Quote:
Originally Posted by JRutledge
I know some want to say that calling a pitch in baseball is the hardest thing in sports, but with all due respect anyone can be trained to stand there and make a call.
Peace
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That's true.
Getting them to make the right call, and do it on all 200-300 pitches (depending on game length) within the confines of a proper strike zone, is something different.
It's irritating to hear players praise some of my co-workers with, "He's big, but's he's consistent." Well, hell yes, and why not? Consistency within 25 inches is easy, but within 19 inches a lot tougher.
Baseball umpires have their own space for which by rule they and they alone are responsible to a greater degree than other sports. Nobody on the other side of the field is blowing a whistle or throwing a flag to bail you out of something you missed.
IMO, baseball has more weird stuff happen routinely that calls for solid judgment. I'm with Tim C on one thing: the base umpire in 2-man with multiple runners and the PU staying home, who gets it right 98% over the course of a 100-game schedule has my respect and envy. When nothing unusual happens, baseball is a cake walk; when lots unusual happens, baseball is insanely difficult, because the rules are often counterintuitive.
An official who can control a basketball game at the level Rut describes and above, and keep the players and coaches in check throughout has challenges most baseball-only officials don't even imagine.
For exhibiting physical skills following the play that changes direction constantly at 75+ mph and brass balls in keeping up with and controlling players, NHL officials impress me the most. Maybe that's because I know I can't even do a close imitation of what they do.
Most reasonably fit adults can do a passable job in most sports keeping up with the players, because everyone can run. Not everyone can lace up skates, and if you didn't start in early elementary school or before, you have almost zero chance of acquiring the skill on skates needed to officiate collegiate/junior A levels and above.
Football and futbol? Relatively easy. That's relatively.