Was I being a B!tch?

[wmblue]

Originally Posted by Rich Fronheiser

Maybe that's how you do things in Maine. Where I am, we go to the field about 10 minutes before game time, check the equipment, hold a very short plate meeting, and start the game.

When we arrive (about 30 minutes before game time), we notify game management (normally the home coach) that we are there.

That's not how we do things in Maine. In Maine at least for most associations, we do things in the manner Rich described. Most umpires arrive 45 minutes before game time, if you're not there by 20 minutes before, if you had the plate, you don't have it now.

Up north where the schools are very spread out, sometimes its impossible to get to a game 30 minutes before but the effort should be made. Showing up anything less than 30 minutes before a game is something that makes me sick to do. 45 to 60 is my comfort zone, especially for freshman and above. Lower levels 30 minutes is fine.

[sargee7]

Originally Posted by wmblue

That's not how we do things in Maine. In Maine at least for most associations, we do things in the manner Rich described. Most umpires arrive 45 minutes before game time, if you're not there by 20 minutes before, if you had the plate, you don't have it now.

Up north where the schools are very spread out, sometimes its impossible to get to a game 30 minutes before but the effort should be made. Showing up anything less than 30 minutes before a game is something that makes me sick to do. 45 to 60 is my comfort zone, especially for freshman and above. Lower levels 30 minutes is fine.

wmblue. Please don't try to speak for everyone is Maine. I agree with what you are saying about arrival times, I arrive at least 30-45 minutes before games, if work time allows, but never less that 15 minutes. I also agree what has been said that an umpire should not be sitting in the stands waiting for his partner. He should, most likely be in or by his car reading the rulebook.

I also agree about your 20 minute time limit, but, if my partner hasn't shown up with 10 minutes before game time, I will assume that I will PROBABLY be doing this game alone and start prepping for the game, walking the filed, checking equipment, etc. I will not, and am sure that not too many others will wait for an appeal or for someone to be hurt by inappropriate or damaged equipment like some others. If & when my partner finally shows up, then we will, at least, be that far ahead in getting the game started.

It has been said that some will never enter the field without his partner. Sometimes you may not have a choice. Leaving the field with your partner is a different story

This my be just a personal decision and not related to any one particular association, but that's the way that I do it, and several other people in our District do it the same way and I have done it this way for a long time and not just in the state of Maine.

[canadaump6]

No, I don't do high school games. I think it's unfortunate though that you are required to check equipment before a game; they sure don't do that in the major leagues, most likely because it is up to the teams to decide if any of their equipment is old and worn out.

[GarthB]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

No, I don't do high school games. I think it's unfortunate though that you are required to check equipment before a game; they sure don't do that in the major leagues, most likely because it is up to the teams to decide if any of their equipment is old and worn out.

The major leagues are comprised of adults.

We check helmets for cracks and other weaknesses that render them ineffective and risk injury to players as well as making sure they have proper approval for use.

We check bats for legality as well as safety issues.

I don't believe it is unfortunate that the safety of players is a concern here. Some teams require players to provide their own helmets and bats and are not directly involved in their maintenance. If umpires were not required to check these prior to games, many would never be checked out during an entire season.

[LMan]

Originally Posted by GarthB

If umpires were not required to check these prior to games, many would never be checked out during an entire season.

Correct. In the past, I have thrown out 3 catcher's HSMs in one game.

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

No, I don't do high school games. I think it's unfortunate though that you are required to check equipment before a game; they sure don't do that in the major leagues, most likely because it is up to the teams to decide if any of their equipment is old and worn out.

CanadaUmp:

It is a requirement because bats and helmets are a safety issue in the NFHS rules. And quite frankly, checking bats and helmets is no different than walking the playing field to check for safety hazzards. Trying to compare MLB to H.S. baseball is like trying to apples to oranges, it cannot be done.

MTD, Sr.

[PeteBooth]

As another poster mentioned forget about comparing MLB to what we do.

