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Originally Posted by ChucktownBlue
Respectfully, I'd have to disagree. With six umpires, they don't have to work together! All they have to do is get their own calls right!
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We all have our opinions but on a 60 ft. diamond 6 adults IMO is way overkill.
Also, you say "get their own calls right" gets to be a problem on balls hit down the line. The PU normally has Fair/Foul to the bag, then U1/U3 has the fair / Foul after the bag. When does the fair / Foul belong to LFU or RFU?
What are the responsibilities of the LFU or RFU? Even the PROS mess up sometimes when working 6 man.
It's not like one is working with 6 umpires on a regular basis. 4 would be plenty.
Also, despite your view it does help when you work a "pressure" game with someone whom you have worked with before. I understand LL wants to acknowledge the dedicated umpire Volunteers which is the reason they have 6, but IMO they can honor them without having 6 umpires ON THE FIELD. Perhaps an honorable mention or something along those lines.
I do not know what happened this year compared to the last 2 years where in not only my opinion but others as well, the umpiring at the Regionals and LLWS was of good quality.
Perhaps some good quality umpires were chosen but because of work constraints could not make it.
Also, I am going to assume that LL has some kind of meeting with the umpires chosen for the LLWS prior to the games. It simply amzes me the strike 3 mechanic on swinging strikes this year.
One of the FIRST things ever taught to me when doing the plate is Do not say ANYTHING on a swinging strike three. Do not add insult to injury EVERYONE knows the player K'd so simply ring up the out.
Also, on routine Foul balls again I was taught to say Nothing as EVERONE knows it is Foul, yet in the Regionals and LLWS we hear the emphatic FOUL ball.
One would think that this is also being taught at the Regional schools.
Also, LL must have said something to the coaches involved, because thus far there have been some TERRIBLE calls yet the coaches have not even uttered a peep at least not on Nat'l TV.
I think it was the Mexicao Netherlands game where U1 Kicked the call BIG time. Even the announcers had to "bite their tongue" Also, as an umpire I do not care so much about the missed call but the positioning. U1 in a 6 person crew only has to worry about First base so he/she should be able to get in optimal position. The reason thecall was missed was because of bad positioning.
All in all I do not know what happened in the selection process this year compared to the last couple of years. The Regional umpiring was sub-par at best as so far WP is not off too a good start.
Pete Booth