LL Umpire removing pitcher for hitting batters
 

Minors 8-10yr olds. Last night my pitcher hit two kids in one inning... I know shocking right? Anyhow, the Umpire said if she hit one more I'd have to pull her. What rule does this fall under? I'm guessing this is a discretion call based on player safety?

Thanks for any help

Unless there is a league rule, this is an umpires call based upon NOT knowing the Rules.

True. And a common myth, but there's a reason for the myth. At least half of the youth leagues I've worked do have this in their league rules. (It's a rather stupid rule, considering you generally have your BETTER pitcher out there... and putting in the backup often results in a higher chance of HBP's)

I agree, it used to be in the LL rules when my son was playing. On the positive side I am sure the umpire is being over-cautious for safety sake, which is not so bad. On the negative side, I still see some officials making up rules at the HS level. Maybe not this one but there are some.

I was just told the other day how two runners were both on the same base and the umpire called them both out when tagged, on the base. True story.

Thanks. We were trying to find something in the rulebook last night... cause it was new to us. It's difficult to contest a rule you can't find in the rulebook during the game. This Umpire crew made it so blatantly obvious they had it out for me last night. I had protested my previous game, based on a rule that I was supposed to follow... but isn't in our league rule book. :confused: My good pitchers were pitched out because of the blatantly biased strike zone for the other team. I had to bring in kids that aren't pitching material... of course HBP's are going to happen Einstein.

dysfunctional:

Don't take this the wrong way however, your dealing with 8-10 yr Children. grab a hold of yourself and concentrate on working with them to become better ball players and HAVING FUN. By coming on a Umpires site and talking about how your getting hosed by umpires with 8-10 yr olds, truly shows how dysfunctual you may be.

Teach them to respect the umpires decisions at all times and concentrate on makig the players enjoy what they are doing and want to come back next year.

NOW, if you truly are upset about the ability of inexperienced umpires, sign up to be one and then you can start your own crusade to improve our profession.

have a good Day.

Sorry if I came off as a hot head on a Umpire bashing crusade... that was not my intent. I'm not mad, nor did I get made during this game. I guess if anything I was just venting in a place that is not harmful to anyone. I do my very best to contain my emotions in front the kids and show everyone respect. Thanks again.

It may have been in your league's rules but it was never in the "real" LL rules.

This place is harmful if you come in and complain that umpires have blatantly biased strike zones and have it out for you. :rolleyes:

Typically, LL umpires who are working 8-10 Minors games are not the most skilled at their craft. So it's quite possible that your perceived strike zone discrepancy may very well be just the umpire's inexperience.

Have you checked with your local league's "house" rules? As others have said, it's not a rule in the LL rule book. But the league could have a local rule calling for pitchers to be removed after hitting so many batters.

You are probably getting umpires in many cases that are either not as well trained or are doing it for some money or other reasoning. I know someone (on this site) will say umpires at that level are not paid, but that is not often the case when it comes to in-house leagues. So that leaves the level of training called into question and if someone is not paid, they may be working because they could not get a better "gig."

As it was said this is youth sports, believe it or not most umpires really are not clamoring for LL games in the first place.

Peace

Correct

Point taken :o

There is no rule stating as such in our league rule book. If it comes up again, I want to have something to appeal with.

The league umpire in chief and two managers from higher level teams were all on the field... I'll just leave it at that.

You should. I'm always willing to bet with anyone on the quality of LL umpires over the course of a season.

I'll give my opponent a dollar for every good one we see, and he gives me a nickel for every bad one we see. I won't win every bet, but I'll walk away with more money at the end of the season.

What does that have to do with anything? Are they D1 umpires? Are they former pro umpires? When I say training I am not talking about specific position, I am talking about being able to step into any level or situation and understand what it takes to handle that situation. And most of the time the lower levels in all sports suffer because of that fact. Nothing unique to LL, but youth sports in general. Lower levels are used as a stepping ground, not a landing place for most umpires/officials to get to another goal.

Peace

So I assume you are a coach? How is umpiring your own games going to work out for you? What an arrogant statement to make, and its wrong on so many levels. My only hope is that you were joking. :mad:

Three adults working an 8-10 Minors regular season game? Overkill.

"Two managers from higher level teams" may not even make one-half of a decent umpire. Just because someone knows how to manage a team, that doesn't mean diddly when it comes to positioning, judgment, rules knowledge, etc. etc. Heck, for all we know, their managerial skills are probably suspect as well.

And I'll be quite frank, a league UIC could also mean nothing in terms of skills. In my neck, the vast majority of the guys and gals who have spent time as a league UIC did it because nobody else in the league wanted the responsibility. Their qualifications may be nothing more than having one or two years of umpiring experience and attending a class or two to make them "certified".

No offense to you or your league, sir... but you have no framework to understand what you're being told, as evidenced by your statement here that you think should tell us that quality umpires were there, but in fact does not.

I've been asked to help out with LL leagues several times over my career. When I agree to do so, I'm appalled by the awful umpires they are employing, and yes, sir, that usually includes the league UIC. Without exception (so far at least) - they have NO training, NO certification, NO inclination to visit sites like this to improve their craft (a couple on this site an obvious exception - but no one like that in the leagues I helped out). Many are coaches simply filling up a uniform because they are required to. Several are well-meaning people who are there for the kids, but simply have no direction, no clinics, etc. And the UIC's have no idea how bad it is because they don't ever set their toes in other ponds to see what it's SUPPOSED to be like.

Telling us the UIC and 2 higher level managers were around means absolutely nothing.

Bob, in my experience, Publius would make money in such a system. Easily. And possibly never pay out even dollar one.

There'd be a tie every game - the loser would claim the ump was bad and the winner would say he was OK. :D

I'd take it up with your division rep. Just ask "is the hit batter rule in our local rules? I know it's not a Little League rule, and I'd like some clarification on it".

Let your division rep do their job.

Don't make a big deal of it (it sounds like you didn't, and bravo for you). If your UIC isn't aware of this, going through your rep is probably the best way to go.

Or, you could always lodge a formal protest if it's imposed on you during a game. You have options, but I'd go with the former route first.