Quote:
Originally posted by GarthB
BTW, I've worked at least a dozen regular season LL games on my nights off from Legion, adult amateur, and semipro games. And I've seen many good umpires working those games as well -- many of them are my friends. But if you want to keep the stereotype alive, go for it.
Rich,
The stereotype is kept alive by virtue of the broadcast of the LLWS.
Seriously...I know you and your abilities. Tell me something. If guys like you and your friends, on occasion, take time to work LL, why don't we see that calibre of umpire at the LLWS? Why do we see the Smitty's and their free floating strike zones? Do we have the ol' "It's not what you know, it's who you bl..I mean know.
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The LLWS assignments have never been about sending the most qualified umpires. It's an assignment based mostly on service -- very few younger umpires are seen at the LLWS.
I don't run the show, or I'd send top notch umpires to every game. I do know that the regional level is a bit different. In the Central region, college umpires have worked the last two finals on the plate. Both are from the district I help with. Both will hopefully, someday, get their shot at WP.
I know that in our district and state tournaments, we always use outstanding umpires. Not all the regular season umpires get tournament assignments -- only the ones that the guy doing the assigning trusts to do a good job.
--Rich