Thoughts on this situation. (video)

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

Oh, c'mon. There were 7 to 8 seconds between the the fly ball hitting the ground and the play at the plate. The PU was in fair territory. All he had to do was go the same distance in a different direction and he would have been where he should have been. It wasn't an issue of time, it was an issue of judgment.

Im not saying he could'nt have got there, I'm just saying "terrible" is a little over-exaggarating.

[David B]

Originally Posted by RichMSN

OK, the umpire took the play at the wrong place and the runner was safe. Let's look beyond that.

It's the last play of the game. I'm calling a runner out and walking out of the park. I'm not sticking around to see what they think of my call. I know what the offense thinks (regardless of whether it's correct) and I know what the defense thinks. I won't avoid a post-game ejection, but they'll be yelling at my back.

Well said. PU had no reason to stick around for anything. Game is over, get out of dodge. If runner, player or coach want to mouth off, I'm not within earshot.

This PU stayed around way too long.

Also I thought he was actually safe, as the tag was late, but that's umpires judgement, so he's entitled to his opinion.

thanks
David

[Simply The Best]

Originally Posted by Simply The Best
Terrible positioning, lazy retreat after going out on catch/no catch; tag on back when scoring R hand and chest are clearly on or past the plate; terrible call.

EJ (hopefully) justified since the player past right by PU. 2nd EJ, if it was loud enough and egregious enough to warrant an EJ, then good on PU.

Originally Posted by jicecone

"Terrible positioning"? What was he supposed to do turnaround and run full speed to 3b ext? Don't think so. He has to backpeddle to keep the play in front of him.

You are right, I need to remember that this umpire is being paid according to his expertise and ability. For $75/hr, he has done well. My bad. My umpires earn twice that and are required to pull back and get the up the line vantage point keeping the play in front of them at all times. Which btw, the play bypassed this umpire as the throw passed him well before the slide.

Right hand never touched the plate. Did you look at any of the video? First hand to touch was left hand and by then F2 has the tag.

R = runner.

[zm1283]

Originally Posted by Simply The Best

Originally Posted by Simply The Best
Terrible positioning, lazy retreat after going out on catch/no catch; tag on back when scoring R hand and chest are clearly on or past the plate; terrible call.

EJ (hopefully) justified since the player past right by PU. 2nd EJ, if it was loud enough and egregious enough to warrant an EJ, then good on PU.
You are right, I need to remember that this umpire is being paid according to his expertise and ability. For $75/hr, he has done well. My bad. My umpires earn twice that and are required to pull back and get the up the line vantage point keeping the play in front of them at all times. Which btw, the play bypassed this umpire as the throw passed him well before the slide.R = runner.

Who earns $75 an hour in a high school game? That's a pretty damn good high school game fee.

Not all umpires are trained as well as others, including "your" umpires, and that sometimes is reflected on the field. Not an excuse, just how it is. Most high school associations take who they can get and quite a few have a shortage of umpires.

As for the play, I'm with the guys who said he needed to get off the field whether he got the call right or not. I don't see the helmet flip if it's me and unless the player or the AC say something way out of line, I'm ignoring it and meeting my partner at the gate.

[ODJ]

$75 for east coast big cities.

This never would have happened if he just tuck in the jacket.

[dash_riprock]

I believe our game fees are the highest in the country.

$78.50 - Jr. High School (2 hr. limit)
$96.00 - JV
$115 - Varsity

I also think high fees tend to attract "umpires" who do it for the wrong reason. I recently e-mailed a partner with whom I had never worked about an upcoming game that was in doubt because of weather. His response: "Let's hope the rain holds off long enough for us to get paid."

That says it all.

[jicecone]

Originally Posted by Simply The Best

Originally Posted by [B]You are right, I need to remember that this umpire is being paid according to his expertise and ability. For $75/hr, he has done well. My bad. My umpires earn twice that and are required to pull back and get the up the line vantage point keeping the play in front of them at all times. Which btw, the play bypassed this umpire as the throw passed him well before the slide.R = runner.

