To Be Mad Or Not To Be Mad?

[Rich]

Originally Posted by RPatrino

I guess that depends on who is doing the assigning for the game. I don't agree with the UIC not backing his umpires, and if I was this UIC I would be getting my butt to the field to assist my umpires.

I've learned over the years that frequently a UIC is being paid for that role by the TD (or for HS/college a conference). I've had UICs tell me that they don't work for the umpires cause they don't want to risk derailing the gravy train.

[RPatrino]

Originally Posted by GROUPthink

I've learned over the years that frequently a UIC is being paid for that role by the TD (or for HS/college a conference). I've had UICs tell me that they don't work for the umpires cause they don't want to risk derailing the gravy train.

I have learned over the years that a UIC who claims they don't work for the umpires is a putz.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by RPatrino

I have learned over the years that a UIC who claims they don't work for the umpires is a putz.

I'm not arguing that. I'm just saying that it's better to know which kind of UIC you have before push comes to shove. And at times, it's meant I simply say, "No thanks" when asked to work.

Locally there's a place that does weekend tournaments. Many umpires go there and work multiple games. They decided that this year they would only pay umpires 1/2 fee if there's a forfeited game between two other games that are actually played. That's a deal-breaker for me -- if they expect me to sit around for 2 hours to work the next game, I expect to get paid for my time whether it's spent umpiring or sitting in a chair (it's too far to drive home and back). The UIC refuses to get involved.

They didn't budge, and neither did I. I suppose others need the money more than I do.

[tankmjg24]

I found the situation to be rather confusing myself. As most have said it seems that the site director usually tries to appease coaches and that the UIC backs the umpires. It was the complete opposite.

The UIC sits on the state committee alongside the state director and a few regional directors. The site director is in charge on the tournament field and reports to the regional director. The site director has power, but no where near the power that the state committee has.

In terms of umpiring, this UIC pretty much has a monopoly on the entire area. This particular team has multiple teams in multiple age groups and I honestly feel as if the UIC did not want to upset the coaches in fear that none of their teams would ever return to a tournament resulting in lost money for the group. One of the other umpires from the field actually said that the situation was bull and that if it happened to him he would have left the facility as he felt this was allowing the teams to show up the umpires. He said he would have called the UIC as he was walking out the gate telling him that if he did not want to back the umpires that he was going to have to drive down to the fields to umpire it himself as he and his partner were out. This ran through my mind for a break second, but I did not want to get black balled nor leave the kids without an umpire as it was not their fault.

I thought about ejecting the coaches a few times, but they never really got drastically out of hand until the incident on Sunday. I felt a warning to calm them down a bit was better for the situation. Their actions on Friday were honestly more entertaining than threatening.

In terms of having rabbit ears, this is no where near the case. I walked down to be within ear shot in order to be able to back my partner in case something happened and a report needed to be written. Standing in A position I would have been no assistance to him.

[ozzy6900]

Originally Posted by tankmjg24

...
I thought about ejecting the coaches a few times, but they never really got drastically out of hand until the incident on Sunday. Their actions on Friday were honestly more entertaining than threatening.

Entertaining?

• Coaches and players complaining about every call?
• AC throwing his hat to the ground while he is arguing with you?

This is not entertainment, this is poor game control.

1. Players and coaches do not argue calls. Dugouts don't erupt over a call. Manager gets to dispute the call (respectfully), AC's don't say a word about calls, players get no leash at all.
2. AC's don't argue calls so they don't get to throw their hats in an argument. AC's are supposed to tell players to run, stop, turn left or right, come back, go, etc. They do not argue or dispute calls nor do they approach you to get another opinion.

The problem here is you and your partner. By not getting control of the game early, you allowed all of this to go on. There are no warnings for crap like this, there is only ejection. Grow a pair and get jerks like this off the field. You'll be a better umpire for it in the long run.

As far as your useless UIC, he should be strung up by his ball sack for not standing behind you. Believe me, that would be the last time he did that to me!

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

Entertaining?

• Coaches and players complaining about every call?
• AC throwing his hat to the ground while he is arguing with you?

This is not entertainment, this is poor game control.

1. Players and coaches do not argue calls. Dugouts don't erupt over a call. Manager gets to dispute the call (respectfully), AC's don't say a word about calls, players get no leash at all.
2. AC's don't argue calls so they don't get to throw their hats in an argument. AC's are supposed to tell players to run, stop, turn left or right, come back, go, etc. They do not argue or dispute calls nor do they approach you to get another opinion.

The problem here is you and your partner. By not getting control of the game early, you allowed all of this to go on. There are no warnings for crap like this, there is only ejection. Grow a pair and get jerks like this off the field. You'll be a better umpire for it in the long run.

As far as your useless UIC, he should be strung up by his ball sack for not standing behind you. Believe me, that would be the last time he did that to me!

Refreshing to read like-minded comments with the old-school approach. What ever would the modern progressives think of the likes of Bill Klem or George Majerkurth who put up with absolutely zero crap? They would be beside themselves with apoplexy.

[tankmjg24]

Maybe the wording argued every call should be changed to disagreed. In the game on Friday none of the coaches ever left the dugout to argue a call, they just mouthed and complained on every close play. The outburst after the safe call was when the assistant, within the dugout, tried to fly away by raising his arms then eventually spiking his hat. This is when I gave a warning for his actions along with the mouthing that had occurred up to that point. After I did this there were no more problems that day.

To be honest, with the attitude that this team's coaches portrayed I do not think that my partner nor I could have done anything different to avoid Sunday. If we would have ejected on Friday I still think they would have acted the way they did on Sunday.

In regards to the actions of the UIC, it seems to me as if everyone has agreed that he threw my partner and I under the bus and that we have a legit reason to be disgruntled.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by tankmjg24

The assistant is mouthy and throws his hat onto the ground as he is complaining.

Originally Posted by tankmjg24

Their actions on Friday were honestly more entertaining than threatening.

You don't see the problem here?

IMHO, not ejecting on Friday CAUSED the problem on Sunday. Not ejecting in such a clear cut case only makes the jobs of his future umpires harder.