Smitty Time!
 

Today, I worked with a Smitty!

There were times when all I could do was laugh to myself, other times when I wanted to ring his neck out.

Baloon raft. Best part though was the HSM with the balloon. And, a throat guard. It was like Dali meeting Da Vinci. Didn't know what he wanted to be...

Between innings, throat guard slipped into the pants and the HSM dangled on his butt. Raft went to the ground. Way too much weight to carry to the cooler.

Each pitcher got as many warm ups as necessary on a change or between innings. We got one out, runner on first! PLAY BALL!!!!

Pitch was called before it even got to the glove. "0-1 Count!" with hands raised well above the head and out... arms maybe at a 45 degree angle to the ground, completely extended.

Then, things got bad.

R1 R2 3-2 pitch 2 outs. Single to right... R2 scores easily, I'm in the saddle. See that the cut off man is going to want to try to get the B/R out, who rounded first a bit too much. I move over, get a nice angle, somewhat close play. As I start to come up with a good strong out, I notice out of the corner of my eye our good friend coming up the line. I became quiet, trying to avoid the double call. I just knew he was going to call something.

He slowly started to put up his out sign. Yes, there was a thumb involved. I outdid him and yelled out and gave a quick sign.

Another play, R1 and R2. Single to right, R2 coming home. Somehow, PU ended up between the pitchers mound and the plate to call this play. I do think he got it right, and was shockingly in a decent position to see the swipe tag. But he never would have seen the plate.

Last play: bags juiced, 2 outs. Groundball to F6 ranging to his right, who flips to F5, who is not yet on his bag. I wait, wait, wait and wait some more. He never touches the bag, instead straddles it. Tries to tag the runner, who slides into the glove. The glove ends up in the cheap seats, and the runner on the base. Big cloud of dust. I'm still waiting to make my call, just to make sure that the ball did indeed come out. Not so sure why I waited as long as I did, but just wanted to make sure that I saw what I saw.

Here he comes, up the line. Force play, Force Play. "Crap" I say to myself, and come up with an out on the force. I should have stuck my neck out a bit here and came up with my call. 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.

Today, I worked with a smitty!

Now, what to do next. I take a good amount of games from this assignor. I have never once asked not to work with somebody again in the future. I don't want to make any more trouble for the assignor, and make him think that I am tough to work with (he's actually never even seen me umpire). Just don't want to be that guy

Assignors, would you want to hear about this stuff. Remember, I'm 21, 4th year in the association. Don't really have alot of seniority. Should I just keep the trap shut the way I did when ole Pops up on the hill yelled at me today "THAT ISN'T THE HIGH SCHOOL RULE!" (By the way, it was, and we were playing OBR to boot, but that is a horse of a different color).

Thanks for letting me vent a bit...

Tuss

Tuss,
I don't know where you are when your are in the saddle.
I assume I've been there but didn't know it. :cool:
Where is that?
Thanks

Did you have a "talk" with Old Smitty after the game?


Tim.

I'm guessing that with two outs and R1 & R2 he was in "B", Mick.


Tim.

Thanks, Tim.
Can the saddle also be "C" ?

Guess he was on his high horse at that point...and thus in the saddle...:D

and I'm trying to envision someone shoving the throat gaurd down their pants as a way to hold the HSM...I jsut can't see it...or maybe don't want to :eek:

Like you, I honestly don't know where "the saddle" is, Mick. I know that we're taught to use B with two outs and R1 - R2. I know other associations that leave B or C up to the umpire in this situation.

Tim.

Would it be too much trouble to explain why "B" is better than "C" ?
I know it's used, but I am cannot figger out why.

Is it because the next routine call is likely to be at 1B ?
Is it because PU can help at 3B and still be in a better postion to cover the plate?

Thanks.

Actually it's because the most likely play will be at either first or second and you've split the difference on making a call at either base. With R1 & R2 it's not very often that you'll see either a steal of third or a play at third on a ball hit to the infield. You can make the call at first just as well as you can from C, but to me it's more comfortable to make the call from B.


Tim.

Tuss, whether to talk to your assignor or not depends on how much capital you've built up with him over the years. If you've only worked a handful of games then it's probably best to keep quiet. On the other hand, if you've worked 2 full seasons or more, enough for him to get some positive feedback on you, then you could probably speak up.

Thanks again, Tim.
I can do that, but I will worry about the surprise play, the double steal, with a close play at 3B and how I may wish for that other 20 feet toward the play. :)

What I meant by the saddle was a working position behind the rubber to where I could get to anywhere quickly.

