What should I do?

[UmpJM]

bossman,

The gentleman in question is older than I am, and I ain't no spring chicken. I have no idea how long he has been umpiring, but I would guess it's been for quite awhile.

I think your point about not getting the best the association has to offer for a 14U travel game is a perfectly valid one, and I wouldn't expect that. However, the other umpires they have sent have been, in my opinion, very good.

As to the reasons, I'll admit that I'm struggling with the best way to articulate them. This probably isn't the best way to say it, but it really comes down to multiple blown calls in each of the games he has called for us.

Some of these I would describe as "gross misses" on judgement calls; I'm not talking about bangers where I think my runner was safe and he calls him out. I'm talking about plays where both coaches agree that the call was missed, both for the team that benefitted from the call and the team that got the short end of the call. If this were to happen every now and then, I wouldn't think twice about it. But it seems to happen three or fout times every game.

I get the impression that he knows the rules pretty well, but he seems to "pick and choose" how and when he applies them according to a personal notion of fairness that doesn't always make sense to me. Again, sometimes my team gets the benefit of the misapplication & sometimes the other team does.

His strike zone I would describe as random at times. I know that there is really no way I can tell from my vantage point whether or not a "close pitch" should have properly been called a strike. However, there are certainly at least some pitches that I can tell perfectly well should have been called a ball. When they are called strikes, and my pitcher threw it, Im pretty sure my perception is accurate. Again, if this were an "every now and then" thing, I wouldn't think twice or think to mention it. But it's not.

I don't keep a journal or anything, but I would guess that it's roughly 50/50 as to when my team or the other team benefits when he makes what I consider a poor call. I'm not suggesting that he's out to get me or my team or anything like that. I don't believe he is. I just don't think he's a very good umpire.

JM

[jicecone]

After many years assigning I can tell you that I never minded receiving a phone call like this,

Hey jim this is so and so and I am the coach of the blah blah Team, in the
14u league. Your guys are doing a great job this year and we really appreciate having them for our games. It seems as though we tend to see a lot of So and So and he does a good job , but would it be possible to see more of the other gentlemen from time to time. If the assignor is not a horses patut he will probably say "I understand and I'll see what I can do".

Every assoiciation has their A, B and C officials and they should know it and be able to work around that in their scheduling. Bottom line is, they have contracted with you to send officials and if they receive enough calls about individuals not trying to do a good job , then that is their fault for not working and training officials, to keep your business.

It is not always easy to get the right mix for every game but, they are in the business to give you a product, that is somewhat commensuate with the fee they are charging. There is nothing wrong with expecting good officiating, even if it is not the best officiating.

[DG]

Originally Posted by jicecone

Hey jim this is so and so and I am the coach of the blah blah Team, in the 14u league. Your guys are doing a great job this year and we really appreciate having them for our games. It seems as though we tend to see a lot of So and So and he does a good job...

Now you have gone and told a LIE. The reason your calling is because you don't think he is doing a good job. Tell the assignor the truth or don't call.

How about this instead, "Hey jim this is so and so and I am the coach of the blah blah Team, in the 14u league. Your guys are doing a great job this year and we really appreciate having them for our games. However, it seems as though we tend to see a lot of So and So and he gets more than his fair share of close calls, and rule interpretations, and I think his percentage of getting them right is not comparable to the other guys. Plus, since we see him so often he is building up a reputation with the fans. It would be better if we did not see him as often.". Be ready with some specific examples such as you have mentioned.

If there is a league adminstrator for this league it would be better for this call to come from him, so it don't sound like a coach complaining. It would also be better if the administrator has actually observed the umpire instead of just taking second hand information.

[bossman72]

JM-

I see what you're talking about. Like i said in my original post- it's worth a shot as long as you have some good reasons/examples like DG said.

[BlueLawyer]

J:

You are a consumer of our services. If your don't think you are getting what you should be on a consistent basis, you are entirely within your rights to call the assignor and ask that the blue in question be taken off your games. Here are the caveats:

1. This is like the "smart-bomb" on Asteroids- you probably get one per year or maybe one per career. Make sure you want to use it on this guy.

2. Be respectful. You don't need to be told this, but I need to say it.

3. Be articulate with why . . . specific calls in specific games. If you can't recall them, you probably don't need to call.

Strikes and outs!

[GarthB]

"What should I do?"

Nothing. Play ball. Coach your team.