Parking lots... where the clowns live
 

Only got 2.5 in today due to rain. I'm PU, partner, who does NCAA games as well, is BU. In the first inning, assistant coach from the dugout yells time and tells the RF to tie his shoe. BU is in A. Gives him 15 seconds or so, fielder stands up and is ready to go.

Then the ASSistantcoach starts approaching the RF (partner later said that the shoe was never untied, most likely) to "help him". BU sends him back where he came from, much to his shagrin.

After the game, I'm getting into my car, partner went across the road to check on the restaurant and see if we could get a table. Coach comes up to me and asks if I'll be there for the continuation of this one. I told him "no", he said "what about the other guy", I said "no", to which he replied "good, that guy has no clue out there".

I said "coach, we are not doing this right now. I will not listen to this, he is an NCAA umpire and a damn good one"

He sulked back to his car, saying on the way "they are only 9".

Lord, I got to stop doing this lower level crap. LL district is fine, but these special tournaments just kill me sometimes. Can't wait until they let me do HS games... have to be 21 here :(

Thanks for letting me rant.

one thing i wouldnt do is comment on the level of another umpire. it just leaves the door wide open for the coach/fan. he could easily come back with "oh, he works NCAA but cant do [insert something here]. thats just great." id just say your first sentence of that quote and leave it at that.

i was BU at a game a month ago, and my PU ended the plate conference with "...and hes a good umpire. hes done [insert my years and levels worked] and hes not going to miss anything. if he wasnt good, he wouldnt be here. he might be young, but hes your umpire. good luck managers, lets have a good one." i just thought that was completely unecessary to be brought up at any point.

Yeah thats bullcrap.

Does this same umpire also inform coaches if this is his partners first game?

When I leave the park I leave. I wouldn't even stop for a drink across the street from the park, maybe a couple miles down the road. And I rarely eat where I have to check to see if I can get a table and never after a game.

In this case we had to stay around as we had just done the 1st game of the DH and were awaiting word on the second game, hence us considering just going to hang out at the restaraunt across the street until the field was fixed up and the rain subsided...

You only got in 2.5 of the first game due to rain. If there is a chance that the field can be fixed up for play then the 1st game resumes. I have never declared the 1st game of a DH rained out, and then played the second game of a DH.

I called the first game after consulting with the TD about the possibility of getting the field ready. He said no could do. I said fine.

Told him to make the decision on the second game right there. We don't have say on the second game. I can't cancel it, have to wait for him...

they are 9!
 

I don't do LL, but I see no reason an umpire at this level cannot eat across the street. Sheesh! Just gotta disagree here.

Even Denny's and IHOP take reservations. You must spend most of your time at the local Burger King or Taco Bell.

Something wrong with either of those? :p

A NCAA umpire is doing 9U games? Is work that hard to find?

I think I have been in a Burger King in the last 5 years, but not Dennys, IHOP or Taco Bell. Why in the world would anyone waste their time waiting for a table in fast food joints?

It's "chagrin."

You said that you seldom eat a places where you have to check to see if you can get a table. Almost all restaurants other than fast food restaurants take reservations because people never know if a table will be available when they arrive. If don't eat at those restaurants that means you either: 1) Almost never go out to eat, or 2) Only eat at fast food restaurants.

You clearly live in a different place than I do, big city maybe? So the partner who ran across the street, he is getting a reservation for a table for two? How long do you wait for this table?

As someone who has an opportunity to travel amongst many of the major metropolitan areas in the country, I can say the concept of making reservations at restaurants as a standard practice is standard in some cities (San Francisco, e.g.), and a completely foreign concept in others. Here in the Dallas area, about the best we have is some restaurants allow "call-ahead" seating, which gets you on their list when you call. But it is not unusual, especially on a busy night like Friday or Saturday, to have to wait 30 minutes to an hour for a table at the typical mid-level or above restaurant. But what's the problem, we all need that time to get liquored up at the bar, right?

Get a clue
 

It's called "volunteering" and "community service". Two terms you must be very unfamiliar with.

Sorry that it's beneath you.

striker,
where did you come up with that?

Sorry...it seems that more than a few umpires on this board have an attitude toward doing anything at a lower level...comments like LMAN's demonstrate an attitude that doing a 9yo game would be out of the question and beneath their status. This high and mighty attitude is one of the main reasons there is a shortage of good umpires at lower levels; once they progress, they aren't willing to return to their "roots." I am not suggesting that we stretch ourselves too much so we are always doing games, but a little community service now and then would be great. There are two associations in my community, one for softball and one for baseball. Both require a certain number of games volunteered to the community throughout the year to maintain membership. It is minimal, and most occur in the post season. However, it really, really helps out the organizations that need umpires but must contain costs to make sure every kid plays that wants to.

