Overruling myself, discreetly - Page 3

Steve M · #31 (**permalink**) Wed Apr 14, 2004, 03:04pm

Sounds like a great choice - letting him go. I learned a long time ago - but still have to relearn now & then - you just can't polish a turd.

mick · #32 (**permalink**) Wed Apr 14, 2004, 06:51pm

Quote:

Originally posted by Steve M
Sounds like a great choice - letting him go. I learned a long time ago - but still have to relearn now & then - you just can't polish a turd.

Steve and mcrowder,
I agree.
Lazy
Late
Lying

An L of a short career.
mick

ChampaignBlue · #33 (**permalink**) Wed Apr 14, 2004, 07:43pm

What a great thread to read now. We start our season with the "umpires" tourney on Saturday. We work for free and donate the money to charity. It's an opportunity to give the rookies a taste of game sits without anything on the line and us old farts are on the fields beside them or at the fences coaching.

Hope you haven't put me in a prejudicial mindset.

I kid, I kid.

Ed Maeder · #34 (**permalink**) Fri Apr 16, 2004, 10:58pm

I guess I'll ask the question why you had to correct yourself on the foul ball call because it was a foul ball and seeings the batter didn't reach first base and all runners if there were any didn't advance one base the offensive coach has his option of taking the result of the play or the award for catchers obstruction. It's not your choice it's the coaches. I have seen coaches make dummer decisions. I also have some bad feelings about how you are talking about your partner. We all had to start somewhere and maybe you don't care for him because of previous incounters with him, but he is your partner. We all have worked with partners we didn't really care for but as a UIC it is your duty and responsibility to help train and help these people along,not run them off. As a veteran official I feel it would be your duty to pass on your knowledge to him instead of talk him down. As a UIC don't you have any training for your umpires and why would you put an untrained umpire on the field in the first place, did you run all the others off? I'm glad your not my UIC.

[Edited by Ed Maeder on Apr 17th, 2004 at 12:37 AM]

mcrowder · #35 (**permalink**) Mon Apr 19, 2004, 10:54am

Sorry, Ed, if I'm not up to your standards.

First, regarding the play - I don't understand your question. I didn't call obstruction at first, and then realized it WAS catcher's obstruction, and sent her to first.

Regarding the umpire - Yes, as UIC it's my responsibility and duty to train my umpires as well as possible. I believed I described my efforts along those lines. I'm sure this guy was ABLE to learn. However, after 3 games, he demonstrated completely that he was UNWILLING to learn. He simply wouldn't make any effort at all.

As to how I ended up with this guy on the field without training ... I have 6 guys - which is normally enough to cover my games. This particular weekend, I learned early on that I had several guys out of town. I asked the baseball UIC if he had anyone I could call that wasn't already working - and this was who he gave me. I was told he'd umpired before elsewhere, and didn't realize from the name that he was the guy I had problems with at football.

I've since learned that the baseball UIC has also stopped scheduling this guy. Basically for the same reasons, and then some. It was actually worse for them, as I'm told his cellphone rang DURING a play, and he answered it, turning away from the infield to do so.

I don't like giving up on ANYone ... as I do remember my first year (no training, no mentoring, hope you know the rules, kid). But you've got to show me a WILLINGNESS to learn.

Skahtboi · #36 (**permalink**) Mon Apr 19, 2004, 11:12am

Quote:

Originally posted by mcrowder
...as I'm told his cellphone rang DURING a play, and he answered it, turning away from the infield to do so.

My question would be how did he get on the field with a cell phone on him anyway???

mcrowder · #37 (**permalink**) Mon Apr 19, 2004, 04:32pm

What am I going to do, frisk the guy?

Ed Maeder · #38 (**permalink**) Mon Apr 19, 2004, 07:08pm

Sorry if I seemed over bearing but I have been dealing with a lot of senior officials in my area that seem to think they are too good to help others that are less capable to do the job as they are. Your explaination speaks for itself. Sorry you also have a shortage of officials as many do everywhere.

mcrowder · #39 (**permalink**) Tue Apr 20, 2004, 09:50am

Update - I just accidentally bumped into a solution to my umpire shortage. Called my assignor for high-school football to make sure he'd gotten my dues and I hadn't missed any emails (hadn't heard from him since the end of the season). In passing, I mention my empathy for his scheduling problems, as I'm now UIC for Softball in my area... and he eagerly volunteers. I have no idea if he's any good, but I know from working football with him that he CARES, and HUSTLES.

Hallelujah!

So if you're shorthanded in your area, apparently the solution is to go work football!