The Smitty Chronicles

[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.

[BigUmp56]

In Ace's defense, Tom, I have to say his response wasn't all that uncalled for given what the guy said to him.

Originally Posted by aceholleran

After the game he asked me how I dare defy him.

Ace

That's an invite for a terse response.


Tim.

[canadaump6]

I do not think it is fair for us to refer to poor umpires as "smitty", because it reflects negatively on coaches and implies that most coaches are not up to the task.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

I do not think it is fair for us to refer to poor umpires as "smitty", because it reflects negatively on coaches and implies that most coaches are not up to the task.

Please explain. Maybe it's a language thing between Canadian English and idioms and American English and idioms.

[LMan]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

I do not think it is fair for us to refer to poor umpires as "smitty", because it reflects negatively on coaches and implies that most coaches are not up to the task.

ahhh heck its Friday, I'll play

How does the word 'Smitty' refer to coaches? Too much Labatt's last night, eh, cd?

[TussAgee11]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

I do not think it is fair for us to refer to poor umpires as "smitty", because it reflects negatively on coaches and implies that most coaches are not up to the task.

I have no idea what you're saying, but I'll try to respond.

You can be a poor umpire and not a smitty. Its really not hard, take advice, wear a proper uniform, and have an inquiry as the rules of the game and the mechanics.

You could miss every call in a given game and not be a smitty. Just a bad umpire.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

I do not think it is fair for us to refer to poor umpires as "smitty", because it reflects negatively on coaches and implies that most coaches are not up to the task.

Originally Posted by TussAgee11

I have no idea what you're saying, but I'll try to respond.

You can be a poor umpire and not a smitty. Its really not hard, take advice, wear a proper uniform, and have an inquiry as the rules of the game and the mechanics.

You could miss every call in a given game and not be a smitty. Just a bad umpire.

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.

[danreeves1973]

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.

They'll also come to games and offer "sage wisdom" to you through the backstop between innings, such gems as "Did you know the tie really doesn't go to the runner?"

I smiled, nodded and reminded him the bat also had no hands and that you could overrun first base and turn towards second. He got confused on that last one.

[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.

[Adam]

Why do I doubt that "smitty" used the word "defy" in his query?

[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.

[zebra2955]

How did that name originate? "smitty "

[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

[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.