This sent the wrong message.

[tribefan1952]

Hmm.. JRutledge makes a good point, but I suspect if the other game had been varsity, he wouldn't have raised a stink. It sounds like JV is beneath him. I was just wondering if you guys get stuck with only one ump very often, especially at the varsity/JV levels. Around here, it happens for Jr High games and occasionally for freshman games, but not varsity, unless there's a last-minute emergency. Even then, a replacement would be called in pretty quickly. Since this league had adopted an accepted procedure for splitting the umps to cover both games, it must not be that uncommon. Maybe they need to find a way to recruit more umps. (Maybe a pay raise?) It's not right to have only one ump at that level. It's not fair to the umps and it's not fair to the players.

[UmpJM]

tribefan,

After I had taken a minute to digest what he said, I also found myself in agreement with JRut's essential point. Which I understood to be that the gentleman had agreed to work a HS Varsity game as part of a 2-man crew and that he was under no obligation as a result to go work a JV game solo.

However, I found his entire attitude "unseemly" for an umpire. Besides all the BS about, "just in time", "getting beat up", "cut me a check", etc., he seems to display a complete misunderstanding of the purpose and role of the umpire in the game of baseball. I think the individual in question does not understand that...

Each umpire is the representative of the league and of ... baseball, ...

In my opinion, this individual did not represent the league, baseball, or his association very well. Plus, what an a$$hole.

JM

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by tribefan1952

Hmm.. JRutledge makes a good point, but I suspect if the other game had been varsity, he wouldn't have raised a stink. It sounds like JV is beneath him.

Maybe it would have been "beneath him" but that is his right to feel that way. I know lower level umpire/officials that feel they are not ready for varsity or college ball. I do know of umpires that are not eager to move up just because they are asked. Some feel they are not ready. And if this story was turned the other way around I doubt seriously that any of us would be using the same hyperbole about this umpire.

Originally Posted by tribefan1952

I was just wondering if you guys get stuck with only one ump very often, especially at the varsity/JV levels. Around here, it happens for Jr High games and occasionally for freshman games, but not varsity, unless there's a last-minute emergency. Even then, a replacement would be called in pretty quickly. Since this league had adopted an accepted procedure for splitting the umps to cover both games, it must not be that uncommon. Maybe they need to find a way to recruit more umps. (Maybe a pay raise?) It's not right to have only one ump at that level. It's not fair to the umps and it's not fair to the players.

It happens very rare to know knowledge, at least not with the organization I work for. Having said that almost all lower level games in this part of the state are assigned with only one umpire (which I personally find as completely stupid, but that is another conversation for another day). It is unusual that most people do not show up for varsity games mainly because everyone does not get those shots. And the consequences for missing a varsity game without a very good excuse can be heavy.

Peace

[nickrego]

Originally Posted by tribefan1952

Hmm.. JRutledge makes a good point, but I suspect if the other game had been varsity, he wouldn't have raised a stink. It sounds like JV is beneath him. I was just wondering if you guys get stuck with only one ump very often, especially at the varsity/JV levels. Around here, it happens for Jr High games and occasionally for freshman games, but not varsity, unless there's a last-minute emergency. Even then, a replacement would be called in pretty quickly. Since this league had adopted an accepted procedure for splitting the umps to cover both games, it must not be that uncommon. Maybe they need to find a way to recruit more umps. (Maybe a pay raise?) It's not right to have only one ump at that level. It's not fair to the umps and it's not fair to the players.

Very rare that we have to work a Varsity game alone. If we do, we get an extra $20 ($78) for the game.

Only one umpire is assigned to JV games. Umpire is paid $7 ($65) more than a Varsity (2 man game $58) game.

Our association does not cover games below JV, due to a lack of umpires.

[SanDiegoSteve]

I think the guy definitely has a bad attitude, since it is the association policy for him to be ready to work a JV game. He should have his gear, and if the policy is for the base umpire to go work the JV game, then so be it. If Nick would have been on the bases, it would have been his duty to step down to the JV level.

Out here, we have no such asinine policy. If there is no umpire for the JV game, that's tough caca. The folks here want 2 umpires on their Varsity games, and they would just either cancel the JV game, or play it as a scrimmage with the catchers calling balls/strikes/fair/foul, and the base coaches calling the plays on the bases.

[Rich]

Thank goodness my state had the wisdom to require two umpires at every game at every level. This would never happen here.

But I've lived in places where we would work solo and I can say this situaion wouldn't happen there, either. We'd pull umpires from lower level games to cover varsity, but not JV/Freshman. Let's face it, JV/Freshman are developmental levels and the varsity game should not suffer for a lower level game.

[PABlue]

What I like about our area is if you do a solo game and there were two umpires scheduled YOU take home both game checks. I have not ever been stiffed by a partner but there were a few times I wouldn't have minded if they hadn't showed up.

[Texas Aggie]

While I don't do baseball (foot/basketball), I agree with Rut here. I have my own policy: I don't work unassigned subvarsity games. I have in the past and this year, I did an extra varsity tournament game, but my days are numbered in basketball as far as working 2 man games period. It isn't arrogance, that sub varsity is beneath me, or even that I've paid my dues. Its that I value my time both monetarily and otherwise. Also, I think some schools try to take advantage of the situation.