Are we having fun yet....

[archangel]

I personally think the "blame officials" has always been there....its just that with the media outlets 24/7, fans( really all of us) are fed the "look at the bad thing that happened" story. Ratings, you know.
I also switch to slow pitch softball in mid summer/fall, only because its a change of sport (to a degree) and I'd rather be cool than wear "the gear". Others gripe about SP players but if one keeps control, and tosses those who dont understand, the word gets out, and I enjoy the exercise, fresh air, and the power (the $ aint bad either)....

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by archangel

I enjoy the exercise,

Working SP softball is "exercise?"

[greymule]

I used to look forward to every game and would even keep an eye on the weather forecasts in hopes it wouldn't rain.

But I admit that now there are games I don't really want to do, and I wouldn't do them except that the assigners need me and I need the money. There are so many just plain lousy games. And whether it's true or not, it seems that more and more contests simply drag and never get going.

But overall I like umpiring and plan to keep doing it.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Working SP softball is "exercise?"

For even a less than moderately fit person, no.

I helped my sports therapist and my doctor with an experiment back when I decide to knock off some pounds. I wore a heart monitor while umpiring, officiating football,officiating basketball, bicycling and during my walks.

My sitting heart rate is 58. During baseball games the highest attained was only 78 and then for very brief periods of time, seconds, really. The rest of the game, on the bases it stayed in a range of high 60's to low 70's. Behind the plate it was normally in the low to high 70's.

During football, it rose to the mid 80's and on occassion hit 92. Again, the amount of time spent in the higher ranges was brief. During the rest of the game it stayed in a range of 74-80.

Basketball was better in that my heart rate stayed elelvated in the 80's to mid 90's throughout most of the game with a high of 99.

Bicycling, I can control the rate by selecting a route and speeds. I usually keep the rate between 120 and 132.

I discovered that to make my walks "exercise" I had to pick up the pace to at least 3.5 mph and wear 3 pound weights on my wrists. That raised my heart rate to a range of 112 to 120, again depending on route.

For my level of fitness, my doctor suggests that anything that does not raise my heart rate to at least 110 is more casual entertainment than exercise.

[archangel]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

Working SP softball is "exercise?"

I guess there are umps who stay behind the plate, or take a step or 2 to make a call.
I happen to believe (after playing many years of SP), that if I hustle out to get a good angle of 1st, and anticipate throws to 2nd/3rd, --that I dramatically lower the *****ing on calls (cause I'm right there).
Working 3 or 4 games (1 hr per game) as a single ump means that I've left the field after 4hrs of exercise, heart rate up, perspiring, ect, generally feeling good, and the teams appreciate the hustle (big deal lol).
The downside are for those umps working the same diamonds who stay behind the dish--but thats their prob, and trust me, boy do I hear complaints on calls from their games...

[nickrego]

Originally Posted by greymule

I used to look forward to every game and would even keep an eye on the weather forecasts in hopes it wouldn't rain.

But I admit that now there are games I don't really want to do, and I wouldn't do them except that the assigners need me and I NEED THE MONEY. There are so many just plain lousy games. And whether it's true or not, it seems that more and more contests simply drag and never get going.

But overall I like umpiring and plan to keep doing it.

Why anyone does Baseball for the money amazes me !

We are the lowest paid officials on the planet, when you take equipment costs, equipment maintenance time/cost, length of games, and all the dust we get in our eyes.

If you need money, work Basketball, Soccer, or Volleyball (best ratio). My son, in college, is going to make about $500 per week just doing HS Basketball this winter.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by nickrego

Why anyone does Baseball for the money amazes me !

We are the lowest paid officials on the planet, when you take equipment costs, equipment maintenance time/cost, length of games, and all the dust we get in our eyes.

If you need money, work Basketball, Soccer, or Volleyball (best ratio). My son, in college, is going to make about $500 per week just doing HS Basketball this winter.

In many areas there is no vollyball or basketball played during baseball season. And, soccer? Please.

I've made up to $8,000 doing baseball in a four season locale. It isn't my living, but it's a nice addition.

It would not be possible to make $500 a week doing just HS basketball here. But if one also worked youth leagues on the weekend, it would be do-able.

[mick]

Originally Posted by GarthB

For even a less than moderately fit person, no.

I helped my sports therapist and my doctor with an experiment back when I decide to knock off some pounds. I wore a heart monitor while umpiring, officiating football,officiating basketball, bicycling and during my walks.

My sitting heart rate is 58. During baseball games the highest attained was only 78 and then for very brief periods of time, seconds, really. The rest of the game, on the bases it stayed in a range of high 60's to low 70's. Behind the plate it was normally in the low to high 70's.

During football, it rose to the mid 80's and on occassion hit 92. Again, the amount of time spent in the higher ranges was brief. During the rest of the game it stayed in a range of 74-80.

Basketball was better in that my heart rate stayed elelvated in the 80's to mid 90's throughout most of the game with a high of 99.

Bicycling, I can control the rate by selecting a route and speeds. I usually keep the rate between 120 and 132.

I discovered that to make my walks "exercise" I had to pick up the pace to at least 3.5 mph and wear 3 pound weights on my wrists. That raised my heart rate to a range of 112 to 120, again depending on route.

For my level of fitness, my doctor suggests that anything that does not raise my heart rate to at least 110 is more casual entertainment than exercise.

How interesting !
Thanks, GarthB !