A great example of this kind of service occurred with me and my partner last year. We were scheduled to do a game, but it was cancelled while we were at the field. On the adjacent field, there was a 9-10yo game that was getting ready to start that needed umpires. You should have seen the look on those boys' faces when we arrived on their field! I think it even improved their level of play to have "real" umpires (rather than dads from the stands) in "real" uniforms for a regular season game. They played their hearts out and we received thank-yous from just about everyone there, including the coach that had a few close ones go against him!

My point is this...once in while, do something just because it is the right thing to do and it makes someone else happy. That includes umpiring a 9yo game because they need good umpires, too.

Sorry to hijack the thread. This is just a huge pet peeve of mine.

Striker

I am familiar with the terms. But that is about as wide a disparity between ability and level-of-ball that you are ever likely to see. Not quite Joe West doing T-Ball, but close.

Sorry you thought it unbecoming to comment (and it was just a comment). I didn't realize NCAA umpires worked 9U games so commonly where you live. A wonderful luxury! :D

First of all any community service as you call it, requires the individual that does it to get something out of it. When people give a "service" and they are not enjoying the experience, you do not have to do it. I am so sorry you feel like no one has anything better to do than work a 9 year old league where the parents treat the umpires and coaches as if their kid is the "next coming." It is not an obligation to stay away from their families, jobs and any other obligation we might have to umpire a game that when it is over, no one is going to remember the outcome or even care about the outcome. If the "adults" want umpires to come down and work these games, then they need to pay more money, treat the level for what it is and treat the everyone with a bit or respect. I would rather sit at home and watch a game with my family than go out and work a game in the hot sun for a bunch of people that do not respect the sacrifice I made to be out there.

Once again you miss the point. It is not the kids that make these leagues a totally waste of time.

It makes my family happy for me to be with them when so many other times I am somewhere else. My obligation is to my family first, not to working a youth league or umpiring on some night during the week. If I do not make money in my real job, my family might not eat or get other bills paid. So I am so sorry that you think taking off from our jobs and working these leagues are low on your priority list. I do not even have kids and I can imagine that some umpires want to take time to spend with their children and their activities and it might not have anything to do with a field or sporting event.

When I started into officiating 10 years ago, I did it to make more money than I was making delivering Pizzas while in college and to be close to the sports I played in HS and wish I had when I was in college. I did not do this for community service or to work a specific level. Now that I know what it takes to get to certain levels and what time it takes to maintain that, I give back to every single association I belong to help train those that have not achieved the things I have so they can raise the level of officiating. As far as I am concerned that is the only obligation I am required to do. If these leagues want better officials, make the accommodations surrounding these leagues better. Like many leagues in my area have done, they pay a lot more, they treat the officials with more respect and they empower the officials to make decisions and league administrators work with the officials to make their time in these leagues enjoyable.

And it is a huge pet peeve of mine to be told by guys like you what I should be doing because I am an umpire or officiate other sports. You have no idea what I have to do in my daily life or the lives of others when it comes to umpiring. If you want to work these leagues, more power to you. Do not tell us what we have to do because you feel everyone should work all levels at all times. Until we get paid 6 figures for umpiring, then we all have a right to make choices how we see fit.

Peace

Do these associations also donate a certain percentage of their members' game fees to local curches and charities?

I had a mid-week dinner at the Palm in Dallas while attending a convention. We had reservations, waited 10 minutes in the bar and had a very nice meal. It's not the kind of place you walk in off the street between games to see if you can get a table.

EVERY member, including officers, are required to participate in community sports programs as an official.

The associations donate through service in kind instead of donations.

"And it is a huge pet peeve of mine to be told by guys like you what I should be doing because I am an umpire or officiate other sports. You have no idea what I have to do in my daily life or the lives of others when it comes to umpiring. If you want to work these leagues, more power to you. Do not tell us what we have to do because you feel everyone should work all levels at all times. Until we get paid 6 figures for umpiring, then we all have a right to make choices how we see fit."

Thanks, Mr. Rutledge. I couldn't have provided a better example of how selfish our society has become and the attitudes people have concerning community service. I appreciate your assistance in illustrating my point. Your attitude has become pervasive..."sorry...won't do it unless you pay me...and it has to be enough!...Oh, and I have to enjoy it...if it might be a little work, forget about it!"

Sounds like your opinion of yourself as god's gift to officiating one-ups a parents opinion that "little Johnny" is god's gift to sports.

1) "God" is a proper noun.

2) I would not work for any association that forced volunteerism upon its members.

3) What is wrong with wanting to be compensated for one's work. Umpiring is hard work. Volunteering is a commendable endeavor, but one shouldn't criticize those who prefer to be paid for their work.

I feel the same way about forced volunteerism as I do when the United Way people used to tell my boss that he needed to make sure we were a 100% donating group. We never were, not while I worked there. That money went somewhere else.

