[GarthB]

Originally posted by Mike Follett

...but I still disagree, which is my right, with your opinion.

Yes it is.

No, I don't work MLB, and yes, I work youth ball, and have done it for a long damn time. I'm a very good umpire, who also happens to project professionalism on the field, albeit for those players 18 and under.

Good.

You use the term "youth ball" like there's something less important about calling at that level, than whatever level you happen to work for.

No I didn't. I refered to where umpires who do not conform to association standards work in my area and that, as I said in my post, is the lower levels of youth ball; the beginning areas for both kids and, in this area, umpires.


Here's a newsflash for you pal; there's a lot more of us, than there are of you.

Us? You? Who is us? Who is you? If "us" are youth umpires, I still work some youth ball 13U, 14U and up, so I guess I'm not a "you", I'm an "us". Right? I never meant to disparage youth umpires. Again, I explained that in my association, those who choose not to utilize standard mechanics, including stances, remain at the lower levels of youth ball. We still have many fine umpires who work youth ball, but who also work higher levels.


Just because I happen to give my time to the youth of my community, who that game means more to than anyone, doesn't mean I'm any less of a pro at what I do, than you.

Never said it did. And I never claimed to be a "pro." You need to relax a little. What I said was that in my opinion umpires proper stances (mechanics) and appearance in important in setting the tone for a game. I beleive that. And in my area, hands behind the back is not considered a proper stance, by both umpires and coaches. Of course, as an acquaintance says, your mileage may vary.

Not once have I heard anyone with any common sense, say, "Man, that guy behind the plate sucks because he doesn't have his hands hanging out in front of him like an ape".

It's not so much what they say as it is what they think. Put two umpires next to one another. One takes a proper, professional stance. The other puts his hands behind his back like they do in cartoons, and, in this area, 9-10 year old ball. Which one do the coaches respond to most positively, initially?


If that's one of the keys that you use to judge a fellow umpire, it must suck to be you.

Honestly, that is one of the areas we consider in our umpire performance evaluations. It's right on the top of our evaluation sheet: "Appearance" and again later in the middle of the sheet under "Mechanics".

And actually, I find it quite fun to be me. I call a wide diversity of baseball. I work with wonderful partners most of the time. I have been called upon to assign local, state, regional and national tournaments. I am the chairman of our associations evaluation committee.

Outside of baseball I have two wonderful, loving and talented boys. I have had a wife far better than I deserve for the last 29 years. I have a job that allows me time to umpire baseball and referee football and basketball. I derive strength and pleasure from my faith. Overall, life has been good.

If I were take this all too seriously, jump to conclusions and hastily write defensive posts when I didn't understand what was being said, I wouldn't be having as much fun.

[Edited by GarthB on Jul 29th, 2003 at 04:50 PM]