ah, now you are adding previously-unknown info
I'll take my mulligan on the second sitch, then
I agree that we all suffer for partner's mistakes. I know I cause my partner (s) to suffer when I make a mistake. I make far too many for my liking, but I promise myself that no one will outhustle or outwork me to improve. Whether I actually improve or not, well....I leave that to my evalutor to decide
But my assoc has umpires that could not possibly care less about improving, as long as they get that check. I know your assoc has them also.
There's a difference between honest mistakes and those caused by laziness or willful indifference to basic rules. I kill myself sometimes trying to keep coaches off the back of brand-new umpires I work with, when I know they are overwhelmed and just too new to know better. But I draw a distinction between them and the 10-year guy who stunk when he started and still hasn't cracked a rulebook YET. Why reward
deliberate incompetence?
Should I draw such a distinction? I honestly don't know. I don't
know that some rump-chewings will make them try to improve, but I can say with confidence that completely shielding them from the consequences of their calls doesn't seem to have the desired effect!
I didnt mean let the game go down the toilet just to spite your partner. The game is the most important thing here. I think we are in general agreement here, but its hard to show shades of grey on an internet forum....