Incompetent Partner

[JRutledge]

Originally posted by PeteBooth
Originally posted by JRutledge

but with the shortage of umpires out there, it might be hard to turn away someone that wants to be an umpire unless they do something that is out of line.

He positions himself on the outfield grass between 1b and 2b. The home team coach(a fellow umpire) asks for time and tells me that I should reposition my BU.

This guy is doing it for the money and on top of it all I smelled alcohol on his breath.

Sure sounds to me if this umpire was way out of line . Surprised the coach didn't call the assignor and complain.

As mentioned, I would guess that a coach would rather have 1 competent umpire out there rather than what your thread described.

Also, at youth sporting events - Alcohol cannot be tolerated from anybody That alone should warrent at least a talking to from the association and if this behavior is repeated - supsension.

Pete Booth

You are talking about after the fact. I am talking about way before that. Before you are even given the game is what I am talking about. Unless someone knows about something that will disqualify you as an umpire, many assignors will want you to work as much as they can get you too. Of course if a umpire is doing things like this you can always report him. But understand, that is a very delicate issue. I know some assignors who do not like other umpires calling them *****ing about their partners. Now if you are sure that it was alcohol that you smell, I would confront the umpire myself and see what they have to say for themselves. Because if you make an accusation that is not founded, you might find yourself the one in trouble.

But again, the screening process is not going to be that extensive if there is a hugh shortage. It is just the reality of the game. At least in my state finding officials for Football and Baseball at the varsity level is almost never a problem. But finding a "good" official is another story all together. And in baseball it is almost impossible. If you have blood running through your vains and breath in your lungs, you are qualified. I see more bad umpires and umpires that just are not ready to do varsity it is not funny. Assignors just cannot afford to get umpires experience before they move them up. At least where I am at.