[lawump]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

The point was that the higher the level, the easier it is to umpire. That is an axiom which is true.

Steve,

I agree with that statement...mostly. Calling balls and strikes and outs and safes, I have found becomes easier the higher the level. No argument from me...I've said that on various threads on various boards numersous times.

However, IMHO it is NOT easier to umpire the non-routine situations the higher the level. I find quite the opposite to be true.

I've never had to shut down a beanball war on anything but the pro level.

I've never had coaches/managers come out to argue on a call I clearly got correct because he just wanted to get tossed to fire up his team on anything but the pro level. (Where I could tell that was clearly what the coach was trying to do.)

I've never had dirt kicked on me or home plate on anything but the pro level.

I've never had a fight occur in a game on the amateur level.

And while I have had "heated" arguments with head coaches on the amateur level, I have not had one approach the level of "heat" in the majority of my pro arguments. Simply put...I've been called things on the pro field that no amateur coach that I've worked with has come close to saying.

Now, I know these happen on the amateur level...but I think, at least from my experience, that the number and severity of these non-routine situations is far less than in pro ball.

I have found that most managers in pro ball viewed me as the "enemy" or a "necessary evil", and that no amount of hard work or correct calls could change that.

I have found that hard work over the past few seasons on the amateur level has actually gained the respect of coaches and I'm not viewed as the "enemy"...which reduces the number and severity of non-routine situations.

I'm not making a comment about the strike or replacements or anything of that nature. God knows I've posted my views on other threads.

I'm just suggesting, based on MY experience (MiLB, NCAA (I & II), HS, Legion, AAU), that non-routine situations are much more difficult to handle the higher the level.

Others may disagree...and that's fine.