Quote:
Originally posted by Tim C
Gee Rich, here comes another "over the top" comment from Tee:
I would not work a game that "required" me to wear an adjustable hat. If they can't invest in me, who would be required to be working for free anyway, I certainly wouldn't "invest" (my time) with them.
Sorry Rich, I care.
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I'm right fond of Tee, you know. He provides Officiating.com with some quality material.
But, as I say in On Deck, Tee has
strong opinions, and that sometimes rubs people the wrong way. Even me. I want to use Tee's message to get some chips off my shoulders.
1. Little League is the largest baseball organization in the world with hundreds of thousands of umpires, give or take a few thousand. There are many things wrong with them. I don't like tight bases. I don't like reentry in any spot in the line-up. I don't like a designated runner for the fat first baseman. I don't like it that the MUST PARTICIPATE rule goes by the wayside at tournament time.
So I don't call Little League. Umpires who go ballistic when anyone mentions "volunteerism" or "hotdog and a coke" should just stay away. They are NOT going to change Little League. Best bet: Stick with comments about Leagues you understand and work for.
2. This wannabe business of "us" and "rats" began as an amusing sidebar. Umpires are in control, rats are evil. We must never give in to rats. Etc., etc. Bruce Froemming railed against cutting rats any slack: "Once you've s***ed a d***, you'll be a c********* all your life!"
Let me say this: The most ridiculous idea I've ever seen posted on a baseball internet board (even worse than "The ball hit his hand and went foul. Dead ball, strike on the batter) is this: All coaches are rats.
The categorical syllogism these pro-emulators use is absolutely valid:
A. All amateur coaches are rats.
B. He is an amateur coach.
Therefore: C: He is a rat.
The problem lies in the major premise: It just flat ain't true.
In my career, I have observed coaches: (1) refuse to run up a score on a vastly inferior team; (2) come out to correct a ruling that went in their favor; (3) correct a score after the game that allowed the other team to win; (4) render aid to a striken umpire; (5) without being asked, calm the crowd/parents; (6) absolutely never come out or argue or complain or chirp or snicker; (7) spend hundreds, even thousands of dollars to outfit poor players (happens all the time in my neck of the woods); (8) speak highly (in the paper, at the Lion's Club) of officials and their importance to the game. (9) Etc.
These guys who've adopted the professional attitude (at least as applies to their behavior toward coaches on the field) should quantify their premise:
A. Some coaches are rats.
B. He is a coach.
Therefore, C: He may be a rat.
A student once drew his "particulat" conclusion of a similar syllogism: He is some coach.
Look, if the umpire rat-haters posting here treated coaches as they claim, they would simply not get called for games. As Peter Osborne astutely points out, assignors like peace and quiet. He should know: He was one.
Now, we grizzled veterans
know the emulators aren't describing what they actually do. But their posts do a disservice to less-experienced amateur officials.
3. It's sort of dumb to bandy words with Rich Ives. He's a sophisticated, knowledgeable League administrator and with more years in baseball than most of the umpires on this Board. He is calm, doesn't troll, doesn't overstate his case, admits it when he's wrong, doesn't crow when he's right. All you need to do to verify that Rich is a treaure is go to eTeamz and read the messages on the Coach's Board. Ouch!
4. Another coach, John Muller, has proved repeatedly that he knows the rules as well as any umpire on this Board. (Well, almost any umpire. grin)
5. Warren Willson and I once collaborated on a definition of the umpire's duty/charge/obligation:
He is present to ensure that no team gains an advantage not intended by the rules. (me)
He is present to ensure the regulations of the League that hired him are enforced. (Warren)
From my career: Wear an adjustable hat? Do the eye test with The Famous Chicken? Wear a shirt with a patch? Kick dirt off a base? Rub up a ball during the game? Wear a retro-uniform?
Sure. Why not?
That I'm human and act courteously doesn't mean I've sold out. As Patton said: "I'm here so you can see if I'm as big a son-of-***** as you think I am."
And our "hit parade" (who reads what and when) still proves Roland is also not nearly so bad as some claim. (grin)