[PeteBooth]

Originally posted by Jim Porter

Originally posted by PeteBooth
What does returned assignments have to do with the quality of umpiring? - Answer - Nothing.

Oh, I disagree. On-field performance is not the only important attribute for a quality official. Reliability is one of the first elements a quality official must demonstrate.

Jim glad to see nothing's changed you and I disagreeing (G)

While I understand it's not professional to call the assignor the day of the game IMO, there should be nothing wrong with giving that assignor say 2 or 3 day's notice.

In additon, HS games start around the 4-4:30 time frame, and most HS umpires are leaving work to get to the game.

I do not know about you but work comes first. Can't pay my mortgage on the FEES I get from umpiring. Sometimes, at work you get caught putting out fires or in a meeting. I'd much rather have the HS assignor mad at me than my boss looking for me and some co-worker saying Oh yeah Pete left early to umpire a HS game - that goes over real well.

In addtion, HS assignors do not understand as Assigning games is there real job That's what they get paid to do.

Then if you have kids, rainouts come into play and you might have to turn down an assignment because your son / daughter's game that was cancelled was rescheduled for a day you originally thought you had free.

I guess what I'm saying at least from my experience is that yes it's important to give a committment and be professional about your assignments, however, I do not think that just because you turn down assignments means you should be downgraded, that IMO is why the Smitty's of the world get the good game assignments.

As I mentioned in my original response, I'm more concerned about Summer / Fall ball where there are many games and I do not have to kiss a@@@ in order to get the quality assignments.

My main reason in the first place in getting HS certified was to umpire in the Summer / Fall where my availability greatly increases becasue there are many games played under the lights and you do not have to leave work early.

If a person is judged to be a good quality umpire simply because they are always available is shallow IMO.

The more important aspect is to make certain you show up for the clinics, rules interpretation meetings etc.

I guess your answer prooved to me that HS associations are indeed political, which is the point I was getting at in my original response. I'm loyal to those that are loyal to me.

Pete Booth