Crew Chief makes a mistake...but they got it right

[Sal Giaco]

With all due respect, I work NCAA Div. I conference baseball here in the Midwest and I work with guys that have less experience than me and guys that have more experience (D-I Regional, Super Regional and College World Series Umpires). The whole "Big Dog" term you guys use gets thrown out the window when you work at the higher levels. The reason is the experience and maturity level of the officials at that level. They don't have egos - they have a mature sense of confidence. Moreover, they are not afraid to admit mistakes or seek help when necessary. Perfect example is the "take your hat off" mechanic if there is a contraversial call on the field where another partner feels like he could add some useful information. Another point is the crew chief on some conference weekend series is NOT always the most experienced umpire on the field. Regarless of your experience level or title (crew chief or not), everyone working on the crew for that particular weekend is on the same level.
By the way, the NCAA is probably the first organization that adopted the "get it right" philosophy. Unlike many other trends in baseball officiating that start at the MLB/Pro level and work their way down into amateur ball... it seems like this time the big leaguers are getting a page out of the NCAA book.

[Atl Blue]

They don't have egos - they have a mature sense of confidence

I have also worked D-1 baseball (can no longer due to work schedule). Believe me, there are PLENTY of egos among D-1 umps.

Good grief, at last year's clininc in Atlanta, the testosterone was so thick it would have frightened NFL players. One ump had just worked the 2003 CWS. He had a chip on his shoulder so big it took a number of umps to knock it off (but they tried!). There were so many "big dogs" I thought they were going to have to bring fire hydrants to p*** onto into the clinic rooms because of all of the "territory marking" that was going on.

[Sal Giaco]

Atl Blue,
I don't know if that's Tony Thompson's group your talking about but that's not the case in Fetch's group. Also, the egos tend to come out a little more at off the field events (camps, get-togethers) but for the most part, that stuff is fairly minimal on the field or in the lockeroom. Usually, the first pregame of the series sets the tone for the weekend and you get a pretty good idea of what your partners are like. Remember, in college baseball, especially at the Div I level, you have a wide variety of backgrounds (ie, 30 yr old guy just out off AA pro ball to 56 year old man with 20+ yrs of NCAA experience).

Personally, when you get to a certain level, you can pretty much tell within the first couple innings whether your partner has "skills" or he's full of $hit. Guys that talk a big game don't last long at the higher levels. I believe in letting your work on the field do the talking and that is what will get the respect from your peers and supervisors. Just my opinion

[Atl Blue]

Yes, it's Tony's group. Yes, they have the skills. I have met and worked with virtually no one in the association that does not have the skills and knowledge needed. If they didn't, they wouldn't be tolerated.

But there are egos. Never to the point where they would step on your calls (at least not in a big college game), but there are a number in the association that let you know they are the "Big Dogs".

And yes, it is worse at clinics/meetings than on the field.

And the CWS ump with the chip mentioned above was NOT one of Tony's umps.

[umpyre007]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by His High Holiness

Now, we get down to what happens if the big dog is wrong when he overturns the little dog. Simple, the big dog's career is OVER or it's back to kiddie ball for him.

You must live in a perfect dog house. In our area the Big Dogs continue to umpire big games and perpetuate rules and intepretation myths.

U7

[WindyCityBlue]

Sal's comment was dead on...I've been trying to say this for some time now. Thank you!

Apparently, some of us are hung up on the term Big Dog or having our calls questioned by a partner or partners. I suggest that we get over it. We are out there to get the calls right, not to do them to the best of our ability. Too often you get guys that believe that, "Hey, I did the best I could." That may not be enough.

Since the convesation has turned form the intent of this dialogue, I will lock it up and wait for the next example of officials getting together to help each other get the call right. Until then, I hope that we are starting to see that while we take great pride in our training and abilities, there are always times when we need an assist. Some times we can take advantage of it, other times we are left holding the bag.