This sent the wrong message.

[DG]

Originally Posted by nickrego

My partner replies by saying he has a College game the following day, and there is no way he is going to work a JV game, just to get beat up, and be unable to work his college game, unless, the Home Team Coach is willing to cut him a check, "on the spot", for his college game fees.

The Home Team Coach then asks him, "Are you saying you won't work the game ?" To which my partner replies, "If you try to make me work that JV game, I'll just leave and go home."

IMHO he is a wimp.

[UmpJM]

DG,

"Wimp" is much too nice a word for this guy.

JM

[JRutledge]

I would not have handled it that way, but it is not his obligation to work a game he was not assigned. I have "helped out" only to get the shaft in the end. This is not most of our primary job or activity. He was assigned the bases (why this is assigned I do not know) and that is what he was there to work. Now I am not for leaving the game he was scheduled, but he does have the right to say no and if he was working a college game the next day that was his right. It might not be what you want to do, but I am not going to be upset with anyone that turns down a situation they were not scheduled to do.

Peace

[DG]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I would not have handled it that way, but it is not his obligation to work a game he was not assigned. I have "helped out" only to get the shaft in the end. This is not most of our primary job or activity. He was assigned the bases (why this is assigned I do not know) and that is what he was there to work. Now I am not for leaving the game he was scheduled, but he does have the right to say no and if he was working a college game the next day that was his right. It might not be what you want to do, but I am not going to be upset with anyone that turns down a situation they were not scheduled to do.

If it is customary ("For this league, we are supposed to split, with the Base Umpire suiting up and working the JV game.") then he needs to understand and comply with the custom. Or, he can just work his college games.

I was assigned bases for a game yesterday, but my partner called and said he injured his arm in a game earlier in the day when a catcher missed an inside pitch (he was on the way to get an XRAY to see if it was broken). He was trying to get up with our assignor to get replaced but had not gotten up with him yet. I asked him could he work bases and he said he thought he could. I told him no sweat, I will work the plate.

This guy was afraid of getting beat up in a JV game the day before a college game. I broke a finger in the first inning of the first game of a Sunday college DH two years ago and managed to complete both games and go for my XRAY on Tuesday. This guy is a chicken sh*t and I wouldn't accept any more games with him either. Why he is working college games is a big question in my mind.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by DG

If it is customary ("For this league, we are supposed to split, with the Base Umpire suiting up and working the JV game.") then he needs to understand and comply with the custom. Or, he can just work his college games.

Well there is no such custom that I am aware of where I live. In my state it is about the contract and what that contract says. If someone wants to request you to do something else, that is between you and the school. And it is your right as an umpire to not comply with something outside of that contract. This comes back to what I always say on these boards about what you do in your area might not apply somewhere else.

Originally Posted by DG

I was assigned bases for a game yesterday, but my partner called and said he injured his arm in a game earlier in the day when a catcher missed an inside pitch (he was on the way to get an XRAY to see if it was broken). He was trying to get up with our assignor to get replaced but had not gotten up with him yet. I asked him could he work bases and he said he thought he could. I told him no sweat, I will work the plate.

This guy was afraid of getting beat up in a JV game the day before a college game. I broke a finger in the first inning of the first game of a Sunday college DH two years ago and managed to complete both games and go for my XRAY on Tuesday. This guy is a chicken sh*t and I wouldn't accept any more games with him either. Why he is working college games is a big question in my mind.

Whether he was afraid or not is not the issue. I love the "manly" talk that everyone likes to display as if that proves anything. The bottom line he does not have to work a game he was not scheduled. I know I only accept certain levels of games mainly because that is what I enjoy to do. I also do not like to take certain level of games because if and when I get an opportunity at a higher level I will bail on the first game or want to give it back. I do not like to give it back or to ask, so I will not accept games lower than the levels I am used to.

Two years ago I was scheduled to work a varsity basketball game with 3 Person mechanics. I showed up early and was the first varsity official to be on site. When I walked in the door I was immediately approached by someone to work the sophomore game (prelim or JV in other areas) before my varsity game. Without much hesitation I agreed to do the game. When I showed up the game was at half time. So I run to the locker room and hurry up and get dressed to help out an official who was working by himself. I get dressed and the game is about 4 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. I thought they were waiting on me but I was wrong. I then run onto the court at the first opportunity and work the remainder of the game. I was also not in tune to the game or what had been called and it was clearly frustrating to the players, coaches and even me. I finish the game without much of a hitch and continued to work the varsity game that followed. Several weeks later I get the check in the mail from the school thinking I will get both checks or a significant bump in pay. They paid me only $8.50 more than what I worked for the varsity game. I called the school and I was asked them about what I was paid and why? They told me they prorated the amount because I only worked a quarter and a half of the Soph game. Well to make a long story short they sent me about $10 because I was not happy with that result.

