LLWS Umpires (Oregon vs Georgia)

[ChucktownBlue]

Originally Posted by mick

That is a curious statement ! Most ? Sight unseen?
The umpires from U.P. here seem to have to attend the Little League Umpires Clinic in Indianapolis before being invited to the Regionals and higher.

Seem to have to attend? Either they do or they don't. Might be a regional requirement. Most will have attended a Regional clinic, but obviously, if that's how the decisions are being made, at a clinic, the results speak for themselves.

Originally Posted by mick

Further, it seems that if such an umpire attends a Regional Tournament as a volunteer to assist in that tournament, and to hang out with the Regional staff, then the Regional staff gets acquainted with the volunteers and become more comfortable with who they are and with the type of individual they may be dealing with as tournament umpires.
mick

So if such an umpire did this, was a nice enough guy and kissed enough butt, he may get an assignment? I think I already addressed that. It's called the good-ole-boy program. And that's the problem. They get to know someone outside the lines, which has nothing to do with on-field ability. And there are no interviews or required visits or on-site evaluations to receive the assignment. Districts submit recommendations. State directors sign off it, and submit "resumes" to Regional HQ, who make the calls.

[mick]

Originally Posted by ChucktownBlue

Seem to have to attend? Either they do or they don't. Might be a regional requirement. Most will have attended a Regional clinic, but obviously, if that's how the decisions are being made, at a clinic, the results speak for themselves.

I offer the information because your description was "sight unseen". For our guys U.P. here it is not that way.

Originally Posted by ChucktownBlue

So if such an umpire did this, was a nice enough guy and kissed enough butt, he may get an assignment? I think I already addressed that. It's called the good-ole-boy program. And that's the problem. They get to know someone outside the lines, which has nothing to do with on-field ability. And there are no interviews or required visits or on-site evaluations to receive the assignment. Districts submit recommendations. State directors sign off it, and submit "resumes" to Regional HQ, who make the calls.

Well, I know of no employers that hire without some sort of interview. Knowing a person on a personal level accompanied with the mandatory (it seems) attendance at a clinic is not entirely outside the lines, regardless of the amount of individual or collective flattery required.

The highlighted portion of your post just doesn't seem to be correct within the Central Region, although you seem to be implying such in your omniscient post on this subject.

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by mick

I offer the information because your description was "sight unseen". For our guys U.P. here it is not that way.



Well, I know of no employers that hire without some sort of interview. Knowing a person on a personal level accompanied with the mandatory (it seems) attendance at a clinic is not entirely outside the lines, regardless of the amount of individual or collective flattery required.

The highlighted portion of your post just doesn't seem to be correct within the Central Region, although you seem to be implying such in your omniscient post on this subject.

He's partly right, Mick. The DA must sign off on the application, but in the CR the application won't get kicked up to Williamsport without Mike Legge's approval. To get that you have to have attended one of the week long schools, or a few weekend clinincs in Indy at a minimum.

BTW - Have you met an umpire from the U.P. that everyone calls "Santa." I met him at a regional last Summer and he's a great guy.


Tim.

[mick]

Originally Posted by BigUmp56

He's partly right, Mick. The DA must sign off on the application, but in the CR the application won't get kicked up to Williamsport without Mike Legge's approval. To get that you have to have attended one of the week long schools, or a few weekend clinincs in Indy at a minimum.

BTW - Have you met an umpire from the U.P. that everyone calls "Santa." I met him at a regional last Summer and he's a great guy.


Tim.

Yes, Tim, the District Administrator certainly does have to give blessings to a potential Regional umpire, but the clinic eliminates the *sight unseen* description.

That Yooper Umpire you met was probably Dennis *Claus* Swanson who just happened to have been an old roomie of mine at a Little League State Softball tournament about 3 years ago. Did he have "Pins, Pins, Pins" ? He's crazy for 'em. Jolly elf, a nice man and no hat under his mask.

[BigUmp56]

Originally Posted by mick

That Yooper Umpire you met was probably Dennis *Claus* Swanson who just happened to have been an old roomie of mine at a Little League State Softball tournament about 3 years ago. Did he have "Pins, Pins, Pins" ? He's crazy for 'em. Jolly elf, a nice man and no hat under his mask.

Yep, that's the guy. He was here in South Bend last August working the Senior Softball Regional. A goup of us went out to share a few war stories, and several of us, including Dennis, ended up sharing more pitchers of brew than we should have.


Tim.