I GIVE THE BLUES ALOT OF CREDIT AND DON'T QUESTION THEM MUCH.......BUT.....I'M STARTING TO SEE MORE AND MORE UMPIRES THAT REALLY DON'T KNOW THE RULES. DON'T GET ME WRONG, THEY KNOW THE BASIC RULES, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE LOOK BACK RULE, FORGETTING TO CALL THE INFIELD FLY, TWO MAN MECHANICS NOT EVEN BEING ON THE SAME PAGE, OR EVEN ASKING THE BASE UMPIRE WHAT THE COUNT IS OR HOW MANY OUTS AND THEY GIVE YOU THE WRONG INFO OR SHRUGG THEIR SHOULDERS. I KNOW THE MONEY IS NOT THE BEST, BUT IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE OUT THERE, DON'T UMP AND FOR THOSE FEW OF YOU WHO TAKE TIME TO BRUSH UP ON THE RULES BOOK.....KUDOS TO YOU !!!

P.S. I MEANT IT MORE LIKE "AWE COMMON BLUE" BUT I LIKE THE WAY SOME OF YOU THINK.

[MTR]

I GIVE THE BLUES ALOT OF CREDIT AND DON'T QUESTION THEM MUCH.......BUT.....I'M STARTING TO SEE MORE AND MORE UMPIRES THAT REALLY DON'T KNOW THE RULES. DON'T GET ME WRONG, THEY KNOW THE BASIC RULES, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE LOOK BACK RULE, FORGETTING TO CALL THE INFIELD FLY, TWO MAN MECHANICS NOT EVEN BEING ON THE SAME PAGE, OR EVEN ASKING THE BASE UMPIRE WHAT THE COUNT IS OR HOW MANY OUTS AND THEY GIVE YOU THE WRONG INFO OR SHRUGG THEIR SHOULDERS. I KNOW THE MONEY IS NOT THE BEST, BUT IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE OUT THERE, DON'T UMP

I don't disagree with you statement. However, you alternative is umpire your own games. Trust me, I would love to see enough umpires to cover every game plus some, but that just isn't the way it is. Unfortunately, that means your choice is take what you get or get nothing at all.

[GIMNEPIWO]

".......BUT.....I'M STARTING TO SEE MORE AND MORE UMPIRES THAT REALLY DON'T KNOW THE RULES."

I think that some of what you are seeing is Blues that may have background in Baseball or Slow Pitch crossing over ... at least I have noticed that ... these guys/gals will eventually pick up on the correct rules ... The down side is, that just like Managers and Coaches and Fans and Players ... there are a few out there that just don't get it and never will ... but I don't see many of those around ( and when I do I just hope we don't draw them in the next game ) ... a bad call doesn't mean the Blue is bad any more than a Player making an error means the player is bad ...

[upurbox]

I GIVE THE BLUES ALOT OF CREDIT AND DON'T QUESTION THEM MUCH.......BUT.....I'M STARTING TO SEE MORE AND MORE UMPIRES THAT REALLY DON'T KNOW THE RULES. DON'T GET ME WRONG, THEY KNOW THE BASIC RULES, I'M TALKING ABOUT THE LOOK BACK RULE, FORGETTING TO CALL THE INFIELD FLY, TWO MAN MECHANICS NOT EVEN BEING ON THE SAME PAGE, OR EVEN ASKING THE BASE UMPIRE WHAT THE COUNT IS OR HOW MANY OUTS AND THEY GIVE YOU THE WRONG INFO OR SHRUGG THEIR SHOULDERS. I KNOW THE MONEY IS NOT THE BEST, BUT IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE OUT THERE, DON'T UMP

I don't disagree with you statement. However, you alternative is umpire your own games. Trust me, I would love to see enough umpires to cover every game plus some, but that just isn't the way it is. Unfortunately, that means your choice is take what you get or get nothing at all.

..NO.. MY ALTERNATIVE IS TO HAND SELECT A GROUP OF UMPIRES INSTEAD OF CALLING A CHIEF UMP TO BRING OUT A CREW.....

AND AS FOR CHOICES, WE DON'T HAVE TO SETTLE, WE JUST NEED TO BE MORE STRICT WITH THE TYPE OF BLUES SENT OUT TO THE TOURNAMENTS / FRIENDLY'S. SOME KIND OF GARDE CARD OR SOMETHING BOTH COACHES COMMENT ON SHOULD BE PUT IN PLACE ...JMO

[anonlooker]

Couple of weeks back I recognized an umpire from back when my DD played rec basketball. He was a great basketball ref.

It quickly became apparent that he was new to softball when, between innings as the pitcher was warming up, he was cooling his heels behind the catcher and a fastball sailed away from the catcher, missing his head by inches!

Needless to say, he didn't hang out back there between innings after that.

and upurbox, will you please turn off your caps? thanks

[upurbox]

OK.........I mean o.k.
Why does everyone sweat the caps?

[anonlooker]

Because it means YOU ARE YELLING!

And it's easier to read properly typed posts.

Thanks again.

[upurbox]

That's what the !!!EXCLAMATION MARK!!! is for....lol
I'm just a lazy typer.
And thats an old wise tail about the yelling in caps from the Fuddy Duddy days