Little League World Series Umps

[dst8ada]

To say that most have not worked high school or higher levels is wrong. Many of the umpires choosen from Michigan have worked high school finals, myself included. In 2010 I believe, the plate umpires for the semi-finals in Williamsport were a former MiLB umpire and the man who had the plate for the Class A (highest class) in Michigan.
Some of the mechanics might not be the best, but I can remember when MLB umpires had different mechanics depending on who was in the crew. The Central Region umpire clinic has a drill done before every break "doing the bog six". Yes I get upset when I see guys yelling foul when the ball is in the parking lot, wearing a long sleeve T shirt with short sleeve shirt over it ect, but I saw a picture from A ripken tournament of a guy with the balloon and shorts.
I don't think we want robots as umpres, which is what we would have if all mechanics were the same.

[RPatrino]

Dst8ada, it has been my experience that most of the umpires chosen for higher level LL assignments have not had any HS or above experience. There is only one umpire that I know of that has done high level HS games as well as LL games, and that is out of about 20 or so umpires that I am acquainted with that have done Regional and WS games for LL.

You might say 'we don't want robots' but that is what is being represented on the field. It's hard to argue with evidence.

[aceholleran]

Having done LL at all levels for 33 years before hanging it up, I am with Bob.

[Steven Tyler]

IMO~Six guys on such a little field is overkill. RF & LF line umps at least need to go. All the umpires look jumbled up out there on occasion. Watching U2 come in on a hit to the outfield leaves little room for the players.

[kylejt]

Why is doing HS/Fed ball some sort of benchmark? I'm watching more HS ball, as my son is now a Varsity coach, and at least around here, the quality is hit and miss.

Most guys that I know that get a shot at LL TV games, at least out here in the West, are also doing Adult wood bat, older travel, college summer league, etc. Weekend stuff, but not HS as they have real, 9-5 jobs that preclude them from working those 3pm games.

[Manny A]

Six-man crews for the LL post-season is nothing more than giving umpires the opportunity to work more games when they reach those levels. Unfortunately, they get so bored out there on the lines, that they feel compelled to make those exaggerated foul calls on balls that are in the next county.

I recall doing a LL State tournament years ago, and the tournament UIC from the host league received permission to use his local umpires as LFUs and RFUs, as a form of gratitude for their volunteerism during the regular season. I don't particularly believe those umpires are necessary on the small diamond in general, but if the tournament director sees the need, then, candidly, I think those positions should be filled by the umpires selected to work the tournaments, not local yokels who may not be worthy of working these games.

[SethPDX]

Originally Posted by Manny A

I recall doing a LL State tournament years ago, and the tournament UIC from the host league received permission to use his local umpires as LFUs and RFUs, as a form of gratitude for their volunteerism during the regular season.

It's even better (worse) at the softball World Series that's held in Portland. The umpires that aren't working the bases or plate all get to do a foul line during the championship game. They rotate in every couple innings. This way they can all say they were on the championship game, no matter how good or bad they were.

At our district tournaments we use crews of 3 at most. To me that's all you really need on a small diamond anyway. When we're invited to send umpires to a state tournament we send a crew of 3 as well (the district sending the crew chooses the size of the crew).

[Rich]

Originally Posted by kylejt

Why is doing HS/Fed ball some sort of benchmark? I'm watching more HS ball, as my son is now a Varsity coach, and at least around here, the quality is hit and miss.

Most guys that I know that get a shot at LL TV games, at least out here in the West, are also doing Adult wood bat, older travel, college summer league, etc. Weekend stuff, but not HS as they have real, 9-5 jobs that preclude them from working those 3pm games.

Our HS games start at 5PM around here.

[Multiple Sports]

Originally Posted by kylejt

Why is doing HS/Fed ball some sort of benchmark? I'm watching more HS ball, as my son is now a Varsity coach, and at least around here, the quality is hit and miss.

