Umpire Speaks The Unholy Truth

[ManInBlue]

Originally Posted by JugglingReferee

it seems dumb that there is a disrespect of the other flavour of ball.

It does, indeed. But it also exists. Most of the guys I know that "go both ways" don't hide it. I think what causes the "disrespect" is the quirks associated with one or the other that don't cross over very well.

For example, BU carrying a brush and brushing off the pitchers plate and 2B. I worked with a guy (in a BB game) that did this, I almost fell over. He is VERY proud that he is a softball ump. This "thing" carried over. It is not widely accepted in baseball and even frowned upon.

It all stems from a lack of knowledge of the common practices in the other form of ball. You have the same disrespect for BB umps that work less than 90' diamonds from some of those that work nothing but 90' diamonds. It's also there for LL umps.