What would you call this guy?

[ctblu40]

Originally Posted by Forest Ump

2. Staying in same position sited above when anything was hit deep and the B/R was going beyond first. He was usually talking to the base coach at the time of the hit. I legged it out to second on more than one occasion in case I had a close one at second.

I would talk to him between innings and let him know that that's the last time I would cover for him. And then it's sink or swim. JMHO.

To answer your question, I don't know what I would call him, but it wouldn't be "an umpire."

[bellsjc]

I am somewhat confused. First, I don't understand what a volunteer umpire is and why a volunteer umpire would be working a game with a paid umpire. Secondly, I quess in different parts of the country there are groups of people who call themselves umpires but actually don't belong to any kind of association. My association does not tolerate behavior that isn't totally professional and consistant from any of our umpires. We are all trained not only the rules of the game and the mechanics, but also where to go and what to do between innings. We all must also pay the utmost attention to our appearance. We cannot ware anything that is not association approved, and we also have a grooming policy that prohibits long hair and facial hair (Like the NY Yankees). If we don't follow policy, we are fined and of course don't get assigned games. We cannot work any game if it is not assigned by the commisioner of assignments, and we are required to contact our partners at least 24 hours before the game to make sure we are on the same page. I do volunteer my umpiring services on my own. During summer ball, I am assigned by my association as usual. I then choose to not accept payment from a certain number of games from a certain number of teams. It is my way of helping out the various youth leagues that are seeing rising costs hurt them. I guess not all areas are the same as mine.

[Rcichon]

Pardon the flip response but I think a Volunteer Umpire is an Umpire that does not receive remuneration for games he/she officiates.

Facial or long hair? While I understand that some associations may have this policy I disagree with it. What the he!! does facial hair or long hair have to do with anything? And if I worked in MLB maybe I wouldn't CARE if I had to remove long or facial hair since I might feel well compensated for that.

When you refuse payments from those Leagues that you choose to 'help out', does your assignor still make his 10%-20% anyway?

On those days you are 'Volunteering', do you feel less about yourself?

[bellsjc]

I don't neccessarily agree with the grooming requirements of our association however, it is made perfectly clear to all members and it is enforced. In fact, I where a goatee whenever I am not umpiring. Day before my first game... off it comes. The thought process of the association is that it wants all its umpires to look professional. Same thought process as the Yankees. I have to say that it does look kinda bad when you see an umpire with hair down to his shoulders or a day old beard. As far as our assignor getting his fee... he gets his $ regardless of whether I take $ from the teams or not. I live in a small town... my kids all played little league, Babe Ruth, American Legion, ect. When I do games in my town, I sometimes choose to donate my fee back to the organization. Its an uncomplicated thing.

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by bellsjc

I don't neccessarily agree with the grooming requirements of our association however, it is made perfectly clear to all members and it is enforced. In fact, I where a goatee whenever I am not umpiring. Day before my first game... off it comes. The thought process of the association is that it wants all its umpires to look professional. Same thought process as the Yankees. I have to say that it does look kinda bad when you see an umpire with hair down to his shoulders or a day old beard. As far as our assignor getting his fee... he gets his $ regardless of whether I take $ from the teams or not. I live in a small town... my kids all played little league, Babe Ruth, American Legion, ect. When I do games in my town, I sometimes choose to donate my fee back to the organization. Its an uncomplicated thing.

Now you had to make me go grab my soapbox.

I am a professional; I am a controller for a multi-million dollar non-profit organization. I wear a mustache & goatee combo (whatever you want to call it. Believe me when I say there is nothing unprofessional about properly worn facial hair.

The conceit that any and all facial hair is unprofessional is rooted in a 1950s mindset (that or just jealousy from people who cannot grow a reasonable beard). All that banning all facial hair gets you is the loss of a good portion of qualified umpires.

[ctblu40]

Originally Posted by Eastshire

The conceit that any and all facial hair is unprofessional is rooted in a 1950s mindset (that or just jealousy from people who cannot grow a reasonable beard).

If I ran an association, I would not allow facial hair either. Why? Cause I'm a guy who can't grow it...



Serious about the second part, not the first....

[bellsjc]

Originally Posted by Eastshire

Now you had to make me go grab my soapbox.

I am a professional; I am a controller for a multi-million dollar non-profit organization. I wear a mustache & goatee combo (whatever you want to call it. Believe me when I say there is nothing unprofessional about properly worn facial hair.

The conceit that any and all facial hair is unprofessional is rooted in a 1950s mindset (that or just jealousy from people who cannot grow a reasonable beard). All that banning all facial hair gets you is the loss of a good portion of qualified umpires.

Don't get on the soapbox. You don't have to convince me that you can't be a pro and were a mustache & goatee. I wear a mustache and goatee as I said and I am business professional for a 3 company llc. My mustache and goatee are always trimmed very short and always looks neat. I think the association banning all facial hair is the easiest way to assure the neat look they are trying to portray. It would be far more difficult to have someone say... gee, Joe your beard is nice and short and trimmed its ok, but you Charlie need to trim that up a bit before you can do a game. No wiggle room is easier to enforce with less problems or arguments.

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by bellsjc

Don't get on the soapbox. You don't have to convince me that you can't be a pro and were a mustache & goatee. I wear a mustache and goatee as I said and I am business professional for a 3 company llc. My mustache and goatee are always trimmed very short and always looks neat. I think the association banning all facial hair is the easiest way to assure the neat look they are trying to portray. It would be far more difficult to have someone say... gee, Joe your beard is nice and short and trimmed its ok, but you Charlie need to trim that up a bit before you can do a game. No wiggle room is easier to enforce with less problems or arguments.

Less problems with the officials you keep, more problems over all. Why drive away quality officials just because you cannot adequately explain the meaning of neatly trimmed? I for one would have to quit rather than go clean shaven because, one, I am afraid of what my wife would do to me and, two, I look a lot less professional clean shaven (I look ten years younger clean shaven and I am not old enough for that to be a good thing).

Originally Posted by bellsjc

Don't get on the soapbox. You don't have to convince me that you can't be a pro and were a mustache & goatee. I wear a mustache and goatee as I said and I am business professional for a 3 company llc. My mustache and goatee are always trimmed very short and always looks neat. I think the association banning all facial hair is the easiest way to assure the neat look they are trying to portray. It would be far more difficult to have someone say... gee, Joe your beard is nice and short and trimmed its ok, but you Charlie need to trim that up a bit before you can do a game. No wiggle room is easier to enforce with less problems or arguments.

Well said. Our association is open on the topic. If nothing else, it gives all umpires the uniform look. We've got one guy who wears a beard at least 6" long. Do any teams really care - probably not. If nothing else they recognize him when he shows up. One would think the heat of a hot summer is enough to dissuade anyone from having any facial hair under a mask.