Your umpires earn twice that for HS ball? Yea !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sure!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think you've been re-reading way too many of your opinions here.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by jicecone

Your umpires earn twice that for HS ball? Yea !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sure!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think you've been re-reading way too many of your opinions here.

Let's see...twice the $75/hour figure, so $150/hr or about $300 for HS ball. uh-huh.

[Simply The Best]

Originally Posted by zm1283

Who earns $75 an hour in a high school game? That's a pretty damn good high school game fee.

Don't know, very few of my trained umpires officiate FED.

Not all umpires are trained as well as others, including "your" umpires, and that sometimes is reflected on the field.

I quite agree, I have seen none as well trained and schooled in my international travels. The physical requirements alone are exceedingly stringent, book knowledge of OBR and local rule interpretations unparralleled, consistent game control, precise and unchanging mechanics and a plethora of other conditions of certification.

Not an excuse, just how it is. Most high school associations take who they can get and quite a few have a shortage of umpires.

Which is why I allowed that our lazy, plump PU in question is most probably worth his pay.

As for the play, I'm with the guys who said he needed to get off the field whether he got the call right or not. I don't see the helmet flip if it's me and unless the player or the AC say something way out of line, I'm ignoring it and meeting my partner at the gate.

Each to his own but FED rules require post game vigilance for matters involving ejectionable offenses.

[Simply The Best]

Originally Posted by dash_riprock

I also think high fees tend to attract "umpires" who do it for the wrong reason.

Any part of your fee you would like to give to my favorite charity, feel free to PM and I will arrange.

[youngblue3]

Plays at the plate are all really hard. I thought the positioning wasnt bad cause it could be a blocked plate.

Call- not bad but the timeing was rushed. Hard to tell but I had him safe.

Ejections- Try to keep them in the game. First one, maybe cause the PU was right there. But the second one, the PU shouldnt have to walk back to make an ejection because if you are far enough away to have to come back then just igonre them unless they are yelling or say something personal i.e. "You suck". Walking back toward somebody to make an ejection looks really agressive.

Handling people who argue really seperates the good officials from the bad.

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by youngblue3

Plays at the plate are all really hard. I thought the positioning wasnt bad cause it could be a blocked plate. Techinically, in fed that was obstruction with where the catcher was standing in front of the plate as he was recieving the ball but I would never have called that unless you want 3 or 4 different ejections. As far as the call and ejections, Ill say the call was ur judgement but it was rushed, and the ejections were bad. i'd let them have their say and i was walking away paying no attention to them as long as the dont yell any cuss words. If its that hard to understand what was said on the video it couldnt have been that loud so get out of dodge and hope they dont scream as your walking away but always try to keep them in the game and definetely never ever walk back to make an ejection. It looks to agressive and if you have to walk back you must be far enough away to pretend you didnt hear them and c'mon should never constitute an ejection. But Im assuming they didnt make it personal like you suck or something like that, but this is all just my 2 cents.

What?

[zm1283]

Originally Posted by Simply The Best

Don't know, very few of my trained umpires officiate FED.

Then why did you bring up the money thing since this is a FED game we're discussing?

I quite agree, I have seen none as well trained and schooled in my international travels. The physical requirements alone are exceedingly stringent, book knowledge of OBR and local rule interpretations unparralleled, consistent game control, precise and unchanging mechanics and a plethora of other conditions of certification.

Which is why I allowed that our lazy, plump PU in question is most probably worth his pay.

He may have not gotten to the ideal position, but I really don't think this guy was lazy. He moved out for the catch/no-catch in the outfield and then retreated for the play at home. A lazy umpire would have stood behind the plate for the catch/no-catch.

Each to his own but FED rules require post game vigilance for matters involving ejectionable offenses.

I agree, but unless it's egregious, I'm getting off the field. We don't know what the runner or the AC said, so the ejections could have been well warranted, but it looked odd that the PU went back toward the dugout to EJ the AC. I'm all for dumping someone who needs to be dumped though.

[UmpJM]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

What?

MrUmpire,

I believe he said, "I'm kinda' new at this." and, "I don't really believe in punctuation, but I'm willing to fake it a little."

Of course, I'm not really fluent, so I may have missed some of the "nuance".

JM