Now this was not a baseball game where I can get hit by a ball or a bat. But it made me think how if I did pull a hamstring or turn a knee or got hurt any number of ways trying to run harder to work a 2 man game as compared to working 3 officials, who was going to pay me for my injury? If I would have lost the season or a significant part of the season would that have been worth it? I say no and I will not do that again if that is the appreciation I will be shown. Now my situation is not exactly like this case here, but it is similar in the fact I do not work many lower level games because I want to stay fresh for my varsity and college basketball games. So I think he may have had a legitimate concern because no one here was going to pay any medical bills or suffer the consequences for anything wrong that may take place. He was assigned a varsity game and if he no one showed up to work the JV game, it is not the obligation of the umpires to make it up if they do not want to.

Peace

[nickrego]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I would not have handled it that way, but it is not his obligation to work a game he was not assigned. I have "helped out" only to get the shaft in the end. This is not most of our primary job or activity. He was assigned the bases (why this is assigned I do not know) and that is what he was there to work. Now I am not for leaving the game he was scheduled, but he does have the right to say no and if he was working a college game the next day that was his right. It might not be what you want to do, but I am not going to be upset with anyone that turns down a situation they were not scheduled to do.

Peace

He was assigned the bases, because we talked the day before and agreed that he would do the bases. It is customary in our association, that we alternate positions. The previous game we had worked, he had the plate, so it was my turn to do the dish.

He does not have the right to say no. It is specifically written in our employment/contractor agreement that in this type of situation, we will split, and the base umpire will take the JV game.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by nickrego

He was assigned the bases, because we talked the day before and agreed that he would do the bases. It is customary in our association, that we alternate positions. The previous game we had worked, he had the plate, so it was my turn to do the dish.

He does not have the right to say no. It is specifically written in our employment/contractor agreement that in this type of situation, we will split, and the base umpire will take the JV game.

I think that is a dumb policy. And to say he has no choice is also not being realistic. He might have to suffer consequences, but no one "has to do" anything. And in my area the JV game would just be cancelled if the umpire wanted to work the varsity game. As a matter of fact I do not know of a situation this has ever been requested. The varsity game is what is important and needs to be played because of all the ramifications associated with it. There are no JV playoffs and these can be played almost anytime. Also most conferences do not play for a conference title either for JV and lower level games. That would just be tough titty for the JV game around here.

Peace

[Rich]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I think that is a dumb policy. And to say he has no choice is also not being realistic. He might have to suffer consequences, but no one "has to do" anything. And in my area the JV game would just be cancelled if the umpire wanted to work the varsity game. As a matter of fact I do not know of a situation this has ever been requested. The varsity game is what is important and needs to be played because of all the ramifications associated with it. There are no JV playoffs and these can be played almost anytime. Also most conferences do not play for a conference title either for JV and lower level games. That would just be tough titty for the JV game around here.

Peace

Now you've done it. Now someone will come here with hands wringing saying that the JV game is just as important and someone else will say "Think of the Children!!!!"

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Rich Fronheiser

Now you've done it. Now someone will come here with hands wringing saying that the JV game is just as important and someone else will say "Think of the Children!!!!"

Peace

[PeteBooth]

I disagree with the aforementioned.

In my association just like many others Varsity is scheduled first meaning 2 Umpires ALWAYS and then JV on down. However, s*** happens.

In the case presented, the BU will get paid or I should say should get paid the Varsity FEE since he was scheduled to do a varsity game, so money should not be an issue.

In HS, teams travel and in some instances many miles. So you have 2 JV teams ready to play and say one of the teams traveled some 40 miles or further to play and now you do not want to umpire and basically tell these teams to GO HOME.

I realize this type of situation is an area by area "thing" but if the Home coach approached you I do not see how any Umpire organization would frown on the splitting of duties as was done in this case.
Also, IMO no one is "too good" that he/she cannot do a JV or even a modified game once in a while.