In a way I happen to agree with you. I fully understand the safety concerns regarding faulty equipment but the onus should be on the coaches. if a player does come to bat with faulty equipment we simply enforce the rule. if it's an illegal bat we toss the bat and record an out.

I do not know what the insurance costs or lawsuit percentages are in Canada, but here in the US most of these safety issues did come about because of insurance / lawsuit issues.

In reality it doesn't take that long to inspect the bats/ hats. The coaches are instructed to have all the bats / hats laid out for us and we inspect them for proper LOGO requirements (ie BESR certified) and also remove any bats/ helmets that are cracked or in the case of metal bats dented.

this 5 minute task (if that long) can save an umpire a possible lawsuit should something happen because someone got injured using faulty equipment.

Pete Booth

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by PeteBooth

this 5 minute task (if that long) can save an umpire a possible lawsuit should something happen because someone got injured using faulty equipment.

In football, we check the players to ensure that they are wearing the proper pads. In basketball, we check the players to ensure that they are not wearing any unsafe or illegal equipment. It's a safety and liability issue. It also ain't a big deal.

[PeteBooth]

Hi Jurassic

On a different note

This must be your time of year. A lot of controversy surrounding not only the BIG DANCE but the Conference Championships as well especially the Nevada Coach.

Give it to me straight

Was the Foul Committed by Oden of the Buckeyes against Xavier Flagrant?

Also, would you have suspended the Nevada Coach for at least one game during the March Madness tournament after his attacks on the official working his game.

If these issues were discussed on the basketball Forum please direct me to the appropriate thread(s) and I will check it out

Thanks

Pete Booth

[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

Originally Posted by PeteBooth

Hi Jurassic

On a different note

This must be your time of year. A lot of controversy surrounding not only the BIG DANCE but the Conference Championships as well especially the Nevada Coach.

Give it to me straight

Was the Foul Committed by Oden of the Buckeyes against Xavier Flagrant?

Also, would you have suspended the Nevada Coach for at least one game during the March Madness tournament after his attacks on the official working his game.

If these issues were discussed on the basketball Forum please direct me to the appropriate thread(s) and I will check it out

Thanks

Pete Booth

Pete:

I do not think JR will mind if I jump in here and answer your question concerning the foul by Oden, espcially since I am an Ohio State University fan. No, it was not a flagrant personal foul, BUT it was an intentional personal foul. I was disappointed that the officials only called it a common (a personal foul that is neither flagrant nor intentional nor committed against a player in the act of shooting) foul. It was an ugly looking incident that cast an unfavorable light on OSU sports and in this case could very well affected the outcome of the game.

MTD, Sr.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by PeteBooth

1)Was the Foul Committed by Oden of the Buckeyes against Xavier Flagrant?

2) Also, would you have suspended the Nevada Coach for at least one game during the March Madness tournament after his attacks on the official working his game.

1) Pete, as MTD said, the foul wasn't flagrant. Flagrant fouls are usually reserved for fighting, an attempt to injure, or extreme unsporting behavior. They come with an automatic ejection, 2 free throws and the ball out-of-bounds. The foul that Oden committed was an intentional foul imo(and in the opinion of most other officials too). Intentional fouls are usually reserved for a lot of contact without playing the ball, which is what Oden did. The penalty for that is the same as a flagrant foul, but minus the ejection. On the play that you're talking about, the correct call imo would have been an intentional personal foul on Oden, which would have meant 2 shots for Xavier and the ball for a throw-in where the foul was committed. Here's two threads on it.
Oden Intentional Foul
More Oden Foul Talk

2) The Nevada coach is gonna get something out of it, and he sureasheck deserves it. As you can read from the thread that I'll attach, he was completely out of control. Apparently criminal charges were briefly considered, but the cop got talked out of them. Inexcusable behavior imo. My personal opinion was that more than one game was warranted.
Suspension?