It's up to me how I give my time and money. If I do it on a field or court, it's cause I *want* to, not because someone tells me I should.

If it's required, is it truly "volunteer" work ? How do you know who is
doing it for the volunteer aspect of it, or just because they're required
to do it ? I wonder how many of your members actually consider it
"volunteer".

1. My "roots" are high school ball.

2. Mandatory volunteerism is an oxymoron.

3. Does not working youth baseball negate the time, expertise and financial resources I freely give to several other charitable organizations?

4. What business is it of yours whether anyone chooses to work small ball for free or otherwise? (Hint: The proper answer is: none.)

Here is my priority list.

1. God

1. Family

1. Job

1. Officiating

I feel sorry that you have nothing else to do with your life than umpire. I think I give back quite enough to the sports I officiate and spend enough time away from the people I love working games. I do not need another reason to stay away from my home and my job (which actually pays all the bills BTW).

Great comeback my man. Now I know why the divorce rate is so high in this country.

Peace

Methinks thou doest protest too much....
 

Wow...what a backlash....

Alright you guys....if you feel that strongly...then, how about this?

No more demeaning and belittling those that do small ball and are willing to make the commitment to it.

No more demeaning and belittling the organizations that are created for the purpose of allowing all those that want to the ability to play.

If you aren't willing to be a part of the betterment of these organizations and those that commit their time and efforts without recompense to them, then

SHUT THE F UP!

Depends...which "god" you are speaking of and the context in which it is used.

Okay, in your asinine comment, God should have been capitalized, as you were referring to a specific god. You did not say "one of the gods' gift." You said "God's gift," and in that context, it is a proper noun.

Quit telling people in big letters to shut up, you know nobody is going to! I have done more than my share of big time HS varsity, Legion, adult ball, whatever. I'm not above working LL games, as this past season I worked proves. The highest level I did this season was a few Senior Games. The rest were lower levels. But I got paid to do these games, and not just a hot dog and a Coke. LL Majors pays $38 to $45 dollars here, depending on the league. The reason is that they don't have anyone who will do it for free!

And judging by the amount of grief you receive working these games, as Tee would say, as a "glorified baby sitter," it's no surprise that there is a shortage of volunteers.

In 20 years of HS ball I didn't get as much crap thrown at me as in ONE season doing Little League! There is no way I would even consider working games for free.

I have an idea for you, grow some sack.

If you do not want people to talk badly, talk down about or belittle the youth ball, then either help change the type of people that run these leagues all over the country, or get over it. Many people talk badly about youth leagues because of their direct and personal experiences. I have had people beg me and many others to work these games. Many pass at all costs. So if you do not like the banter, you have a lot of people to convince and if you talk to many officials off this site, we are being very kind in our positions about these leagues. In every sport I work, officials hate working these leagues other than the "weekend warrior" types that want to spend an entire weekend away from their family while chasing a couple of hundred bucks.

Peace

Does that include those who are forced to work those games for free by their association?

No, I wasn't referring to the specific god of Christianity. I wasn't referring to any specific god. Don't assume. If I would have meant that, I would have capitalized it.

"In 20 years of HS ball I didn't get as much crap thrown at me as in ONE season doing Little League! There is no way I would even consider working games for free."

In the words of Mr. Rutledge, maybe you need to grow some sack.

The sad part of all of this is that people feel they need to get paid for helping out in their community, whether it is officiating, helping with community centers, working in parks, etc. It is a very sad commentary about what our society has become when people don't feel that something is worth doing unless they are compensated.

Those that are commenting about doing what they do for a living or for extra money isn't worth doing for free should look at programs like Habitat for Humanity. These people that make much more as carpenters, plumbers, roofers, etc at their jobs than you would ever dream about making as an umpire are willing to use their talents for free to assist someone else, even though they get nothing for it and it is "work" and time spend away from their immediate families.

Even though there are issues with many youth programs, the truth is that these programs teach the kids many valuable life lessons and keep them from spending their time in less favorable activities. It is easy for you guys that refuse to involve yourselves to criticize. What did you do to help improve the situation while you were (if you were) involved? Or, as most do, just gripe and complain and leave?

So, don't be involved; that is your choice. You have other priorities; that's great! However, if you have nothing to contribute to improve, then you have nothing to belittle and demean. It just shows how little of a person you must be to belittle and demean those that are trying to make a difference in those programs.

The really small people are the ones that ridicule the umpires in these programs that come here with questions and looking for information. They berate, belittle and demean their programs, then when they come here trying to improve they berate, belittle and demean them. What sense does that make? Why not be helpful and courteous? If you refuse to participate, why not assist them in these forums where you can?

Hmmmmmm?

RE: Priorities
 

Rut,

It seems as if you have a problem with your priorities::p

"Here is my priority list.