I started the play in B. R1 advanced to 3rd on the play, so I had to respect the idea that we could have a play at 3rd. I also realized that B/R rounded 1st a bit too far, and they could throw behind them there. So, not knowing where the play would be, I ended up in the saddle, the working area behind the pitcher.

When I realized that the play was going to first, a took a couple of steps to get an angle and close a bit of distance down, stopped, and was ready to make the call.

2 man mechanics, a system of compromise. Heck, even 4 man would have this play a bit abandoned if the bases were full.

Thanks for new term, Tuss.
Yeah, I've found myself there from time to time during a play. It's a tough place to be. And stoopid wrong-way infielders can make me look stoopider.

Tuss,

If this guy is terrible, your assignor needs to know. If you explain it to him from a knowledgable standpoint, explain your knowledge of positioning, appearance, mechanics, etc., then he should respect your opinion of ol' Smitty. You sure can't tell these old timers anything knew, they'll just blow you off and tell you that's the way they do it and that's that.

You have every right to scratch this dude off your assignment roster. I've scratched a few over the years, and a few people had me scratched as well. Sometimes it's just a matter of personality clashes, and other times it's a crappy partner. But you've been around long enough to have enough pull as to get rid of an undesirable partner. Hopefully, he will get enough complaints from other umpires to where someone will sit him down and straighten a few things out.

SDS:

This is the 2nd season I've been taking games from this guy... are we sure that is enough time put in?

And, did I mention that he called an IFF on a soft line drive?

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.

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.

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).

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

Are you sure? :cool:

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

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.

:cool:

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.

canadaump6,

Thanks for your input.

JM

Tuss
 

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. :D


IMHO

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.:)

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.

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.

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.

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 :D

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.

Sometimes it is a shocker when you find out you're doing something wrong. Initially it can be hard to be told to do something a different way. As an example, I worked a kiddieball game with a 1st year umpire who was wearing a ballbag (he was doing bases). I politely recommended he take it off and he said something like "meh nobody cares". I said nothing more about it, but once the game began he took it off on his own free will.

Tom, I would have had a bit more patience with this less experienced official. Give him a chance to change his attitude- afterall, he probably doesn't want to be a bad umpire.

Inexperienced umpires have no business copping an attitude with veteran umpires who are trying to help. A rookie or 2nd/3rd/4th year umpire should be like a sponge, absorbing everything his superiors (in ability) have to say, and not give smart aleck retorts when given instruction on how to improve. The good umpire prospects are the ones who keep their eyes and ears open and their mouths shut.

Yeah, they do Steve.
Just like the young bull moose, displaying the antlers in his first rut.
Whether they learn from the first gentle *combat* or from the following harder confrontations, it's quite a natural "show".

Eventually the young moose learns or has a perpetual headache, if not worse. http://www.clicksmilies.com/s1106/ti...smiley-042.gif

Nobody has to bow down to another umpire just because they are older or more experienced. Respect has to be earned.

Canada, respect is earned on the field, not in the parking lot or on a internet board expressing 'opinions'.

After every game I do, whether with an 'old vet' or a young "up and comer", I ask them to give me their 2 cents about my game. If I've worked with someone before I will ask them to concentrate on a particular thing I want to work on. I try to learn something from everyone I work with. I see things that I would like to add to my game, and I see things I would never do. I NEVER give anyone any advice unless I'm asked to do so.

Did you notice how Tom added emphasis to the young umpires comment? It was rude and uncalled for to ask for input and then argue about the input he'd received. I'd have been done with him myself.


Tim.

He left you with two options, Tom. You could have found the red book on two man mechanics and shown him the error of his ways, or done exactly what you did depending on his demeanor. Knowing you as well as I do, I have to believe that you did the right thing in this situation. It's old news, but you really can't make a horse drink.................


Tim.

My post was addressed to Steve, but regardless, this umpire was not correct. I guess I would have had to be there to know the situation, but from your description it sounded like this umpire was naive rather than ignorant.

Why should age have anything to do with the dialogue between umpires?

I meant young to the trade, not young in years. In any vocation there's a certain amount of respect that's given to others senior in their job. The respect should be implied by their years of service. I would put to you that respect isn't earned, it's either there or lost by a show of consistent incompetency. You do as you wish in your career, and continue to expound to those senior to you that they must earn your respect. See how far it gets you.


Tim.

Nuff said.
Contest over.