What I Never Want to Hear

[tref]

Originally Posted by stiffler3492

Rec league softball tonight.

My team is down by 20 or so.

We actually have something brewing, runners on and the heart of the order up.

Down 20 in a wreck SOFTBALL league? Come on!

Originally Posted by stiffler3492

His response to me? "Eh, I didn't think it would have mattered." I just walked away at that point, and our league commissioner will be getting an email in the morning about this umpire.

Perhaps that wasnt the right answer but it was an honest answer & probably an official to official answer.
Now you, as an official, are going to tattle-tell on a guy over a wreck softball game... Come on!!

[stiffler3492]

Originally Posted by tref

Down 20 in a wreck SOFTBALL league? Come on!

Hey, we beat the same team in the first game that night (and they're the best team in the league!) We've already doubled our win total from last season...from 1 to 2!

Perhaps that wasnt the right answer but it was an honest answer & probably an official to official answer.
Now you, as an official, are going to tattle-tell on a guy over a wreck softball game... Come on!!

He had no idea that I'm an official too. Again, I get that it wouldn't change the outcome, and that's fine, I'm not about to protest the game because of it. All I want is integrity (by no means am I suggesting he was cheating...believe me the other team didn't need the umpire's help). By integrity, I mean calling the rules as they're laid out. We don't stop officiating basketball because it's a 40 point game, no matter the level. That's all I'm asking for.

[JRutledge]

I agree that was not the best thing to say to a participant. But the reality in games like softball/baseball is umpires will open up the strike zone a little when the game is getting out of hand. For one thing coaches in those sports are not trying to be there all day and want umpires to call strikes. But that is a different sport and I would not compare it to what we do in basketball with the clock constantly running and eventually the ending in realistic sight. Now something like the ball going in DBT is not something that should be ignored. I would also bet that this league you got a guy that is doing it for the money or he would not be out there. I do not see a slow pitch men's league as a major officiating assignment for most, so you get these kinds of attitudes even if you do not like them, so to compare what happen in this game or a basketball game are not really fair or a good comparison IMO.

Peace

[bainsey]

I agree with stiffler. I see a big difference between widening a slow-pitch strike zone and ignoring a ball out of play.

I work 50-60 slow-pitch games every summer. Rut is correct that these aren't major assignments. These gigs are for fun and to make a little extra scratch. Still, you have a job to do, and your integrity will be judged, regardless of the level.

If the ball goes out of play, give 'em their bases, period. No-one could possibly think the lesser of you for that.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by bainsey

Rut is correct that these aren't major assignments. These gigs are for fun and to make a little extra scratch. Still, you have a job to do, and your integrity will be judged, regardless of the level.

I do agree, but when I worked those games several years ago, most of the guys were going through the motions and did not care about specific rules or the games themselves. Now usually this kind of thing was not an issue, but I can tell you guys did not lose sleep over not hustling or not being dressed properly. It was a money grab for most plain and simple. And even if they did a bad job, no one was firing them as they would be there for those games to make that money. This is why I would not compare this to even a JH basketball game. It is more like a Men's league basketball game and you get the same attitudes there. It might be sad, but often true.

Peace

[BktBallRef]

Originally Posted by tref

Now you, as an official, are going to tattle-tell on a guy over a wreck softball game... Come on!!

Tattle-tell??? Come on!!

It's a piss poor excuse to not make a call. If you told someone that and I was working with you, I'd write the email the next morning!

[CaRef5]

dude, down 20 in a softball game?...




you're kidding right?

[stiffler3492]

See post number three...blue font (but not sarcastic). Our second game started at close to 10:15. No reason for a softball game to start that late.

[Adam]

I'm with Stiffler on this. I think he understands the relative importance of the game, but that statement is another way of saying, "you know, I just dialed this one in."

[justacoach]

Originally Posted by Snaqwells

"you know, I just dialed this one in."

Is that a mid-western usage? Never heard it that way.
'round these parts it would come out "mailed it in"

[stiffler3492]

Originally Posted by justacoach

Is that a mid-western usage? Never heard it that way.
'round these parts it would come out "mailed it in"

Agreed, I think Snaqs meant "mailed it in". In fact, dialed in is basically the opposite...meaning being really focused on the task at hand.

[tref]

Originally Posted by BktBallRef

Tattle-tell??? Come on!!

It's a piss poor excuse to not make a call. If you told someone that and I was working with you, I'd write the email the next morning!

Nothing to worry about there, I'd never work THAT sport.

BktBallRef, you wouldn't happen to play on a softball team with Snaqs & bainsey, would ya?

[bainsey]

Originally Posted by tref

BktBallRef, you wouldn't happen to play on a softball team with Snaqs & bainsey, would ya?

I guarantee you he doesn't. I can't play worth crap.

By the way, we say "phone it in" around here. Mailed, dialed, phoned, same thing: didn't bring your best effort. That said, had the umpire just owned it and said, "You're right. I should've called that," I'm sure no-one would have been notified.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by bainsey

I guarantee you he doesn't. I can't play worth crap.

By the way, we say "phone it in" around here. Mailed, dialed, phoned, same thing: didn't bring your best effort. That said, had the umpire just owned it and said, "You're right. I should've called that," I'm sure no-one would have been notified.

Agreed on all counts. Well, except how you play softball. I wouldn't know. I meant "phoned it in." Same as "mailed."

[stiffler3492]

Originally Posted by bainsey

I guarantee you he doesn't. I can't play worth crap.

By the way, we say "phone it in" around here. Mailed, dialed, phoned, same thing: didn't bring your best effort. That said, had the umpire just owned it and said, "You're right. I should've called that," I'm sure no-one would have been notified.

Yes. It was his comment to me after the game that bothered me more than the non-call.