Quote:
Originally posted by walkerbard
Our league pays about $40 a game per ump (ASA certified). The way I see it is that the ONLY
thing we should EXPECT for that $40 is that the ump
knows the rules (especially the basic ones.) After that,
perhaps that they make an effort to at least be in
position to make the right call. I don't EXPECT EVERY judgement call to be right,(though in a perfect world, we're paying for that too.) Now I am fully aware that most PLAYERS are usually quite lacking in the knowledge of
the rules, but they aren't being paid to know them.
Anyway, though I don't have the same level of bitterness
that "RJ" appears to have, I do understand his point
about "arrogance." I just had a case in a game where
a player tagged up on a juggled fly ball. The play wasn't
appealed and had no effect on the game but one of
my teamates asked the HP ump about it between innings;
wanting to know if the runner leaves on the catch
or when it 1st touches the glove. The HP ump (I give
him credit here) wasn't sure so he asked the field
ump who incorrectly stated "on the catch." I then
told him I thought he might be mistaken. He then
CHALLENGED me to a bet by asking "how much do I have in my
wallet." (I know he wasn't interested in the money.)
So, out came my trusty rulebook and I SHOWED him.
Of course since my ASA rulebook was dated 1997
(as if the tag up rule has changed since it's inception
let alone the last 5 years) he still wouldn't acknowledge
his error. And this man was at least 60 years old
so he should have seen this situation countless
times on the field. At least the HP ump recognized
my 1997 book and thanked me later for pointing it
out to him.
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JW,
If your league pays $40 for an "ASA certified umpire", you've been taken as there is no such animal. There are clinics, schools, tests and meetings, but the only thing you need to become an ASA umpire is your registration fee.
Now, local organizations do have certain requirements to work games in their world, but that doesn't guarantee much of anything.
I've been to State, Regional and National Schools & Clinics, I am an instructor at the State level, have worked National Championship Tournaments, but all I have are certificates of attendence or achievement. To the best of my knowledge, no one has a certificate which states they are an "ASA Certified" umpire.
Meanwhile, you are correct about the play and it is such a basic rule, the umpires should be embarrassed as to not be aware of it.