IMO, Nick handled it very well. He did not cause a scene and even though this umpire was reported to the association (which I agree with) he did not "rat him" out either. It was the arrogance and audacity of the BU which were his downfall.

Pete Booth

[JRutledge]

Maybe if we took the attitude that people have the right to do what they want to do considering they are leaving their jobs and families to do so, then we would get rid of the "arrogance" attitude that prevails these websites when people exercise their right. It is my right to decide what I want to do when I take games. Like Jake Plummer, if I do not like the circumstances I am put in, I can quit. Most people this is an extra-curricular activity. No one is getting rich off of officiating and certainly not paying all their bills by the money we make. It is not arrogant for someone to say I did not sign up for this and I choose to pass. Do not give me we are out there for the kids and it is our professional duty. People sacrifice a lot to work any sporting event and I have a lot of choice. Maybe this is why there is a shortage of umpires and officials across the country. I know if the numbers we up around here every game might be assigned with umpires. But because the numbers are so abysmal anyone that umpires can get opportunities they cannot get in other sports.

Peace

[DG]

He signed up with an association that has rules and then did not abide by them when he chose not to work the plate at the JV game. He lost his right to choose when he accepted the game.

Here, all games are assigned 2 officials, JV and Varsity. Occassionally we have two games at same site, JV first and V second, and the officials would work both, but never two games at the the same time at same location. I know of no umpire in our association that would accept this "DH" and arrive and refuse to do the plate game for the JV game because he has a college game the next day.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by DG

He signed up with an association that has rules and then did not abide by them when he chose not to work the plate at the JV game. He lost his right to choose when he accepted the game.

Here, all games are assigned 2 officials, JV and Varsity. Occassionally we have two games at same site, JV first and V second, and the officials would work both, but never two games at the the same time at same location. I know of no umpire in our association that would accept this "DH" and arrive and refuse to do the plate game for the JV game because he has a college game the next day.

This is quite a different situation than the original post. If you accept to work a double header with those circumstances, then chances are you know what you are getting yourself into. Unless you are assigned to works the plate on each game, I am sure there are umpires that prefer not to work the plate for various reasons that might not be discussed openly. I bet working something the day after or the day before might be part of that willingness to work the plate at any given time.

Peace

[Dave Hensley]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

Maybe if we took the attitude that people have the right to do what they want to do considering they are leaving their jobs and families to do so, then we would get rid of the "arrogance" attitude that prevails these websites when people exercise their right.

There's something that trumps having the right to do what one wants, and that is the expectation that people live up to the agreements they make. If the umpire in question has voluntarily accepted membership in his association, and the association has agreed on a protocol to follow when a game (even a JV game) is uncovered, then that umpire is bound by agreement to honor the protocol.

The arrogance in this situation is not with the posters in this thread; it is with the umpire who breached his agreement with his association because he considered umpiring JV ball to be beneath him.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Dave Hensley

There's something that trumps having the right to do what one wants, and that is the expectation that people live up to the agreements they make. If the umpire in question has voluntarily accepted membership in his association, and the association has agreed on a protocol to follow when a game (even a JV game) is uncovered, then that umpire is bound by agreement to honor the protocol.

I agree if that is the policy that is in place the umpire has more of an obligation to follow it. But just like anything in life, not all policies are well written or followed. Better yet is this a policy talked about or understood by all members? Is this in the constitution of the organizations? Is this policy on the contract? I trust that Nick is not lying or misrepresenting the story, but there are two sides to any story. And this is a very local issue because this would not be an issue in my state. My state has made it very clear that all contracts assigned are with the school. And if the contract you have with the assignor says you are to work a game at a particular time, the school is responsible for what takes place. In other words I would not have to work a game I was not assigned at any level if it was not on the contract.

Originally Posted by Dave Hensley

The arrogance in this situation is not with the posters in this thread; it is with the umpire who breached his agreement with his association because he considered umpiring JV ball to be beneath him.

There my not be arrogance with the posters in the thread. It is arrogant to expect such a policy applies across the board and that everyone would look at this situation the same. Because when I read this originally I was trying to see what the big deal was? I have no problem with an umpire not wanting to work a game they were not assigned. I also would not want to belong to an association that has such a policy. Then again that is my opinion.

Peace