I Should have known it wasn't gonna be my night...

[iowasoftballump]

This right here is why I do not do SP softball. I played SP when I was in the Navy and I know how I acted and god knows there was once or twice I should have been thrown out of games.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by iowasoftballump

This right here is why I do not do SP softball. I played SP when I was in the Navy and I know how I acted and god knows there was once or twice I should have been thrown out of games.

I'm sure most of us who have played SP have been cut a break by an umpire at some point, and I'm definitely no different. However, there's no need to tolerate the BS from players who try to show up umpires. Don't be the good guy, be the umpire.

[ogie oglethorpe]

NCASAUmp has it right - this league permits 9 no matter how they got there. Thanks for the support fellas, I was ready to hang 'em up after friday.

[Dakota]

Player eligibility is not the umpire's call. The ejected player should have been told to leave the area within 1 minute, or the game will be a forfeit. Leave it to the league as to whether he plays in the second game or not. If he shows back up in the dugout, he plays - as I said, player eligibility is not the umpire's call.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by iowasoftballump

This right here is why I do not do SP softball. I played SP when I was in the Navy and I know how I acted and god knows there was once or twice I should have been thrown out of games.

And so, by staying away and leaving the younger umpires to fend off the idiots you help your association how?

Sorry, but I consider this a sad excuse for an umpire not working a particular game.

There is no doubt too many of these idiots whine and cry too much, but whose fault is it that the toleration level is so high?

[iowasoftballump]

No Mike I choose not to work SP because I don't want to work SP. I stay busy enough with fast pitch U12, U14 and HS. Last time I checked its a part time job and I can pick and chose what type of game I want to work. SP isn't for me.

[archangel]

Ogie, try to put it perspective and not take it personal. Nobody likes to be verbally attacked and yelled at, and its a normal reaction to then get emotional during your response. But understand that the problem lies with them, they eject themselves by words and actions- you are just there to manage the game.
Considering that we have (what I call) "ultimate power"- you can stay calmer when realizing that the final outcome is totally controlled by you. Knowing that, I'm (usually) more amused by the stupid actions some players have, and nip it ASAP.
The word gets out, teams recognise you, and the games are played with less griping.
Oh, and hustle your butt off, anticipate where plays may happen, and those close calls wont be complained about as much....

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by iowasoftballump

No Mike I choose not to work SP because I don't want to work SP. I stay busy enough with fast pitch U12, U14 and HS. Last time I checked its a part time job and I can pick and chose what type of game I want to work. SP isn't for me.

Then maybe that is what you should have posted instead of what you did.

This right here is why I do not do SP softball.

Rant on!

There are many small local associations which struggle every year to accommodate the games to be played. Quite often, at least in this area, it is people taking the well-paying games and screw the association.

If an umpire belongs to an association, s/he should give that association the support that they expect in return. Just because an umpire's specific season ends doesn't mean an association just goes into hibernation. Too many people in this world are more than happy to just sit around and let the other people do the work, but the second there is a problem, they are the first to complain (see e-teamz).

Rant off!

[NCASAUmp]

And that is why I tell my assignor my preference for where I want to call, but with the understanding of "if that's what you've got for me, I'll be there." There are some leagues that I downright loathe for various reasons, but my loyalty is to my assignor. He tries to accomodate me, but I also do my best to accomodate him. If that means I have to suck it up and call a league I don't like, then so be it.

[NC_Blue]

There are leagues I won't work.....(ahem....co-ed).

Player eligibility is not the umpire's call. The ejected player should have been told to leave the area within 1 minute, or the game will be a forfeit.

I've never seen this anywhere, though. I don't mandate time limits. I tell them (coaches) they need to make progress. Once a player is ejected.....he's not there as far as I'm concerned.

I won't go looking for this.....but I dang sure won't shy away from it, either.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by NC_Blue

...I've never seen this anywhere, though. ...

Haven't seen what anywhere?

[3afan]

Originally Posted by iowasoftballump

This right here is why I do not do SP softball. I played SP when I was in the Navy and I know how I acted and god knows there was once or twice I should have been thrown out of games.

same here - no adult SP

[Ed Maeder]

I don't do SP because our local umpire association and our local ASA association doesn't back us up when we take care of business. A small percentage of people that play make it bad for everyone else and when we take charge and heaven forbid have to eject someone, we are the ones that are reprimanded. Most of our senior umpires will no longer do slow pitch. I gave my association the respect that I expect in return for 20 some odd years but will no longer deal with the system here.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by Ed Maeder

I don't do SP because our local umpire association and our local ASA association doesn't back us up when we take care of business. A small percentage of people that play make it bad for everyone else and when we take charge and heaven forbid have to eject someone, we are the ones that are reprimanded. Most of our senior umpires will no longer do slow pitch. I gave my association the respect that I expect in return for 20 some odd years but will no longer deal with the system here.

One of our local leagues has the same problem where the guy running the league sides more with the players than he does the umpires. I tossed a guy for giving me too much lip on an obvious call, who then proceeded to call me everything under the sun, cursing, swearing, all the way to the parking lot. Big scene. The director only issued 1-game suspension.

Another umpire I work with was umpiring in the same league (different field, though), and was overheard saying "oh, I'd have thrown his a$$ out." Didn't say it too loudly, only a few people heard it. The director insisted to our assignor that the umpire be suspended for TWO WEEKS.

Once I'd heard that, I asked my assignor not to assign me to that town whenever possible. The director comes from a player's background, and he doesn't provide us the backing we need to do our jobs properly. My assignor knows my reasons, and he has been good enough to honor my request. However, he knows that if he really got into a bind, I'd help him out and call that town's games, despite my strong distaste for this director.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Ed Maeder

I don't do SP because our local umpire association and our local ASA association doesn't back us up when we take care of business. A small percentage of people that play make it bad for everyone else and when we take charge and heaven forbid have to eject someone, we are the ones that are reprimanded. Most of our senior umpires will no longer do slow pitch. I gave my association the respect that I expect in return for 20 some odd years but will no longer deal with the system here.

Why in the name of (enter deity here) would a local UMPIRE association not support their umpires? OTOH, that would incite me to work more games and challenge their authority. Get those senior umpires back on the field and start dumping anyone who shows the slightest bit of disrespect or attempts to make any discussion personal. I have always stated that the worst word a player can use in a disagreement on an umpire's call is "you".

What is the association going to do?