The Smitty Chronicles

[zebra2955]

How did that name originate? "smitty "

[mick]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

I always thought a "Smitty" referred to a coach, and that umpires used it as a synonym for "rats". Now it seems it is a term used solely to describe umpires with a bad attitude.

Oops !!! Ya got that rear-end to.
I don't think attitude comes into play for them, unless they just don't care about their appearance on the field.

[mick]

Originally Posted by zebra2955

How did that name originate? "smitty "

Guessing here, that one of the members was telling/relating a story about an umpire, without giving the actual name.
Smith, being a rather common name, was selected and to carry it a bit further, and to make that umpire more familiar, because he may be in Anyville, USA , "Smitty" evolved.

[UmpJM]

Originally Posted by zebra2955

How did that name originate? "smitty "

zebra2955,

I believe the term was originally coined by Carl Childress in an article he wrote for Referee magazine prior to the inception of Officiating.com. I believe Mick's hypothesis pretty well summarizes Carl's intent.

JM

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

I always thought a "Smitty" referred to a coach, and that umpires used it as a synonym for "rats". Now it seems it is a term used solely to describe umpires with a bad attitude.

Not bad attitudes necessarily, but many bad habits which they believe to be the proper way of doing something and refuse to listen to anyone who tries to correct them. Ozzy gave a good partial list of things that identify "Smitty."

[zebra2955]

Thanks for the info

[ODJ]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

CD, here in the US, a Smitty will wear his hat backwards at the plate, wear his shin guards on the outside of his pants, and have a ball bag full of seeds. On the bases, he will brush off the pitcher's plate, brush off the bases, and flash the count back to the PU. As Tuss stated, it is not the bad umpire that is the Smitty. And Smitty has no references to coaches, it is strictly pointed to umpires.

I would differentiate between 1) a Smitty: One who thinks he knows all, but doesn't; One who tells all how to do it, but can't; One who thinks he's the great gift to officiating, but isn't; Is oblivious to his foolishness.

And 2) umpires, as Ozzy describes, who are just clueless. An official can plain ol' stink and be lousy, but it's when he starts spouting off, the Smitty label is attached.

I'll add:
-Upon meeting you for the first time, he recites his resume and "experience." Take a deep breath and enjoy the day's ride through Hell.
-States he has a HUGE zone, only to be size of a tea cup.

My first game ever w/partner: 11-y.o. game. Partner gets out of his car, straps on his shin guards outside the pants. I walk over to say I'm here and already dressed for the plate. He then takes off his guards and proceeds to put them back on, under his pants.

[ILRef80]

I worked a summer league game (17-18 year old kids) today with a guy who didn't have a ball bag, wore a brown belt and even work khakis

[zebra2955]

Originally Posted by ILRef80

I worked a summer league game (17-18 year old kids) today with a guy who didn't have a ball bag, wore a brown belt and even work khakis

I think I know that guy!!
Did he also wear a fishing hat?

[aceholleran]

Originally Posted by Tom H.

Well the official that you speak of may have been incompetent or over-the-hill, but he was right about taking off the watch.
I would also add that IMHO your attitude and response was rude, crass and uncalled for.
You know, someday YOU will be considered the "incompetent or over-the-hill" guy by some "newbe".
Very distastefull to me.

I KNEW some of youse would jump all over me for wearing a watch. Why can't you cull through this to the actual point of the post?

Thois is my problem with the board--too many of you try to rip a post apart without getting to its crux.

When do YOU go to a game you are not working, and, during the game, walk up to an official and give him grief--for anything--much less something as minor as wearing a watch. BTW, he was not my assignor, an officer on the board... nuttin'.

Jeeze, Louise.

Ace

[aceholleran]

Originally Posted by CO ump

So a guy makes a mistake, owns up to it and you feel the need to embarass him. And then only because you were leaving the board
In my neck of the woods we call that "coward"

In my neck of the woods, we don't throw names like that around.

If anyone was a pantywaist, it was the veteran ref who couldn't own up to his own mistake, yet decided to subject his audience to a long diatribe, when he, in fact, was the erring ref. He deserved every bit of my treatment. That was the point of my post.

I'm done with you, CO. I can't brook such babbling.

Ace

[celebur]

Originally Posted by aceholleran

I KNEW some of youse would jump all over me for wearing a watch.

So...would you like "youse" to be pronounced like "ewes". Or would you prefer that it rhyme with "louse"?

[Rita C]

Originally Posted by aceholleran

If anyone was a pantywaist, it was the veteran ref who couldn't own up to his own mistake, yet decided to subject his audience to a long diatribe, when he, in fact, was the erring ref. He deserved every bit of my treatment.

Ace

No, he didn't.

Rita

[RPatrino]

Guys/Gals, when you are watching a game do you take the time to walk up and critique the officials working the game? I don't. The point is, this guy had no business even approaching Ace and saying anything, except perhaps, "Hi, how you doing Ace?"

[Forest Ump]

I've met Mr. Smitty.

See: What would you call this guy?