|
Pete
I have been attending the Little League Softball World Series being played here in Portland, OR.
As many know I have never hidden my distaste for the "adult" infringement on the game as played at organized levels.
I watched 12 umpires work the series. I have seen 10 of them work the dish. And I'll make the following comments:
The "best" plate umpire for the entire World Series has not been selected to work the championship game at any umpire position.
Three umpires that have been selected are three of the most marginal umpires in the tourney. Having evaluated umpires for over 25 years I think I have a pretty educated view of what umpiring takes . . . Little League apparantly just doesn't get it.
Going into this tournament I have never met any of the umpires so I feel my view is also fair.
By watching last years LL World Series Championship game from Williamsport and watching about 9 games (live) and three more on TV here I have come to the awareness that the Little League Admistration just sees different things in umpires than trained observers.
I am sure that again in the Williamsport Championship game we will not see even the best umpires at the tournament much yet the best volunteer Little League Umpires from across the nation.
|