You polish your shoes?

Of course!

I am a poster child of ASA Perfection.

[quote=wadeintothem]

If I show up for a game and am doing the equipment check and my partner is wandering around the outfield having holes plugged in the home run fence, i am going to be irritated and know what kind of smitty I am working with.

quote]

At least you check equipment....:mad:

What is wrong with you Wade?
You are getting more and more combative all the while knowing you are wrong and are conveying the exact opposite impression of what you say you want.
Equipment checks should be done by the crew, as should a field walk through every game at a new site.
If you have a double header, then maybe not a second walk through.
Relying on your partner to know the ground issues isn't going to help when you have to make a call in his area because he has a train wreck of some sort or God forbid he goes down.

You need to take a break from the game and go back to being a observer until you can enjoy the game and give your best effort again.

So you prepare yourself before each game (or night of games). You accept that there are things that you must do before the game that will show that you take pride in your work and respect the game. You show that you are prepared to call the game in front of you.

Walking the field is one more demonstration of preparation, especially when you find something (like a gap in a wall) that you bring up in a pre-game meeting. Will it reflect negatively upon you if you don't bring it up? No.

But it will reflect positively upon you, and it takes some of the wind out of some coaches' sails when you do those little things.

Nah, it's just near the end of the season in a lot of places, and I'll admit I start getting a little combative towards the end of the season.

I'm not trying to ride wade. I think it's good to have these kinds of debates here, rather than on the field before, in the middle of, or after a game. I think people here know me well enough to know that I'm just not that way.

Friendly debate, that's all it is to me. :)

Come on Wade, you know better than. Checking fence lines, unusual holes,
wires, poles, etc. That is part of our job.

Ground rules is a job. You can establish ground rules.. or it can be covered by simple statements like "if it goes through the fence, throw your hands up and__________________ " whatever the ground rule is.

Having fences repaired for a hole pregame is not part of your job. If it was a safety issue ONLY.

It could happen, but its simply not.

I work hundreds of games a year, no one starts directing grounds crew to fix holes.

That is pregame only.

You guys are playing holier than thou pretend to simply make an argument. If you do start fixing stuff pregame which is not safety related, then that is lame, beyond your job as an official, and a waste of everyones time.. furthermore VERY smittyish.

[QUOTE=scottk_61]Spare me the drivel :rolleyes:

This is the comment I was addressing
Which is an absurd comment.

Whiskers_ump is right in that it is part of our job (explicitly stated in the book) to walk the field before games, especially on fields with which we are not familiar. Wade is correct in that it's not our job to fix fields before the game. That is the grounds crew's job. He is also correct in that obvious safety hazards should be fixed before the game, if possible.

However, I still think that it is our duty as umpires to walk the fields thoroughly and find these potential issues in advance, rather than say in the middle of a heated game, "oh, gee... I guess there's a hole there." I'm not saying we need to carry a ball around with us to test every nook and cranny. I am saying that we need to be proactive as umpires, and that finding these issues before the first pitch is one way to do that.

I think someone missed page 175 of the ASA Umpire Manual under Pre-game Responsibilities:

"Ensure the field is properly marked, that the pitcher's plate and bases are legal and at proper distances. It is important for the umpires to be together and walk the field so that any points or questions concerning the ground rules can be addressed. All obstacles which could or may create dead ball situations should be specifically noted and examined."

Sure looks like an umpire's duty to me. Then again, maybe it is too robotic a task.

Really?

Dont say something just to back track later like you've done a few times already.

Point out to me where the book says or even hints "have the fence repaired".

That backs up EXACTLY what I said, ground rules is the goal of the walk through, perhaps a safety issue.. but GROUND RULES.

Dont start back tracking Irish. Support what you say.

Mike never said, "have the fence repaired." Like you, I am only talking about ground rules at a pre-game. However, it helps to have a clear picture of situations where ground rules can come into effect, such as a hole in the fence. You don't have to point out every hole in the fence, but at least establish that you've inspected the field, found holes, and what fielders should do in the event of a blocked ball or a ball going through such holes.

And yet umpires at tournaments routinely have fences fixed, holes filled, obstructions removed, bunting/banners removed or repositioned and even a faucet in center field of a popular softball stadium covered.

Wonder how that happens?

Wade, I love ya, but you need either a really good horizontal mambo, a six pack, or a Midol.

I'm thinking all three.