[QUOTE=PeteBooth;689905]
Quote:
I am in JM's camp
1. How do you KNOW these umpires do not take their umpiring seriously?
2. I am going to assume (I know could be a BIG mistake) that you get paid for your services so you can afford to attend clinics, buy the best equipment available. LL is for free. I do not agree with it BUT that is the premise.
Also, even if selected who can actually get the time off from work to umpire these games in the first place.
During the Regionals / LLWS there are still select travel tournamnets going on where you can earn decent money working those games.
Have you ever been on Nat'l TV umpiring in front of millions of viewers with Replay being used?
If NOT then you have NO basis for your response UNLESS you have been there.
Don't get me wrong I think the entire process is a joke ESPECIALLY replay at a kids game BUT these umpires are under a great deal of pressure becasue basically they have no backing. WP has sold their soul so whenever there is a "Close" call there is someone present who will get the umpires attention.
Personally, after this year I do not know why any umpire would want to subject themselves to what's going on. A prime example was in Bristol Conn.
Pete Booth
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I agree Pete. I've called games for years that were televised, been in large venue tournaments, etc., but I would NOT want to call a game under the microscope that LL is put under.
Simply, I don't believe that it gives the umpires a fair shake. I can count on one hand the number of conferences that I've had with umpires over the last five years during games; but, if you are doing LL, they must require you to bow to every whim of the coaches, because that's what the umpires on TV are doing every game.
Thansk
David