CT vs RI New England Regional Video

[Fittske]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

It's not kids baseball so much as it's LL baseball. LL goes out of their way to exclude a lot of umpires

I would disagree that "LL goes out of their way to exclude a lot of umpires" LL does not exclude umpires, umpires exclude themselves. LL's policy is simple, If you take money for umpiring Little league baseball, you are not eligible to umpire in any post season tournaments including regional’s and World series assignments. I umpire various levels of baseball from college to high school and little league. I have aspirations of umpiring one day at the little league world series. So out of the 200 + games I umpire every year, I take payment for everything except little league. So for 30 or so LL games I do every year, I donate 100% my time so the kids can have quality umpires for their games. LL strives to be the premiere "volunteer" youth sports organization. When LL reaches the part of the tournament season that is televised, they want to be able to say that everyone participating is a 100% volunteer. Unfortunately some of the “better” umpires are “disqualified” because they refuse to give their time for free.

Granted, there are some poor umpires that can be seen this time of year umpiring LL baseball on TV. I would be the first to agree that some of the umpires have never seen or been to a umpire clinic....but these umpires have "paid the price" of volunteering their time through their local leagues to be there. So getting to umpire on TV is their reward. Any umpire can decide to volunteer their time to LL if they so choose. Those that do, get rewarded, those that don't are left to criticize.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Fittske

I would disagree that "LL goes out of their way to exclude a lot of umpires" LL does not exclude umpires, umpires exclude themselves. LL's policy is simple, If you take money for umpiring Little league baseball, you are not eligible to umpire in any post season tournaments including regional’s and World series assignments.

Semantics. LL creates an environment, via their choices, which excludes a lot of umpires. I'm not saying that NO good umpire would ever volunteer - obviously you (and Rich) are examples of good umpires that do volunteer. I'm saying that the policy eliminates a solid majority of the good umpires out there.

Originally Posted by Fittske

Unfortunately some of the “better” umpires are “disqualified” because they refuse to give their time for free.

This is kind of my point.

Originally Posted by Fittske

I would be the first to agree that some of the umpires have never seen or been to a umpire clinic....but these umpires have "paid the price" of volunteering their time through their local leagues to be there.

Again, exactly my point. LL places emphasis on working for free, rather than training. Other organizations place their emphasis on training. Hence the blatantly obvious quality difference. They are getting EXACTLY what they want - free, low-quality umpires.

I'm not criticizing any umpire that works for LL - kudos to them. I'm just saying the system LL has set up creates the problem we are talking about.

My only real criticism is that you would think, with the amount of TV money LL rakes in, that they would figure out a way to spend some of that on the quality of their product. Seems a little hypocritical to me that the one organization getting HUGE dollars from a TV contract is also the one organization that won't pay to improve their umpires.

[LMan]

Mike hit it on the head. All that moolah from the TV contracts and Frosted Flakes (), and the umpire product is stuck in the 1970s, if not worse - some gems floating out there amongst flotsam.

Shows where the priorities lie. In any organization, people who clearly see they aren't a priority tend to go places they are.

[johnnyg08]

It's a good business model...get 6 umpires out there to work for free and one of your biggest costs locally, the umpire fees...the CEO probably rakes in mid-six figures and expects the umpires nationally to work for free because they're such good people and "doing it for the kids and the betterment of baseball"

A good scam if you ask me.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Semantics. LL creates an environment, via their choices, which excludes a lot of umpires. I'm not saying that NO good umpire would ever volunteer - obviously you (and Rich) are examples of good umpires that do volunteer. I'm saying that the policy eliminates a solid majority of the good umpires out there.

I've probably peaked as a LL umpire. I'm not willing to put in face time at the region or make a pilgrimage to WP every few years in order to be selected. I will continue to volunteer at the local level and will continue to put in an application for regional and WS assignments. I've worked a regional and had a great time, although I'd say that of the 16 umpires at the region, I'd probably walk onto a HS field with about 5-6 of them. And this was a Senior regional, where the quality of play was actually pretty good.

It disappoints me that LL doesn't realize that assigning an umpire is an important task. Clearly, the regions do not find it important as long as they have decent enough guys to work the plate on televised games -- the other umpires can be volunteers with poor timing, poor mechanics, and little incentive to improve as umpires. I am a member of a LL umpire mailing list where the mindset is, "It's OK that the umpire punched the BR out with the ball rolling by the fence. We're all learning here." Listen, by the time someone is hired to work a regional game, they should be outstanding umpires as well as outstanding volunteers. I hold myself to the same standards working a LL game as I did when I worked an NCAA D3 conference tournament.

I've seen it locally. I'm in my 9th season umpiring on the local district (I moved here in 2002). We have about 5 umpires who are outstanding, IMO (and all have worked deep into the HS playoffs and work (or have worked) college schedules), a couple who have the potential, and a bunch of LL lifers who work no higher than the FR/JV level during HS season. Those people come to clinics, don't really listen or make a great effort to improve, and then think they should be given high profile assignments in our tournaments. And sometimes they do, which completely frustrates me.

The problem is, IMO, the money. When the pay is "zero" or even substantially below market rates, the good umpires tend to gravitate towards the gigs that pay well. I don't blame them. I don't count on my umpiring money for much (I'm fortunate to have a very good day job), so I don't mind passing up the $120 Legion DH during LL tournament season -- but not everyone is willing to or can make that choice.

