You are not the only one who disagrees with such a blanket statement, Tee.

I often wonder who believes this statement when the thorny situation arises that requires the intervention of an umpire who otherwise was going "unnoticed." Sometimes it is our job to inject ourselves into the game in a manner in which everyone notices us. You get a big obstruction call, some weird interference, intentionally hit batters, etc. and you're center stage. While I doubt many of us want this, it's expected when it occurs, and when it does, I handle it professionally and without concern for what people think.

Invisible umpires should get paid with invisible money.

I am one of those that want the tough call or the tough situation. I also want to be in that situation at the proper time. In other words I prepare myself so that when that time comes I can be on top of the situation. Having said that as someone that works other sports, baseball is not a sport that really puts you in situations where you have much of a choice. Umpiring baseball is often like a roller coaster ride and the tracks take you where they are going despite where you want to go. If a pitcher throws a ball near or on the corner and the batter does not swing, I still will have to make a call. If the batter swings I am off the hook.

Peace

Camoflage
 

Our District UiC has an interesting illistration of the visibility question.

With a bang-bang play (say a tag at third base from an outfield throw), which umpire is less the focus of attention?

• Bashful, who slowly makes a routine, unvocalized out call.
• Assertive, who reacts to the play with a strong call of "Out!" and a hard bang with the fist

Bashful's problem is that the players, coaches and fans have to wait for the call, maybe struggle to hear/see it, and then question it. When Assertive makes his call, the fans barely have time to ask, "Was he safe?" before hearing the definitive call and moving on.

Sometimes the attention is on the umpire. Make the call authoritatively, let them know what happened, and they'll move on. If you seem to make the call tentatively, unclearly, or so quietly that people don't even know what happened, you will become the center of attention.

I think this goes even more strongly for the points others have made about game management. If you insert yourself decisively when problems are small, your intervention may be small. If you try to hide until the problems are big, then your visibility will be large.

For your exact question, I strongly believe that unclear or misunderstood signals will attract attention to the umpire. Be decisive and distinct and deliver the calls you are there to make, after all, and folks will concentrate on the game.

That might have been an old saying because I too have heard the same thing, however, in today's baseball climate it is virtually impossible if you are doing your job.

The rules for the amateur game have made it "tougher" to be invisible. We have the FPSR, No malicious Contact rule OBS rule.

When I played we simply went by what the BIG BOYS did and it was accepted. The umpires didn't have to worry about all these safety violations. Also, the game policed itself back then. No riots etc. That's probably when the "invisible" saying came about because back then an Umpire could be "invisible". Today is very different.

Ever end a game on a FPSR violation?

If you have then you probably heard the following as well:

"that's the worst call I ever saw"
The runner has a right to break up a DP etc etc
That isn't baseball etc. etc.

In other words all of these safety type rules that have been derived to keep insurance costs down have also effected the game to the point that we couldn't be invisible if we wanted to.

Pete Booth

Sportscenter!
 

Oh, I don't know. MBL umpires can pull themselves into the center of attention even with their ruleset and conventions, say on a call of obstruction.

In the modern game, an invisible umpire would be about as successful as an invisible Israeli soldier on the West Bank.

Peter

Speceba, Tovarishch Stalin.

I recently did a game partnered with the president of our association chapter and as the home team took the field he said "Lets be invisible". Funny that I hadn't heard anyone say that before but I thought it meant "let the players play the game". I believe umpires are there to manage the game and for two basic reasons. To ensure the rules are followed and to call the close plays where the teams won't agree on what happened. Truth is everyone knows a runner is out at first when the throw beats him by three or four steps, or a fly ball is cleanly caught by a fielder. All umpires have experienced plays so close they could go either way, but a call has to be made and sold. Do it and move on. Don't bait coaches or players or otherwise draw attention to yourself. There are always going to be disagreements because you do miss a call, or there is a perception by one team that you miss a call. Make your call and move on. If a coach wants to discuss a call, fine allow him to do it in a civil manner. If he can't be civil and crosses the line toss him. I agree it is impossible to be invisible but there is no need for showboating, and that is what I think being invisible means.