Smitty Time!

[socalblue1]

Tuss,

From what you described this guy should not be working anyplace. Perhaps you were the last one standing that has NOT black listed him?

Do the world a favor & call your assignor.

[umpduck11]

If there is a veteran in the association with whom you have a good relationship, talk with him. He will know the assignor better, and may have previous experience working with Smitty. Also, if Smitty and the assignor are friends, speaking with the vet may save you from throwing yourself under the bus.

[UmpJM]

Tuss,

Earlier this season, I received an e-mail one morning looking for an "emergency" assignment later that afternoon between 2 schools that have very good (and "serious") baseball programs, happen to be located about a mile apart from one another, and have a fairly intense, but good-natured, rivalry. The assignment was for the completion of a previous suspended game, followed by a regularly scheduled game.

I was able to juggle my work schedule to do the game. I was checking the hosting schools website and saw that it said the festivities were scheduled to start at 4:00PM instead of the 4:30PM start the assignment e-mail had specified.

I unsuccessfully tried to contact my assignor to find out who my partner was and if he knew about the 4:00PM start. After the game, I sent the following e-mail to my assignor (slightly edited to protect the innocent & guilty).

(Assignor),

Interesting experience today. I arrived at (Hosting School) shortly before 3:30 and let (HT HC) and (VT HC) know I was there and asked if we were starting at 4:00 or 4:30. They both said they'd like to start at 4:00, even if I was solo at that point. So, I said OK, that I didn't know if my partner knew about the 4:00 start, and went and got my gear on.

Started the suspended game at 4:00 solo, and my partner showed up after about an inning and jumped on the bases. It took about three pitches to realize I was partnered with Bozo. My first clue was his "dazzle" shirt with the nice long-sleeve grey underneath. My next clue was after each pitch I called when he would look at his indicator and announce and hold up fingers for the count and show it around the infield. Then there was a base hit to right center, and, from "A" he starts drifting in the direction of 2B along the edge of the outfield grass.

In the 2nd game, he butchered a catch/no catch on a deep fly to center and changed his call - TWICE!!! Once in response to (HT HC's) request and then back to the original call at (VT HC's) request. Oddly, this was the only really "emotionally charged" incident in the game, and I'm pretty sure I did nothing to throw him under the bus.

He also made a quick trip to the men's room in the middle of the 3rd or 4th inning of the 2nd that probably didn't delay things for more than a minute or two (as light was beginning to fade).

Anyway, we managed to get both games completed, nobody got tossed, and they split, so nobody seemed terribly upset at the end of the day.

I'm sure this was a very good learning experience for me, and I was quite glad to see that (BU) was not wearing a (my association) logo anywhere (I believe he was provided by (hosting School)'s assignor). When I see Bozos like this, it makes me glad I joined (my association) when I decided to start umpiring.

In closing, should the opportunity to work with (BU) again in the future present itself, PLEASE get someone else to do it. I think (Big Dog who does not suffer fools gladly) would really get a kick out of working with him. ;-)

I think you owe me a beer for pairing me up with this clown. Nonetheless, it was fun.

Later.

John

I later received an appreciative e-mail from my assignor.

So, I would say your assignor should know and, if he's any good, would appreciate the "heads up".

JMO.

JM

[mick]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

I unsuccessfully tried to contact my assignor to find out who my partner was and if he knew about the 4:00PM start. After the game, I sent the following e-mail to my assignor (slightly edited to protect the innocent & guilty).

"In the 2nd game, he butchered a catch/no catch on a deep fly to center and changed his call - TWICE!!! Once in response to (HT HC's) request and then back to the original call at (VT HC's) request. Oddly, this was the only really "emotionally charged" incident in the game, and I'm pretty sure I did nothing to throw him under the bus."

JM

Are you sure?

[UmpJM]

mick,

Yes, at the game site, I'm pretty sure I did nothing to throw him under the bus.

This guy had no businees being on a HS Varsity field. I was giving my assignor a "heads up" in case he heard from either of the Coaches and letting him know I had np interest in working with him again in the future.

