Knew it was coming

[MD Longhorn]

You might also add to that - that the people deciding who should umpire these games have nearly no knowledge of umpiring either - thus the reason for their horribly faulty decisions on who should go. I used to watch the LLWS every time it was on - but as I got better at umpiring, I grew to the point where I could not watch these travesties of umpiring on the field.

[KJUmp]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

It's a lot more complicated than that. I am a Little League volunteer who also happens to work games at other levels (HS, college, etc.). I teach at a LL junior umpire clinic every season and do what I can to make our umpiring better during the tournament season.

I do have the feeling that there are a significant number of umpires and others within Little League that think that anyone who takes money for umpiring should fall lower on the ladder than those selfless volunteers who do nothing but umpire LL baseball. And that, IMO, is a complete crock of crap.

I've have travelled the exact same road in LLBB as Rich (my last year was '06) including teaching at a yearly junior umpire clinic; and I work HS baseball and college softball. He is 100% on target with his comments. I've seen it from the inside having attended one of LL's week long regional umpiring schools, and having umpired one of their LLBB regionals...complete with the whole televised by ESPN deal.

The LL regional umpire staff on site micro manages the umpires (including, as an example, having a staff member handle the HP meeting and ground rules), replay will just allow them to exert more control over the game and provide them with something else to wave over the umpire's heads to make a good many of them more nervous than they already will be when they step on the field.

Let me add to what mybyron said, yes they're "overkilling the overkill." Add reply to the 200 ft. fences, 6 umpires, and 60 ft. base paths...heaven help the umpire's who'll be working the various regionals.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

LL does pay for expenses for those who work regionals and WS games. I worked a Senior Regional (in Peru/LaSalle) and we were put in a hotel room and given meals, etc. We also received shirts and hats to wear during the games.

Well that is deep in the playoff, but if you never pay someone at the local level you might not ever get that opportunity to make that choice.

Originally Posted by RichMSN

As far as game fees, well, I don't really care about that. I don't do LL for the money -- I consider that part of my year community service and it's completely voluntary for me to work those games. I contend that there are enough *good* LL umpires out there that they could staff the LLWS with good umpire volunteers from now until the end of time and there wouldn't be a problem with the umpiring. But the criteria reward something other than umpiring skill as the top item on the list, and that's why we get to see what we see as often as we do.

And that is your right Rich. And I have no problem with your position on this. But the problem is that there are people that would not do that and might give more to community service in other ways. I think working a game as an official in many ways is not least I could do for community service as I might find baseball game a very small contribution to a community. It does not mean you have to share that opinion, it just means I know people that give back to kids in other ways and would find this as minimal in a larger scale. And in my opinion, to guarantee you will get a wider pool is to pay guys. Now if I was in your shoes and I worked a tournament and they paid those expenses like you referenced I would consider doing those games, but not the entire season I would not. But this is why I say officiating is very personal. What gets us on the road to work a game varies so much.

Peace

[SethPDX]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

I used to watch the LLWS every time it was on - but as I got better at umpiring, I grew to the point where I could not watch these travesties of umpiring on the field.

There is a LLWS for another division in my hometown and I don't go anymore because every year I would see something from an umpire or umpires that would drive me nuts.

[DG]

I enjoy the game, and enjoy umpiring most of the time. And, I have done a fair share of what I call "charity" games for low pay. But I would close up shop, and work on improving my golf game if not paid reasonably most of the time. No pay at all is a no decision in my book.

[greymule]

And, I have done a fair share of what I call "charity" games for low pay.

I'm all for that. I've done plenty of those games too, sometimes for no pay if I like the charity. So I'm glad you said it. But charity is one thing; giving away your business is another.

Not that it's going to happen, but if I were approached by somebody making private money on a kids' tournament (like LL/ESPN), and he asked me to umpire for nothing "for the kids," I'd decline, and impolitely.

I'm reminded of the people who used to come into my audio store and want something cheap because it would be used by some worthy organization or for some wonderful cause.

[kylejt]

A lot of the time the bad umpires you'll see in Williamsport are foreigners. They just don't have the training that we do have out here, but get represented none the less. Also, notice who's on the final plates. It's usually a WR guy, or a Texan. They get better training, and work more games. The games on the final weekend will have the better guys on the dish and bases. The other folks with rotate in and out of the outfield, just to get in the game.

As for the insane replay nonsense, I let the CEO have an earful this afternoon. His short reply was that he did not agree.

[yawetag]

Originally Posted by kylejt

The games on the final weekend will have the better guys on the dish and bases. The other folks with rotate in and out of the outfield, just to get in the game.

With the quality strike zone I've seen in the past few years, this statement doesn't add to LL's ability to find good umpires.

[LMan]

"just another tool to help him do his job." LOL

..as in instead of second-guessing you from the stands and the broadcast booth, we will do it officially on the field.

