Blu'e's feelings...

[nsidethelines]

Explain to me then Mr. Topper how you can explain to a 9/10 year old or even up to 18 that the same pitch that was called a strike is being called a ball now?? Or at first the umpire calls them high one inning, then low the next, then calls the corners??? It's a guessing game, that's what it is... I wonder if blues are mandated to get their vision checked yearly in order to ump?? Maybe that's the problem, they can't see...

My explaination is that I am not responsible nor accountable for every bad umpire working. Nor am I an apologist for bad umpiring. I thought this thread was about how much crap an umpire should put up with, not how bad youth ball umpires are. You probably won't get much argument from me about the latter. The problem is that your posts have done very little to show that you have any clue whatsoever about umpiring certainly, but possibly softball in general.

BTW, how do you know I'm a "Mr."?

Ok, Mr or Ms. I can tolerate missed calls, etc. What I don't like is training an umpire. Yea, I know they have to get their experience somewhere, but does it really have to be on the competitive field? What about league ball? I mean really. If we are training an umpire, don't you think it should be at a discounted rate? I mean, like when you go to Visible Changes. You can choose a Master Stylist or a barber? I just hate getting a barber, when I paid for a Master Stylist. JMO

[topper]

Ok, Mr or Ms. I can tolerate missed calls, etc. What I don't like is training an umpire. Yea, I know they have to get their experience somewhere, but does it really have to be on the competitive field? What about league ball? I mean really. If we are training an umpire, don't you think it should be at a discounted rate? I mean, like when you go to Visible Changes. You can choose a Master Stylist or a barber? I just hate getting a barber, when I paid for a Master Stylist. JMO

Please explain "train" and "we". Are you coaches, parents, umpires, all 3, 2 of the 3? Are we talking about mechanics? Rules? Judgement? What age group of "competitive" ball are you having to train umpires for?

[Sheriff10]

I can not speak for any umpiring association except the one I am a member of. We train. We read the rulebook. We train. We read the rulebook. We train again while reading the rulebook. We discuss while training and reading the rulebook.

We make mistakes. We have bad games. We miss pitches. We blow calls.

We call everything from 10U to 18U.

We make every attempt to learn from our mistakes and get better. We get paid to do all this.

We do the absolute best job we can. We also laugh when those loud mouth parents/coaches do not have the courage to put themselves on the line and live in our shoes.

[monkeysmom]

Here is my 2cents for what its worth from a sometimes frustrated parent. Umpires, as a parent of a pitcher, if I disagree with your calls I will neither cuss, call you names, resort to violence or refer to your disabled eyesight I will pay attention to the first innings calls and if I see you are woefully incorrect in your judgement, I will talk to the pitching coach to change what he is calling. Oh...and I confess I may also groan or you could hear an occasional Blue COME ON! What I expect for the $200 tournament fees and the 30 bucks an hour is consistency in your strike zone (give the pitchers their corners PUULLEEEZZZEEE). What good does it do to teach the pitchers to hit their spots if you will only call a strike if it is down the middle or the batter swings? I always position myself behind the plate, I see where the ball goes, I see where you set up behind the catcher and I pay attention to what you call. A strike should be called where it crosses the plate. What I see are umps paying attention to the small area where they have set up and determining based upon the knees of the batter (or some other nebulous factor) if it is a strike or not. Many umps if they set up to the left of the catcher, they only call inside strikes and so on. By the way blue, a drop ball is just that, it is intended to move down at the last second therefore if it approached the plate in the strike area then dropped, it is still a strike...

Field umps, why must you set up behind the bags ( dont know of specific rules that state you must stand here but could be my ignorance)? You always position yourself in the worst possible place to call the close calls. If you didn't see a play, just say I didn't see a play and let the home ump determine the call. BTW, If the runner's toes are on the bag and the defense tagged her on her helmet...she is safe. Feet got there first.

These experiences and many more are why parents and coaches get frustrated with the blues. We know it is "just a game". But games have rules and you need to know them and follow them, not make stuff up as you go along. If you work with kids, you have to have thick skin and be impartial and objective, tough job I know but that is what you are getting paid for.

[Phantomz08]

Amongst all the other complaints about blue's, I cannot stand when they talk to each other in between innings and waste precious time during the game. If I tell them, c'mon blue, we are ready, they get mad. It is their responsibility to keep the game moving and there should only be one minute transpire between innings. This is especially hurtful in pool games when we only have 55 or 60 minutes to get practice in, or work on things in a game situation.

The only other thing I will mention us that those blue's that call a strike 8 - 10 inches outside is rediculous. There is no way a batter can put a bat on it out there. if anything, call it inside so they at least have a chance to hit the ball...

[topper]

Here is my 2cents for what its worth....

We'd like our change please.

I always position myself behind the plate, I see where the ball goes....

How are you able to see through the PU and the catcher?

If you work with kids, you have to have thick skin and be impartial and objective, tough job I know but that is what you are getting paid for.

Explain what "working with kids" has to do with skin thickness, impartiality, or objectivity. When umpires work college or pro games is less expected of them?

...as a parent of a pitcher....

Enough said.

I love your questioning of mechanics and positioning. Maybe you should contact your local umpires association. I'm sure they will be more than happy to make changes based on the suggestions of a 14U pitcher's mother.

[monkeysmom]

Here is my 2cents for what its worth....

We'd like our change please.
Bite me

I always position myself behind the plate, I see where the ball goes....

How are you able to see through the PU and the catcher?
Because I am not blind like the umpires

If you work with kids, you have to have thick skin and be impartial and objective, tough job I know but that is what you are getting paid for.

Explain what "working with kids" has to do with skin thickness, impartiality, or objectivity. When umpires work college or pro games is less expected of them?
General statement that when working with kids you have to be impartial and objective which often requires a certain thickness of skin

...as a parent of a pitcher....

Enough said.
See first response...

I love your questioning of mechanics and positioning. Maybe you should contact your local umpires association. I'm sure they will be more than happy to make changes based on the suggestions of a 14U pitcher's mother.

Just calling them like I see them Topper...unlike you apparently. There is a blues corner on HB maybe you should spend more time there since your skin is very thin indeed.

[Sheriff10]

monkeysmom, Topper is answering your post with the same condescending way you made your statements. Why do you say he needs thicker skin when you take offense to very same tone that you made your statements in?

[topper]

monkeysmom,

PUULLEEEZZZEEE learn how to quote other posts. I almost missed 2 "bite me"s and an "umpires are blind" comment. My day wouldn't have been complete without reading those zingers.

General statement that when working with kids you have to be impartial and objective which often requires a certain thickness of skin

This explanation makes less sense than the comment it explains.

BTW, my skin is plenty thick. I just choose not to ignore what I don't wish to ignore. Today, it's posts like yours.

[Trixsie]

monkeysmom, Topper is answering your post with the same condescending way you made your statements. Why do you say he needs thicker skin when you take offense to very same tone that you made your statements in?

MM must be a liberal