1. God
1. Family
1. Job
1. Officiating"

There's no commitment like one forced upon you. Just ask
Joseph Stalin.

One of these days you will realize that there are more things to life than sports. I would rather give back to educational concerns and helping poor people than umpiring or officiating a youth league as a volunteer activity.

Peace

[QUOTE=Striker991]
The sad part of all of this is that people feel they need to get paid for helping out in their community, whether it is officiating, helping with community centers, working in parks, etc. It is a very sad commentary about what our society has become when people don't feel that something is worth doing unless they are compensated.
All of the youth organizations around here charge a
fee for the kids to participate. They are technically "not-for-profit groups, but
this doesn't keep them from making money. Let the kids play free, then maybe some minds would change.

Those that are commenting about doing what they do for a living or for extra money isn't worth doing for free should look at programs like Habitat for Humanity. These people that make much more as carpenters, plumbers, roofers, etc at their jobs than you would ever dream about making as an umpire are willing to use their talents for free to assist someone else, even though they get nothing for it and it is "work" and time spend away from their immediate families.

Habitat is a wonderful,noble, program, that helps people
get back on their feet. But you cannot compare it to youth baseball. People don't show up at a Habitat site, watch a while, and then start yelling at
workers that are giving their best. That is one major reason why I'd
volunteer for Habitat, but never for youth baseball.

Even though there are issues with many youth programs, the truth is that these programs teach the kids many valuable life lessons and keep them from spending their time in less favorable activities. It is easy for you guys that refuse to involve yourselves to criticize. What did you do to help improve the situation while you were (if you were) involved? Or, as most do, just gripe and complain and leave?
Some people believe that it is not their responsibility
to raise other people's children. I have done that with my own children, and
am not doing it for other's kids.

Maybe you cannot understand these points, but I tried.



QUOTE]

My sack is just huge enough, thank you. Not that you should need to get personal with me to start with. Now you're just being flat-out disrespectful. To God, to me, to others who don't share your viewpoint on volunteering.

Just exactly what does not wanting to work a kiddie ball game for free have to do with having a sack, huh?

People just assume the umpires working these low level games are rooks to begin with, so they rag on the umpire. So what? That's a fact. I can deal with it just fine, I simply won't do it for free. Why should I take that kind of abuse for a hot dog and a sody pop?

Feel free to go build houses with James Earl Carter if that's what floats your boat, but quit trying to shove volunteerism down everyone's throat. It is not our civic duty to work for free.

Youth sports and programs are educational concerns in our societies. The lessons the kids learn through these programs (perhaps baseball), are just as important as "other" educational concerns. I volunteer alot of my time to the Local Boys and Girls Club coaching youth basketball. Yes it is time spent away from my family or my job, but I consider it just as important.

I am not shoving volunteerism down people's throats, all I'm saying is that we are all members of our respective community, and should seek to better it in anyway possible, which may or may not include volunteering.

What a wonderful community citizen you are. An example for all to follow. You and Rut are wonderfull illustrators of the point I'm trying to make. I'm not sure what your religion is, but you may want to research the origins of your faith...I'm not judging here, but your writing and the writings you may be claiming to follow might be contradictory...your "God" may have a different opinion than the one you share here.

Religion or Baseball
 

Let's stick to officiating and baseball here... If you prefer religion or politics, go to POPE.COM or BUSH.COM

Most, if not all youth organizations, including PONY, LL, and Babe Ruth (Cal Ripken), have scholarships and reduced fee programs. Basically, anyone that says they want to play will not be turned away by those programs. Get your facts straight, then maybe people will find you credible.

My faith is Christianity, which is not a religion, it is a belief system. I didn't say that I would not volunteer for anything. Now you are putting words in my mouth. I said I would not umpire youth baseball for free. I also stated that if you wished to build houses with President Carter (note the respectful capitalization), then you are certainly welcome to do so.

Since you have now tried to impune my character, I will give you a peek into my life:

I did not mean to suggest that I don't do anything voluntarily. I volunteer for events with the churches I attend (I attend 3 different churches). I tithe and give offerings, which go towards missions work, feeding and clothing the poor, and many other charitable causes. I also help my wife care for her 86 year old aunt, who we rescued from a nursing home last year, as she was recovering from her stroke. We took her into our home, and provide all forms of care for her. I will spare you the gory details, but suffice to say, the work I do 3 or 4 days out of the week is the same thing they have to do in nursing homes.

I volunteered one time to serve my country, and proudly served three years in the Army. I did this during the time of an unpopular war, so it wasn't exactly a picnic dealing with civilian population at that time. I was, and still am, very patriotic and civic minded. Like the song says, "I'd gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today."

But I repeat, it is not a civic duty to volunteer for anything. That is what makes it volunteer, the fact that it is optional, and not manditory servitude.