It will be interesting to see, though. Can't wait to see how this plays out...could be a 1-year experiment

[johnnyg08]

6 umpires on a LL field w/ 60 foot bases...the kids will be so happy that all of the calls will now be correct :-) LOL

[kylejt]

Two things.

Don't like it, then do something about it. I've been trading emails with Keener, letting him know exactly what I think about this. cc's have gone to the Regionals. If we, as a group, roll over on this, who knows what's next. I didn't like what they did to my Junior umpires last year, and made myself a thorn in their side. You may not do LL, or aspire to do the dog and pony show on TV, but there's a trickle down effect in this decision.

WS umpires are taken from all over. The difference in skill level is quite apparent. I know that WR sends only top guys. It's a pretty tough group of umpires that make the selections on who goes, not just some DAs. Same with getting a Regional nod. Not too many slackers there. Other parts of the country, and the world, aren't so blessed with the training you get at WR.

[KJUmp]

Originally Posted by kylejt

Two things.

Don't like it, then do something about it. I've been trading emails with Keener, letting him know exactly what I think about this. cc's have gone to the Regionals. If we, as a group, roll over on this, who knows what's next. I didn't like what they did to my Junior umpires last year, and made myself a thorn in their side. You may not do LL, or aspire to do the dog and pony show on TV, but there's a trickle down effect in this decision.

WS umpires are taken from all over. The difference in skill level is quite apparent. I know that WR sends only top guys. It's a pretty tough group of umpires that make the selections on who goes, not just some DAs. Same with getting a Regional nod. Not too many slackers there. Other parts of the country, and the world, aren't so blessed with the training you get at WR.

Eastern Region both regional & LLWS umpire selections are the province of the DA's.

kyle...what did the LL mucky mucks do to your Junior umpires last year? Just curious as I ran a sizable (and successful) JR Umpire program for my local league during the 10 years I was involved in LLBB.

[SethPDX]

Originally Posted by KJUmp

Eastern Region both regional & LLWS umpire selections are the province of the DA's.

kyle...what did the LL mucky mucks do to your Junior umpires last year? Just curious as I ran a sizable (and successful) JR Umpire program for my local league during the 10 years I was involved in LLBB.

Do you mean the DAs approve the Regional/World Series applications that are sent from their respective districts? It's true, you must have the DA's permission to send in an application, but in the districts around here the DAs trust the recommendations of their umpire staffs before signing off. Once the application goes to (in my case) San Bernardino or Williamsport the staff there select the umpires who actually work.

Kyle is talking about the rule change that now prevents junior umpires from working without an adult partner.

[KJUmp]

Originally Posted by SethPDX

Do you mean the DAs approve the Regional/World Series applications that are sent from their respective districts? It's true, you must have the DA's permission to send in an application, but in the districts around here the DAs trust the recommendations of their umpire staffs before signing off. Once the application goes to (in my case) San Bernardino or Williamsport the staff there select the umpires who actually work.

Kyle is talking about the rule change that now prevents junior umpires from working without an adult partner.

No.
Back when I was umpiring LLBB ('93-'04) if you were interested in working a regional you sent an application form to your DA. DA's then made their selection for each regional and sent the application onto the Regional office.
LLWS was handled in the same manner.

The umpire applying had to have met certain LLBB criteria to be considered. In addition to the umpire's involvement in his local league, he had to have experience umpiring in LL district, sectional, and state tournament play, have attended a LL regional umpire school, have had recent attendance at a LL regional rules clinic, be a current member of the LL Umpire Registry.
For a LLWS application, it was all of the above, plus having had previously umpired in the regional for the LLWS that you were applying.

The point I was trying to make, is that the path of each application start on the DA's desk. They only move forward with his recommendation and approval. If the DA has 10 applications in front of him that all meet the criteria, it's his call as to which umpire(s) get the assignment.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by KJUmp

No.
Back when I was umpiring LLBB ('93-'04) if you were interested in working a regional you sent an application form to your DA. DA's then made their selection for each regional and sent the application onto the Regional office.
LLWS was handled in the same manner.

The umpire applying had to have met certain LLBB criteria to be considered. In addition to the umpire's involvement in his local league, he had to have experience umpiring in LL district, sectional, and state tournament play, have attended a LL regional umpire school, have had recent attendance at a LL regional rules clinic, be a current member of the LL Umpire Registry.
For a LLWS application, it was all of the above, plus having had previously umpired in the regional for the LLWS that you were applying.

The point I was trying to make, is that the path of each application start on the DA's desk. They only move forward with his recommendation and approval. If the DA has 10 applications in front of him that all meet the criteria, it's his call as to which umpire(s) get the assignment.

Those are the DA's requirements, though. Where I am, you do not need to have gone to a regional school or belong to the registry. What is true, though, is that the DA can only submit one application for each tournament, so if he gets 2 for the Junior Regional (for example), only one will be submitted to the region. In theory, he could choose not to submit an application for any reason, but as far as I know, our DA submits one for each tournament where there's an application. We've had 5 umpires from our district work the Central Region LL (major) tournament in the last 10 years.