Pay Rates for High School Baseball Umpires

[PeteBooth]

I can't say I've honestly ever heard a reason for the difference.

Not all associations assign base / plate responsibilities. They leave it up to the umpiring crew with seniority being the "trump card".

Therefore, you had a very inequitable plate / base schedule. If you were a first year Varisty Official, you would have something like 15-20 plates in a row.

The vets would take the plate come playoff time because that's where you "earn your stripes" but would do the bases almost the entire regular season yet earn the same pay.

With the aforementioned inequities, some associations then decided to give a pay differential so that one person would not do the plate the entire season.

I do not advocate it but I understand it. In my association you get a mixture of plate / base responsibilities during the season.

Pete Booth

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by PeteBooth

Not all associations assign base / plate responsibilities. They leave it up to the umpiring crew with seniority being the "trump card".

Therefore, you had a very inequitable plate / base schedule. If you were a first year Varisty Official, you would have something like 15-20 plates in a row.

The vets would take the plate come playoff time because that's where you "earn your stripes" but would do the bases almost the entire regular season yet earn the same pay.

With the aforementioned inequities, some associations then decided to give a pay differential so that one person would not do the plate the entire season.

I do not advocate it but I understand it. In my association you get a mixture of plate / base responsibilities during the season.

Pete Booth

I still don't understand it Pete. First, I don't know of veteran who wouldn't prefer the plate. Second, a BU can screw up a game just as much, and according to some D-1 coaches I know, even more than a PU. The grass is where the snakes hide.

I know of no justifiable reason to pay BU's less than PU's.

[Durham]

While I am sure that inequities occur and in some places they may even rule the day, the JC and HS groups that I have been fortunate enough to be apart of operate under the rule that the officials decide who works where, we teach the younger officials in class that it is best to alternate plate/base with let’s say George, every time you work with him, just flop what you did last time. Occasionally, you or your partner will want to work the plate/base for a specific reason and that is okay. The system works for us.

[SanDiegoSteve]

I agree with Garth, there is no reason to pay the plate umpire more than the base guy.

Here is how we do things here:

When working with a partner who you've never worked with before, the senior official (not the oldest, but the one with more years in the association) has the choice of plate or bases.

The next time you work with this same official, you alternate plate/base.

Pretty simple. Payment doesn't enter in to the scenario, so there is no hogging the plate.

I know some guys who keep very accurate records of who's turn it is, some dating back years. I've said, "your turn, right?" only to hear, "nope, remember 4 years ago up there at..."

[mrm21711]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

When working with a partner who you've never worked with before, the senior official (not the oldest, but the one with more years in the association) has the choice of plate or bases.

The next time you work with this same official, you alternate plate/base.

Pretty simple. Payment doesn't enter in to the scenario, so there is no hogging the plate.

Same way around here. It works well. The big dogs dont need to be policed or told what to do. The plate dodgers who show up 10 minutes before game time...well thats another story. Any recommendations on those people?

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by mrm21711

Same way around here. It works well. The big dogs dont need to be policed or told what to do. The plate dodgers who show up 10 minutes before game time...well thats another story. Any recommendations on those people?

Fortunately for us, the association is very swift in hauling people like that before the Board. People who show up just before game time to avoid plate duty would be dealt with severely, as in suspended or expelled from the group.

[BigUmp56]

What do you do with the guy that shows up 10 minutes before the scheduled start time wearing plate pants and ball bags thinking he's on the stick for the game?



Tim.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

What do you do with the guy that shows up 10 minutes before the scheduled start time wearing plate pants and ball bags thinking he's on the stick for the game?

We don't have that problem here normally, because we are required to contact our partner the night before the contest, in order to discuss who has what, what uniform we will be wearing, where to park, what kind of vehicle to look for, game time, what time we will meet for pregame conference, etc.

We have a policy to arrive 30 minutes prior to games. If possible, I arrive 45 minutes to an hour before game time, but some guys are coming straight from their work, and they get a little wiggle room for traffic. We are to walk on the field no later than 10 minutes prior to game time.

I did have a guy show up late with his gear on when I was dressed and scheduled to work the plate. I made the guy take his stuff off and work the bases like he was supposed to.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

What do you do with the guy that shows up 10 minutes before the scheduled start time wearing plate pants and ball bags thinking he's on the stick for the game?



Tim.

Never happens. We contact our partners prior to the game and discuss who has what, meeting place, time, etc.

"Surprise is the umpire's worst enemy" off the field as well. Why would anyone invite it?