Most guys that I know that get a shot at LL TV games, at least out here in the West, are also doing Adult wood bat, older travel, college summer league, etc. Weekend stuff, but not HS as they have real, 9-5 jobs that preclude them from working those 3pm games.

I am a firm believer that what is taught at the hs level will make umpires better than the wood bat / older travel / weekend stuff umpire. Most of the hs guys are doing other sports and they learn how to "run a game" ( manage ).

Coaches at the youth and those other levels are usually parents and they just scream, for example they don't walk on to the field and discuss calls, they simply yell "get help" ( sure sign of wreck ball ). And let's face it, those umpires at that level are mostly in it it for the money and don't like to make the "tough" call
as they want to come back and work every weekend ...... in other words they umpire because they want everyone to be their friend.....

As an assigner for hs ball and "summer ball", I have been able to keep my "summer ball" contracts for 15 years because I only use hs guys !!!!! While the coaches at 13 get a little upset because the zones are a bit smaller and we don't "get help" on every play, by the time these teams are playing 14 U the coaches get it as they see the same zone called in hs......

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

IMO~Six guys on such a little field is overkill. RF & LF line umps at least need to go. All the umpires look jumbled up out there on occasion. Watching U2 come in on a hit to the outfield leaves little room for the players.

There's no reason a U2 needs to come inside. It's easy to get a 90-degree angle to the throw on the outside and make a call at second. It's how I umpire when I work U2 in any game, including LL games.

And yet you still see 3 umpires pivoting inside unnecessarily on balls hit to the outfield, when the ideal number doing so would be ZERO.

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by Rich

And yet you still see 3 umpires pivoting inside unnecessarily on balls hit to the outfield, when the ideal number doing so would be ZERO.

I may be wrong since I haven't been to a SE Region LL clinic recently. But I believe they're teaching for four-man on the small field for U1 and U3 to NOT pivot inside; rather, they should just drift in through foul territory, and then take a step inside to make a call at their bases.

[rbmartin]

Originally Posted by Rich

There's no reason a U2 needs to come inside.

Ripken League suggests to us to always stay outside on an undersize field. I do it just like FED Ladies softball.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by rbmartin

Ripken League suggests to us to always stay outside on an undersize field. I do it just like FED Ladies softball.

I'm talking about making all calls at second from the outside, even on base hits to the outfield. Go opposite the batted ball, get a 90-degree angle to the throw, take the play from there.

At the regional last year I was amazed at how many people pivoted in as U1 just like they would in a 2-umpire crew.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by Rich

There's no reason a U2 needs to come inside. It's easy to get a 90-degree angle to the throw on the outside and make a call at second. It's how I umpire when I work U2 in any game, including LL games.

And yet you still see 3 umpires pivoting inside unnecessarily on balls hit to the outfield, when the ideal number doing so would be ZERO.

I've seen worse in a Texas playoff series. It was a third round series which is halfway to the state final.

The four man crew came out dressed in red shirts. The very first batter hit a fly ball to centerfield, and HPU came busting out to the pitcher's mound to make the catch signal.............It was downhill after that. Missed rotations, missed balks, etc.

I was sitting next to the scout/coach for the team the winner would face. I said, "Do you want that same crew for you series?" He shook his head, and said, "No. That is one of the first things I'm going to tell my head coach about. Close plays can go either way, but we at least want somebody that knows where to be on a close play."

I don't blame him.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Steven Tyler

I've seen worse in a Texas playoff series. It was a third round series which is halfway to the state final.

The four man crew came out dressed in red shirts. The very first batter hit a fly ball to centerfield, and HPU came busting out to the pitcher's mound to make the catch signal.............It was downhill after that. Missed rotations, missed balks, etc.

I was sitting next to the scout/coach for the team the winner would face. I said, "Do you want that same crew for you series?" He shook his head, and said, "No. That is one of the first things I'm going to tell my head coach about. Close plays can go either way, but we at least want somebody that knows where to be on a close play."

I don't blame him.

Wondering if this was my "TIE" caller guy from earlier. And I suspect I know who the PU at the mound guy was too.