Smittyisms

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by UmpLarryJohnson

the day a RUNNER cant figure out when Pitch gets on the RUBBER is the day he needs to QUIT! any RUNNER over 6 years OLD can tell that

Not if he can't see the rubber.

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by rei

I totally agree with this. I detest seeing the term "smitty".

I prefer "weaker umpire".

Or doofus?

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

Or how about the guy that calls it the backstop meeting instead of plate conference.

Steven, that's a painful memory. Having called the coaches to the backstop in my newbie year.

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I have another one for you.

Telling the pitcher the situation is something I see often ("1 ball and 2 strikes with a runner on 1st and 3rd").

I think when guys are never taught about what to do, guys get attached to things they find a purpose for. There are guys that are convinced if they do not brush off the pitcher's plate or bases, they just cannot see the play.

Peace

Brushing off the pitcher's rubber is most often for the umpire to be able to determine when he actually mounts the rubber. Perhaps the MiLB umps I see doing this, on much more pristine fields, are also untaught.

[fitump56]

Originally Posted by greymule

I need to ask what I fear many will consider a stupid question:

What is the etymology of Smitty?

It's a degrading term used by those umpires who wish to make fun of brother sports officials, and by doing so believe it elevates themselves, a shallow word aimed at umpires who do not meet some moving target of "professionalism".

One thing is for certain. It labels the user of the term, usually an experienced umpire who ought to know better than to treat another Blue in such a despicable way, as a full time hypocrite.

[DonInKansas]

There are at least 241 Smittyisms on this board as of this time.

Linkage

[RPatrino]

Originally Posted by fitump56

I find the word "Smitty" like any perjorative term. It's an attempt to lower another person's public image in order to raise your own. Worse than "rat", these are our brothers in Blue you try to demean.

Like digging a hole then shoving a person into it, then proclaiming how "tall" you are. It's total BS.

As I have said before, using terms which degrade others only, in the end, degrades the user.

Fitty, consider yourself 'degraded', you 'dufus'......Just kidding, don't lose your sense of humor!!!!!

[greymule]

But where does the term come from? Was there some umpire named Smitty?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by greymule

But where does the term come from? Was there some umpire named Smitty?

It's a slang term for anyone foolish or dumb.

[UmpJM]

Originally Posted by greymule

But where does the term come from? Was there some umpire named Smitty?

greymule,

I am not 100% certain, but I believe the term was coined by Carl Childress in an article he wrote concerning umpires who exhibit traits now commonly associated with "Smitties".

JM

[aceholleran]

There isn't enuff bandwidth here to include all Smitty stuff.

Some cherce Smittyisms (all first-hand)

"STRIKE ON A SWING"

[Between innings, F2 needs to adjust mask before first pitch] "TIME!" (at Boeing decibel level)

"FOUL TIP!!!!"

"He gets the base he's goin' to, plus one."

"One base to all runners on throws from the infield."

[on obvious INT on batted ball by 1B coach] "No interference; he wuz tryin' to get out da way!"

"Why buy base pants?"

No comment neeeded: Base ump with ball bag including brush, eyeglass case, AND a small can of Off

[U3 goes out into LF for catch; R3 tags up from 3B and scores; defense appeals; U3 calls "SAFE". After the game, I asked U3 how he could possibly call a tag-up when he was fairly deep into the outfield]: "The ball was hit deep; he was gonna score anyway."

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is truly king.

Ace

[Jerry]

"I have a challenge for you. Just show one reference (just one) where it says our job is to use a "plate brush" for sweeping off the plate?"
Peace

For #666:

The Boston Globe had a September 28, 2005 interview with MLB umpire crew of Joe West, Brian Gorman, Mike DiMuro and and Mark Carlson. One of the questions asked was "What's the correct position for brushing dirt off home plate?" (Page 1 of the article).

On Page 6 of that same article, Joe replies, "The correct position for brushing the dirt off home plate is facing the catcher, bending your back side to the pitcher, as a matter of courtesy to the fans."

By inference, we should be able to reason that MLB umpires receive those instructions somewhere in their training. Yes?

There are also many amateur umpire associations that have those same instructions actually written into their training manuals and guidelines for their umpires.

Jerry

[rookieblue]

Coach, I believe you are correct. Mr. Childress also "introduces" the expression in his 51 Ways to Ruin a Baseball Game.

Mr.Childress also condones calling a play at a base the way it looks obvious to everybody else, even if it is the wrong call.

Just because Carl says it doesn't mean it is a good idea.

Originally Posted by rei

Mr.Childress also condones calling a play at a base the way it looks obvious to everybody else, even if it is the wrong call.

Just because Carl says it doesn't mean it is a good idea.

Which makes me think of the saying:

It takes one to know one!