Smittyisms

[BigUmp56]

Okay, so what are they and why are they so hard for some umpires to let go of.


Tim.

[waltjp]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

Okay, so what are they and why are they so hard for some umpires to let go of.


Tim.

I'll start with these two.

Screaming "Foul Ball!!!" on every foul, regardless of location.

Telling a new pitcher the number of outs and the location of the runners.

[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

[ChucktownBlue]

Originally Posted by JRutledge

I have another one for you.

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

I had a 1B coach get upset because he claimed his runner couldn't tell if the pitcher was on the rubber or not because it was dirty. Validation for all those who insist on sweeping it off!

[greymule]

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

What is the etymology of Smitty?

[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.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by ChucktownBlue

I had a 1B coach get upset because he claimed his runner couldn't tell if the pitcher was on the rubber or not because it was dirty. Validation for all those who insist on sweeping it off!

I have had coaches insist the same thing. If they want it swept off, then they need to do it themselves. That is not our job.

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? Just show one reference in any book that involves umpires on any level. I do not care which book, the NF, CCA, PBUC or any other book I cannot think of. When you find that reference, come back here and give the page and context of those statements.

Peace

[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

[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

[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.

[jkumpire]

Originally Posted by fitump56

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.

56,

Please give us more details, like when and where did you see this?

I have worked with hundreds of college umpires, professional umpires, and ex-professional umpires. I have seen people kick dirt off covered bases with a foot, I have never seen an umpire of that caliber brush or clean off a pitcher's plate, or brush off a base.

I admit I did clean off a pitcher's plate once, with my foot, after a pitcher asked me to. It was a 14 yr. old kid game. I beg forgiveness......

I have seen tons of less-experienced umpires and "sm*****s" brush off pitcher's plates and bases. Some of them are SB guys, they can be excused for being from the DARK SIDE.

[TussAgee11]

I'll bite on this one. Bases used in a recent game were popup bases unlike any other I've seen. It was like a Lego into the ground, a bunch of holes on the bases that snapped into a plate that was put in the ground with a bunch of dots on it.

Base came off, dirt covered the plate that was in the ground, and I had the SS and 2B use their fingers to get all the dirt out in between all these bumps that were about 1/2 inch high. They still couldn't get the base in after about 2-3 minutes.

The PU called out "need the brush", to which I beckoned him over, he brushed off the plate that was in the ground, removing all the dirt, and the fielder reattached the base.

Does that make me smitty?

[NEohioref]

Originally Posted by jkumpire

56,

Please give us more details, like when and where did you see this?

I have worked with hundreds of college umpires, professional umpires, and ex-professional umpires. I have seen people kick dirt off covered bases with a foot, I have never seen an umpire of that caliber brush or clean off a pitcher's plate, or brush off a base.

I admit I did clean off a pitcher's plate once, with my foot, after a pitcher asked me to. It was a 14 yr. old kid game. I beg forgiveness......

I have seen tons of less-experienced umpires and "sm*****s" brush off pitcher's plates and bases. Some of them are SB guys, they can be excused for being from the DARK SIDE.

I do alot of softball. I guess thats why im a smitty.

[DG]

Originally Posted by waltjp

Screaming "Foul Ball!!!" on every foul, regardless of location.

I wonder about guys that scream "Foul Ball" at any time. "FOUL" is generally sufficient.

[briancurtin]

announcing the outs to everyone, including fans when they ask.