A LLWS Observation

[Rich]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

While I applaud your "show them some respect" mantra - surely you can't be serious here... are you watching? Are you reading here? My brother knows that it takes 4 balls to walk a batter, and he knows the base awards... and he's not umpired his first game yet. It's not like these guys have had to deal with one of the TWP's we post here and argue about, or a typical cluster-F that an 8U umpire deals with every week. The rules they have screwed up, and the mechanics they have completely botched are elementary.

I've lost track of the count before, so I won't crawl up their butts for that. Anyone who hasn't lost a ball or rung up strike two either hasn't been doing this long or is lying.

And in terms of mechanics, I can't agree more. They'll dutifully pivot in unnecessarily on a clean hit, but can't bother to take a quick step or two and lean in order to get the right angle on an actual play.

I'm afraid replay will actually lower the expectations of LL -- they'll be happy to bring even more terrible people to the WS (You managed the concession stand for 30 years? Well, we contract that function out in WP and pay for it (imagine that), but would you like to umpire? No, no real experience necessary. We bring retired DAs all the time.)

[zm1283]

My favorite mechanic is the bounding foul ball down the line that hits up against the fence. Meanwhile, the base umpire on that line or the outfield umpire is throwing his hands up and pointing foul like it was a foot from the line and he needs to sell it. Guys, if it's obvious there is no reason to sell it. Everyone in the park and watching on TV knows it was foul.

[GoodwillRef]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

I've lost track of the count before, so I won't crawl up their butts for that. Anyone who hasn't lost a ball or rung up strike two either hasn't been doing this long or is lying.

And in terms of mechanics, I can't agree more. They'll dutifully pivot in unnecessarily on a clean hit, but can't bother to take a quick step or two and lean in order to get the right angle on an actual play.

I'm afraid replay will actually lower the expectations of LL -- they'll be happy to bring even more terrible people to the WS (You managed the concession stand for 30 years? Well, we contract that function out in WP and pay for it (imagine that), but would you like to umpire? No, no real experience necessary. We bring retired DAs all the time.)

The one black shirt and 5 light blues ones are killing me...and if i see one more darn goatee or beard on an umpire I am going to scream. Can't shave your mutt for 2 weeks at the LLWS...seriously!

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by GoodwillRef

if i see one more darn goatee or beard on an umpire I am going to scream.

I've never understood this particular bias. There's nothing inherently incompatible about facial hair and umpiring. In fact, once I started wearing a goatee, I received far more respect from coaches than I did when I was clean shaven.

[GoodwillRef]

Originally Posted by Eastshire

I've never understood this particular bias. There's nothing inherently incompatible about facial hair and umpiring. In fact, once I started wearing a goatee, I received far more respect from coaches than I did when I was clean shaven.

It is just the way it is! It killed me when Jim Joyce was wearing a goatee...looks horrible. Maybe you just became a better umpire...it wasn't because you grew facial hair.

[GoodwillRef]

What is up with the red undershirts under the jackets that are black with light blue and white stripes...that looks stupid!

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by GoodwillRef

What is up with the red undershirts under the jackets that are black with light blue and white stripes...that looks stupid!

I can agree with you on that. In Ohio we're required to wear red undershirts for Fed ball. I find it bizarre.

[GoodwillRef]

Originally Posted by Eastshire

I can agree with you on that. In Ohio we're required to wear red undershirts for Fed ball. I find it bizarre.

I was taught your undershirt should be one of the colors of the stripes (piping) on your shirt/jacket.

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by GoodwillRef

It is just the way it is! It killed me when Jim Joyce was wearing a goatee...looks horrible. Maybe you just became a better umpire...it wasn't because you grew facial hair.

Actually, it was. My thought is that I looked about 15 clean shaven and about 23 with the goatee, but it changed the way coaches interacted with me for the better.

Again, there's nothing inherently incompatible about umpiring and facial hair, even if you don't like it.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Eastshire

Again, there's nothing inherently incompatible about umpiring and facial hair, even if you don't like it.

And there's nothing incompatible about almost any other appearance item. It IS one of the unwritten societal rules (the extent to which depends on the specific area) and you will be viewed differently (and, thus, your umpiring will be judged differently until there's sufficient specific evidence to overcome it) if you have one.

It might not be "logical", but it's true.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

And there's nothing incompatible about almost any other appearance item. It IS one of the unwritten societal rules (the extent to which depends on the specific area) and you will be viewed differently (and, thus, your umpiring will be judged differently until there's sufficient specific evidence to overcome it) if you have one.

It might not be "logical", but it's true.

And depending on your race, gender, sport or association can change a lot of those things as well.

I have never been asked to remove facial hair except in one conference in basketball. Everyone else has not said a word about it to me or others like me that I am aware of. And this is really not the case at the high school level. Guys wear all kinds of things at the high school level.

Peace

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by bob jenkins

And there's nothing incompatible about almost any other appearance item. It IS one of the unwritten societal rules (the extent to which depends on the specific area) and you will be viewed differently (and, thus, your umpiring will be judged differently until there's sufficient specific evidence to overcome it) if you have one.

It might not be "logical", but it's true.

That's what people who don't like facial hair always say, but I don't really think it is true. My own experience bears out the exact opposite.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by GoodwillRef

It is just the way it is! It killed me when Jim Joyce was wearing a goatee...looks horrible. Maybe you just became a better umpire...it wasn't because you grew facial hair.

My dad doesn't like them either. He's 65.

There's nothing wrong with properly groomed facial hair. I don't wear it, but it's not like this is one of baseball's unwritten rules... unless Marge Schott is your boss.