[johnnyg08]

I'm in no way bashing the umpires who volunteer for the intrinsic reward of volunteering...I think that's honorable esp when there are plenty of games in most areas that will pay...or to the umpires that have great paying "A" jobs where the money isn't an issue or they live very close to many fields so the mileage, commute time, and gas money isn't such an upfront expense prior to taxes, but I think as other have already said that you greatly diminish your umpire pool when you expect umpires nationwide to work for free all summer to get a spot at Williamsport. For those who do that, I tip my cap to you, because at this point in my life, I wouldn't make the sacrifice since our season in MN is 6 months long at the longest assuming you earn a spot in the mens state tournament from this weekend - Labor Day. We have to get while the gettin' is good.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

It disappoints me that LL doesn't realize that assigning an umpire is an important task.

It's not just LL.....

JJ

[PeteBooth]

[QUOTE]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

although I'd say that of the 16 umpires at the region, I'd probably walk onto a HS field with about 5-6 of them. And this was a Senior regional, where the quality of play was actually pretty good.

Rich IMO your aforementioned statement NAILS it.

Umpires are a team to but here is what happens. For the most part you are working with guys / gals that you have NEVER umpired with.

That's equivalent to a team showing up at Regionals with a bunch of players who have NEVER seen each other or played with each other. There chances of succeeding would be greatly reduced.

When you umpire a HS Sectional game or Regional game chances are you are working with someone whom you are fiamiliar with. IMO, a BIG difference

Also, let's face it, no matter how experienced you are a call will be missed. It's a fact of life BUT now for a kids game we have Replay and Replay was NOT supposed to be used at Regionals Plain and Simple BUT it was. It's called BristolGate.

Pete Booth

[jicecone]

[QUOTE=Fittske;689185]I would disagree that "LL goes out of their way to exclude a lot of umpires" LL does not exclude umpires, umpires exclude themselves. LL's policy is simple, If you take money for umpiring Little league baseball, you are not eligible to umpire in any post season tournaments including regional’s and World series assignments. [QUOTE]I think your drinking too much of that LL Kool-ade.

I personnally, know of many umpires that were paid for doing LL games and went on to do post season games and paid for that too. Up to and including the WS.

[PeteBooth]

[QUOTE]

Originally Posted by Fittske

LL strives to be the premiere "volunteer" youth sports organization. When LL reaches the part of the tournament season that is televised, they want to be able to say that everyone participating is a 100% volunteer.

LL has "sold their soul"

LL is about one thing and one thing only - THEIR SHOW. They could care less what goes on during the regular season. They do not care that many LL organizations struggle to get umpires during the regular season because they have plenty come tournament time.

The SHOW is what IMO is keeping LL alive these days. Without the TV exposure, more and more LL organizations would most likely switch programs aka Ripken and the like which have a 50-70 program.

IMO, even a strong advocate of LL baseball should be outraged at what happened at Bristol. No matter how you slice it REPLAY was used to over-turn a call and that is AGAINST the rules. LL does what the heck they want.
Unfortunately it's NOT a kids game anymore when you use Replay etc.

Also, guess what! It's just a matter of time before we see PRO umpires doing the LL Regionals and World Series games.

Pete Booth

[ozzy6900]

[quote=PeteBooth;689225]

LL has "sold their soul"

LL is about one thing and one thing only - THEIR SHOW. They could care less what goes on during the regular season. They do not care that many LL organizations struggle to get umpires during the regular season because they have plenty come tournament time.

The SHOW is what IMO is keeping LL alive these days. Without the TV exposure, more and more LL organizations would most likely switch programs aka Ripken and the like which have a 50-70 program.

IMO, even a strong advocate of LL baseball should be outraged at what happened at Bristol. No matter how you slice it REPLAY was used to over-turn a call and that is AGAINST the rules. LL does what the heck they want.
Unfortunately it's NOT a kids game anymore when you use Replay etc.

Also, guess what! It's just a matter of time before we see PRO umpires doing the LL Regionals and World Series games.

Pete Booth

I agree, Pete. LL really put their foot into the $hit bucket this time! The unfortunate thing is that the people who really care, the umpires that are really there for the kids, rarely get noticed at all. Most of the guys and gals that worked LL in my area (and did so for years) have left for local leagues, our HS Association or just don't bother anymore. They all say the same thing.... "It's not the 3 or 4 games on a Saturday or the make up games under the lights, it's the attitude of the parents, the coaches and LL itself. This action in Bristol, I think will be the last straw for many others (especially here in CT). It's okay by me, our association will take them, train them and put them on the HS fields.

[JJ]

[QUOTE=PeteBooth;689225]

Also, guess what! It's just a matter of time before we see PRO umpires doing the LL Regionals and World Series games. Pete Booth

Hmmm...an MLB ump misses a call which is a confirmed miss on replay, so they send him down from the Big Leagues to the Little Leagues to work on his replay skills....I like it....well.......

JJ

[Toadman15241]

All you need to know about how commercialized the LLWS has become: One of the major sports books now offers lines on all LLWS games and who will win each pool.

[KJUmp]

[QUOTE=PeteBooth;689225]

LL has "sold their soul"

LL is about one thing and one thing only - THEIR SHOW. They could care less what goes on during the regular season. They do not care that many LL organizations struggle to get umpires during the regular season because they have plenty come tournament time.

The SHOW is what IMO is keeping LL alive these days. Without the TV exposure, more and more LL organizations would most likely switch programs aka Ripken and the like which have a 50-70 program.

IMO, even a strong advocate of LL baseball should be outraged at what happened at Bristol. No matter how you slice it REPLAY was used to over-turn a call and that is AGAINST the rules. LL does what the heck they want.
Unfortunately it's NOT a kids game anymore when you use Replay etc.

Also, guess what! It's just a matter of time before we see PRO umpires doing the LL Regionals and World Series games.

Pete Booth

Slam dunk on that one Pete.
My association with LL ended in '03. Back when I worked the Regional in Bristol in '01, the Eastern Region UIC was from up in your neck of the woods. Is the same UIC still in charge?