Re: That's what is wrong with baseball
 

In our association we only have 3 umpires under the age of 40. and out of those 3, one is saving to go to the pro school, the other is in the NHL referee development program and the other has only been working for 3 months and is trying to get into the PGA or CPGA.

Re: Rich is exactly right.
 

Doesn't most of this also apply to summer basketball? (The exception being the "working alone" statement -- but in summer basketball I'm working a lot more 2-paerson than during the HS season.)

Re: Rich is exactly right.
 

This is extremely painful to write:

I agree with Rut. That's assuming that I understood what he wrote, which is a huge assumption since English is my primary language. :D

Babe Ruth Baseball
 

All;

I was a Babe Ruth certified umpire for years. It doesn't mean squat. Big deal, you take a 100 question true/false test open book, and send them a check for, I believe, $30. That's the first year requirements. After that, all they want is the $30. Three years ago, I decided that I would rather keep the money, so I am no longer certified.

Instead of working Babe Ruth tournaments for $48 per game, I work big boy baseball for $66-110 per game. All of our Babe Ruth certified umpires work the tournaments, leaving no one but the uncertified umpires to work for more money.

This is a no-brainer for me. Save $30 and make more money. I have told my assignor that I have no problem working Babe Ruth tournaments if he needs help. I will give something back to the community and take the lower fees but I will not send the bloodsuckers $30. I have one Babe Ruth tournament game on my schedule this year. Last year I did two. The assignor always runs out of crew chiefs so he generally drafts a few NCAA umpires to help out.

If Babe Ruth wants decent umpires, we have dozens of NCAA umpires with no Babe Ruth certification who would do one or two games. They would do a better job than their so called certified umpires anyway. NCAA rules are 99% in accordance with Babe Ruth (Babe Ruth plays with OBR which is very close to NCAA.) Almost all NCAA umpires that I know are familiar with OBR. The ones that aren't don't know NCAA either. They just fake it and count on their partner to bail them out.

Peter

Re: Babe Ruth Baseball
 

Yes, and I assume you live in a more populated area that has more umpires. I don't think we have any guys that are NCAA certified around here. We barely have enough to cover high school games. And most of the guys that call Babe Ruth, etc., around here are just local, off-the-street guys that want a little drug money or drinking money. They don't know the rules, they don't care, they just want their $20 so they can go buy some booze.

Re: Re: Rich is exactly right.
 

It does to an extent.

The difference is I can work two games in less than two hours in basketball and make more money than working a baseball game in the same time. I might work a 2 hour baseball game in the summer (no time limit) and see half of that money. There is a reason we have more basketball officials as compared to baseball umpires. Pay is not everything, but I know I will play a game, rather than look at the sky and hope I get paid at all.

Peace

You seem to have a lot to say, but can never back it up. You agreed for some reason.
 

Name one sentence where English was not written in this post? Or is just running your mouth the only thing you can do?

Peace

Re: Re: Rich is exactly right.
 

And I don't work a single basketball game from March to October.

Re: Re: Babe Ruth Baseball
 

My point was that "certification" means squat. I work in 2 small NCAA conferences and nonconference for a bunch of smaller colleges. They don't certify anything -- if you can work and get hired, you're in.

I've worked plenty of Babe Ruth tournaments, but always under the same rule as HHH. I'll work whatever you want me to work, but I ain't PAYING to work summer baseball. I'm happy to work Babe Ruth, Legion, etc., but paying a national organization to send me a patch I won't wear anyway is idiotic.

--Rich

Re: Re: Re: Rich is exactly right.
 

Either I'm working the wrong basketball games or you're working the wrong baseball games. ;)

I find the pay to be about equal.

You are correct that there are more weather cancellations in baseball.

When I did Fed, half the questions on the tests involved safety rules and half the time in meetings was spent on the same subject. Inspect the bats, check the field. When you go over the ground rules, be sure to read the legal disclaimer. What if the runner slides past the base on a force play and contacts the fielder? What official seal has to be on the helmet, the bat, the ball? What if the runner is standing on a base and removes his helmet to adjust it on his head? What if the runner appears to be using a tobacco-like substance? What if there's lightning? What if the 3B coach is holding a clip board or sitting in a wheel chair?

The rationale for all this was that if we don't review these items every year, the trial lawyers will have a field day with us when somebody gets hurt or offended. OK. Fair enough. That's the U.S. today.

However, stories such as the one that started this thread are not uncommon, and it is clear that organizations that I would think should be concerned about liability are putting demonstrable idiots on the field as officials. (Umpiring for drug money doesn't really seem so implausible.) After all, there's no stronger proof that an umpire doesn't know what he's doing than several purely officious ejections early in a game over trivialities.

Trial lawyer: And what is your experience umpiring?
Umpire: I umpire a summer league.
Trial lawyer: How did you learn the rules? Did you take a test?
Umpire: No, I'm an assistant coach for a high school team. I also played Little League. Plus I watch games on TV.
Trial lawyer: Do you have a copy of the rule book used by the tournament in which you threw six people out of the game before the kid broke his neck?
Umpire: Uh, no.
Did you ever read the rule book for that organization?:
Umpire: Uh . . .

How can these organizations risk using these people as officials?