Retouch base after foul ball

[ODJ]

Eerily quiet from RichMSN. Hmmmmm.

[johnnyg08]

Wow. Poached big time.

[Paul L]

I've always heard that the rule is to prevent runners from taking 89-foot leads. Which makes me wonder what this literal-minded ump would say if the runner quickly retouched and then assumed an 89-foot lead before PU calls "play".

[Rich]

Originally Posted by ODJ

Eerily quiet from RichMSN. Hmmmmm.

I'm here. You can probably tell I'm not posting as much as I used to. I have my reasons (they have to do with working a different level in one of my sports and being told it's probably not a wise idea to continue to post in such a recognizable manner).

No idea where this was -- I'd love to know. No protests at all in HS games in WI, so that line of thinking is irrelevant. I don't think lack of training and over-officiousness is only a problem in Wisconsin, though. These types of things happen everywhere. For example, remember when an umpire cleared the stands during a HS baseball game in Iowa?

Back to lurking. I'm still reading and can still get PMs, etc.

[blueump]

Reminds me of the umpire I saw call a runner out because his jersey was not tucked in....

Maybe it was the same dude!

[dileonardoja]

All I can say is that this has to be a bush association. An umpire of this caliber should not be anywhere near a HS game (or any game for that matter). These Rubes get hold of a rule and make it there mission to see it violated having no understanding of its purpose.

I am seething thinking that these guys are out there making these calls. I don't care if there is a shortage of umpires, you are better off one man than with this guy.

And I'm sorry; if I am the plate guy I am throwing this Smitty under the bus. I want him dead and buried (figuratively of course )

[Rich]

Originally Posted by dileonardoja

All I can say is that this has to be a bush association. An umpire of this caliber should not be anywhere near a HS game (or any game for that matter). These Rubes get hold of a rule and make it there mission to see it violated having no understanding of its purpose.

I am seething thinking that these guys are out there making these calls. I don't care if there is a shortage of umpires, you are better off one man than with this guy.

And I'm sorry; if I am the plate guy I am throwing this Smitty under the bus. I want him dead and buried (figuratively of course )

Associations? There are no assigning associations in Wisconsin. Games are assigned by league to individual crews of umpires. I work 90% of my HS games with the same partner. We also work college games together.

Not everyone here sucks. There are some really good, well-trained umpires here. You just aren't going to get that good training from many of the associations here (who have no assigning role) is all.

My theory when stuff like this happens is that the schools/leagues get exactly what they deserve. If they're willing to hire jokers like this, they get exactly what they deserve.

[umpjim]

Originally Posted by GROUPthink

Associations? There are no assigning associations in Wisconsin. Games are assigned by league to individual crews of umpires. I work 90% of my HS games with the same partner. We also work college games together.

Not everyone here sucks. There are some really good, well-trained umpires here. You just aren't going to get that good training from many of the associations here (who have no assigning role) is all.

My theory when stuff like this happens is that the schools/leagues get exactly what they deserve. If they're willing to hire jokers like this, they get exactly what they deserve.

How do they tell the difference between you and the jokers? Sounds like a bad system.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by umpjim

How do they tell the difference between you and the jokers? Sounds like a bad system.

Truth is, many of the coaches either don't know the difference or would rather hire the umpires they can manipulate.

I don't suffer -- I could work 7 days a week if I wanted to (and some weeks I do).

As far as postseason, I'm pretty sure the only metrics they have (the state assigns all the playoff slots) are (1) coaches rating, (2) number of games worked, (3) schedule, (4) preferred partners. I'm certain nobody from the office has actually seen me or my partners officiate. I could be wrong.

No real complaints except it's unlikely I'll get to ever work the state tourney and I'm pretty sure I would've had the chance in other states. The thing about guys using a raft there recently is true, BTW.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by GROUPthink

Associations? There are no assigning associations in Wisconsin. Games are assigned by league to individual crews of umpires. I work 90% of my HS games with the same partner. We also work college games together.

Not everyone here sucks. There are some really good, well-trained umpires here. You just aren't going to get that good training from many of the associations here (who have no assigning role) is all.

My theory when stuff like this happens is that the schools/leagues get exactly what they deserve. If they're willing to hire jokers like this, they get exactly what they deserve.

Sorry you have to endure such a crappy system.

[Publius]

Originally Posted by GROUPthink

Associations? There are no assigning associations in Wisconsin. Games are assigned by league to individual crews of umpires. I work 90% of my HS games with the same partner. We also work college games together.

Not everyone here sucks. There are some really good, well-trained umpires here. You just aren't going to get that good training from many of the associations here (who have no assigning role) is all.

My theory when stuff like this happens is that the schools/leagues get exactly what they deserve. If they're willing to hire jokers like this, they get exactly what they deserve.

Congratulations on being part of a system in which you can work as much as you like. I miss those days. Assigners here think that every umpire working the same number of games, regardless of ability, is a good thing.

Umpires with ability benefit from a system using hired assigners less than any other participant in such a system. ADs benefit most, followed by assigners themselves, then bad umpires. Good umpires gain little.

[CT1]

Originally Posted by Publius

Umpires with ability benefit from a system using hired assigners less than any other participant in such a system. ADs benefit most, followed by assigners themselves, then bad umpires. Good umpires gain little.

Not always. In our association, assignments are made based on (1) ability; then (2) availability.

An umpire who can work every day probably will work every day, but he may call mostly MS and JV games, with a few lower-level Varsity games thrown in if that's all he's capable of.