Quote:
Originally posted by Tim C
So all you LL Kool-aide drinkers do you really think:
a) All obvious foul balls should be called out loud,
b) That plate umpires should to EACH hitter say, "Batter -up",
c) That you really need a game where ALL SIX umpires have indiclickercounters,
d) That after each have inning (or after every play when involved) a base needs brushing.
e) Let's digress to c): could there be any small diamond game that "needs" six umpires?
This all leaves LL up to great lanes of criticism.
Rightfully so I might add.
T
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It seems to me that the job of an umpire is to:[list=1][*] Maintain control of the game[*] Adjudicate the game fairly according to the rules[/list=1]None of these criticisms seem to point directly to a problem in achieving these goals.
I know that you all have a sense of the style that you are advocating for, and this style serves you well, for the games that you officiate, in presenting yourself as an umpire that commands respect.
For the LLWS, though, it may be that a different style is permissible. And so, I'm not sure that your criticisms of the style (or decorum) of the LLWS umpires really reach to the heart of the matter.
LDUB thought he had an issue with the plate stance of one umpire, but a big dog convinced him that he may have had a good, though uncommon, stance. LDUB also thinks that some LLWS umpire may have called strikes early. I think that I've seen similar plate mechanics on the TV this year, and that is truly distressing, because it may lead to unfair calls. As far as I know, in all of this breast-beating, that is the only significant criticism of this year's LLWS umpires that actually matters in the games that are being played.
All of the other criticisms amount to variations on complaining about their uniform.
Personally, Tee, I don't violate your standards on any of a-e for my League's games, nor do I teach that my League's umpires should. (As the PU, on all foul balls I do use the "time" physical mechanic, even where it is an obvious foul. Is this acceptable to you?) I have been directed in tournaments to use mechanics that are not my personal own. Up until now, I have always found myself willing to comply with these requests. I don't believe that there are stone tablets with the one true umpire style that I should adhere to, and I'm not trying to impress any evaluators that would disagree with the TD's request. I have not yet been asked to adhere to a mechanic that would hamper my ability to control the game or officiate it fairly; that would be a different matter.
-LL