Juntos debemos unir on this topic!
 

Was working an over 30 woodbat league this morning. One team was comprised mainly of Puerto Rican players, who were very easy going and didn't have much of a problem with. I don't know much Spanish, but I could follow basically what they were saying/yelling/cheering.

But I got to thinking, what if a player started yelling at an umpire in a different language (one that the umpire didn't understand)? My partner was Puerto Rican as well, so anything that was said I guess he would have known if it was bad or not. What say you about players yelling in a different language at us Azuls, when nosotros no comprendemos?

Cuando ustedes no comprenden, usted necesitan decirles que hablar inglés, o los sea quitado.

Me entiende usted? Si no paran el maldecir en español, serán expulsados.

I work a Mexican / American league with a language issue.

I don't think you need to speak the same language as a coach / player to know when it's time to dump them.

Your gut will tell you.

So far, knock on wood, I have had the least trouble with this league, than I do with Babe Ruth and High School. I run more people in HS each year, than all other leagues put together.

Quand je travaille avec les équipes qui parlent espagnol je hurlez à eux en français. Il confond l'enfer hors d'eux.

lol. for those who don't know, he said that when he works games with Spanish teams, he yells french back at them. Confuses the hell out of them.

One thing is for certain, baseball is not the English enclave it once was.

But what about them cheering on each other? How do I know its directed at me? They could say awful things to me and I would never know.

I used to work a men's league in the San Fernado Valley (So. Cal), which was about 95% Mexican and Mexican-Americans. A few had actually played pro ball in the Mexican League. It was a well-organized league. All players had picture IDs, they had to be in full uniform (though not necessarily matching), home team had to supply official, league mandated baseballs, etc.

I was working solo, and called a runner out on a close play at home. THe 3B coach came down the line and called me a name in Spanish. I had taken Spanish in High School, and sat between two Hispanic boys who taught me all the "good words". I recognized what the coach called me as a VERY vile name, and I ran him. Of course he claimed that he didn't say anything bad. I told him that I understood what he said, and that he was gone.

The others looked at me, and figured that this Gringo could understand Spanish. The word must have spread, because no one ever used Spanish on me again. Little did they know how limited my knowledge was.

Bob

It's happened to me too in Mexican-American League a couple times. Little did they know that I minored in Spanish in college. And like in your case, word spread.

I usually never have any problems with these folks, and have worked 3 Mexican-American League All-Star games, as well as several of their Juegos de Campeonato.

The league out here is highly regulated by the League President, and laminated plastic player I.D. cards are required for each player. Each teams' I.D. cards are held by the opposing manager during the games. Players from all races and backgrounds play in this league, with the majority comprised of Mexican or Mexican-Americans.

Usually, remarks toward the Blue contain the phrase, "pinche umpire.":)

Tengo gusto del chocolate caliente con mis burritos picantes.

Using "chocolate" and "burrito" in the same sentence sounds yucky.

Bob

나는 너의 기본 방향안에 방귀를 뀐다! 너는 이었다 양딱총나무의 열매의 햄스터 그리고 너의 아버지 용해 어머니가 된다!

I umpired a few years in a Hispanic league in Aurora, IL. They played every Sunday, two 9-inning games and paid VERY well, which is why I did it. The only thing I had a problem with was getting them to start on time. Other than that, except for the occasional bush-league play (fielder standing in baseline waiting to catch pop-fly and runner runs into him) and the fact that they never secured their bases to the ground it was a fun league.

Oh yeah, and they always had those ice-cream trucks, Hispanic style, stop by the games. The spectators and players loved this corn in the cob on a stick with cheese type food. It sure smelled nasty.

This one team used to bring gallons of shrimp cocktail in ice buckets, and plenty of beer for after the games, and would always invite the umpires over to partake. Had a lot of good eatin' at Mexican-American games.:) :) :)

Mariachi bands and solo trumpet players highlighted the one season
of Mexican ball I umpired. Learned some rudimentary Spanish from a
catcher/pitcher. He had played ball in the Mexican League before
coming across the border.
Somehow, though, I kept expecting the INS to show up and end
the games prematurely......... :D

Funny how its hard to get prodomantly Mexican leagues to start their games on time! There is a little bit of truth to every stereotype I guess! :)

i took 3 semesters of spanish in college and all that i retained was being able to tell the catcher "dos mas"

What is most amazing is that you felt the need to put a smiley face at the end of this post.

Really, simply amazing.

Once, in a HS game, several Hispanic players were getting a little free with their yaps on the bench.

One of them let a little volley go my way, and I took off my mask, strolled over to the bench and said, "Hey boca. Comprendo bastante."

Multiple jaws dropped. This ploy, as it turned out, did the trick.

Ace

Garth - it was my partner that pointed this out at our game, because we started late. He's Puerto Rican. Does he have a right to say that and I don't? People stereotype me all the time, and I don't really give a hoot. Heck, coaches stereotype umpires. Who cares!

When you learn the difference between umpires and an entire ethnic class, when you learn that being a member of an ethnic class entitles you to some things that outsiders do not "enjoy", when you learn flaunting stereotypes before a group whose make-up you do not know...when you learn these things, we'll talk. Until then, weclome to the ignore list.

Pickin' boogers
 

If a player or coach is insulting me in language I don't understand, it's not much of an insult. For all I know, the signs the 3rd base coach are flashing are calling me names, and the offensive team might be passing nasty notes about me in the dugout.

I've got other things to worry about.

Muy bueno.
Très bon.
Sehr gut.
Molto buon.

Πολύ καλός.
Очень хорошо.
muito bom.
Zeer goed.

Ping tah fong jink mai too hoiy tahm fook lock tang shahm!

Ooo-yay oh-gay, irl-gay.:)

A wop bop a loo mop
A lop bam boo


Ooo Eee Ooo Ah Ah
Ting tang walla walla bing bang

Tu esposo tiene una pistola?

Mi madre en ley tiene gusto de mirar Matlock.

Karate kung fu judo tai chi ju jitsu AND Bangkok!

Ixnay on the oreignfay anguagelay...... :D

Pig Latin was already used, Duck.....:p

i worked that same league this summer.
it was an absolute disaster of a league, except for the $65 that it paid.

Are you sure about the pay? I haven't done it for a while but I know I got more than 65. They also played at the complex on the east side of Sycamore too. Did they play with old bases that weren't staked to the ground?? Either way the funny thing about umping in that league was when I was in Aurora there would be Mexicans playing soccer ALL around us. I assumed that the baseball players were the soccer "rejects".