JM

[RPatrino]

Tuss, I feel your pain. We have an individual who works in all 3 associations I work in who is very much like the person you describe. This gentleman is very likeable, but IMHO, his best umpiring days have passed him by a long time ago. We can all tell stories about him, and we have all talked to our assignors on numerous occasions. He will umpire as long as he wants to.

I mention this because he is the father-in-law of one of our associations prominant umpires. So, before you make any comments to anyone, be sure of who this individual is and what the political ramifactions are of saying something.

[canadaump6]

Coach JM, I feel the way you presented your concerns to the assignor was very unprofessional. Dissing his umpire and calling him names is not likely to get you on anyone's good side.

I have worked with many frustrating partners, but I find it easier to just laugh about it rather than feeling all embarrassed. Now if a partner overrules me I am going to have a problem, regardless of how strong an umpire they are.

[UmpJM]

canadaump6,

Thanks for your input.

JM

[Rcichon]

Consider that your Assignor may know of smitty here and could be assessing your patience or fortitude.

You owe it to yourself to call what you see.


IMHO

[charliej47]

Over the years I have worked with umpires who had different skill levels and have learned to 'work with them'.

Having said that, I always inform the assignor I will not work with certain people. When asked, I will give the explaination as to why. Sometimes it is personality, sometimes it is skills. I have worked with umpires who look for a reason to eject and I have worked with ones who will not eject on any grounds.

I work for 4 assignors and try to be as honest as possible at all times.

[LMan]

Originally Posted by socalblue1

Tuss,

From what you described this guy should not be working anyplace. Perhaps you were the last one standing that has NOT black listed him?

Do the world a favor & call your assignor.

Absolutely. This stuff is hard enough without having to worry about your partner, as well. You could be the last piece of the puzzle that the assignor needs to deal with this guy.

I have on occasion brought 'problems' to my assignor and in most all cases they were dealt with effectively. If you work hard, know your fundamentals, and have a good head on your shoulders - that good rep will often be key in case a Smitty decides to tell a different story that you did.

[jicecone]

Early in my career I would shy away from partners that I felt were not up to par, good, horrible or just plain sucked and also ask not to be paired up in later games.

As I became more experienced I looked at it as an oppurtunity to pass on what I have learned and even took the time after games to back up what I was saying, with rules interpretations and others books that I always carried in the car.

I actually witnessed many officials improving because someone took time to help them. There is just so much to learn and some think it happens over the night, but it takes time. During that time, making mistakes was part of the lessons.

So, it is easy to find fault with what your partners do or do not do but, you are a team out there during the good and BAD times. Anyone can take credit for only the good things the team does but helping the team to improve is also a responsibilty each one of us have. Wether our partner is a rising star or a Smitty that has been around for ever. Old dogs CAN learn new trickes, I have seen it happen.

I would call my assignor and let them know about Smitty or Johnnie but, I would ask him to schedule some other games with him so I could followup with a lesson. Maybe a game less intense if applicable but I would always followup.

I realize some do not want to take on that role as a teacher, but it always worked for me and I think it's a responsibilty that more experienced officials should take on, to pass on to those that will fill our shoes.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by jicecone

Whether our partner is a rising star or a Smitty that has been around for ever. Old dogs CAN learn new tricks, I have seen it happen.

I've tried in the past with certain Smitties, only to be told that they were going to do it their way. I've attempted to correct some really bad umpiring traits, only to get my head bitten off by the old dog. Kudos to you for your success in this area. The ones I've ran into were too set in their ways to listen to good advice.

[LMan]

I would add that in this case (Tuss being a 21-year old youngun'), its doubly difficult for old Smittys, set in their ways, to be open-minded to young folks offering advice. Mule-headedness is one thing that makes a Smitty a Smitty

[FTVMartin]

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

But, in order to keep some uniformity between us (at least the allusion of uniformity, he did not have any of the proper patches on his shirt), I took the easy way out. 3rd base coach wasn't pleased, because he was smart enough to know I didn't have that force out with the way I waited.


Tuss

Good, bad, or anywhere in between. If it's my call and I'm in the right position I am not changing my mind in order to stay out of trouble. You let this bad umpire take you down to his level on that play.