Nationals

[azbigdawg]

Originally Posted by BuggBob

Al my last National (which will be my last national) I got four brand new pants, two base, two plate, the zipper broke on one, the clasp broke on two. I got new caps, a cap carrier, new shirts, and a new ball bag. Shoes were only a year old and in great condition. I drove 1200 miles to get there at my own expense. The hotel for the weeks stay cost me twice what I made in the tournament. I wore my goggles, UIC didn't like the goggles, so I didn't work Sunday, UIC never told me this (I did not get a review) but he did tell my Regional UIC, who told the State AUIC, who told my Zone UIC, who finally told me. So while I had good time, the frustration of the costs, the second hand info from the UIC six months later, three pairs of brand new pants not lasting two games, bursitis, arthritis, and a summer of men's slow pitch have combined for me to suffer extreme burn out. I don't care if I do another National tournament or even a regular game ever again. The joy is gone.

Bugg

what national could you have possibly gone to that didnt pay for your room?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by azbigdawg

what national could you have possibly gone to that didnt pay for your room?

It is possible, but should not at 1200 miles away.

Part of the reason many of the games use a 2-umpire system for the majority of their games (please don't start listing all the tournaments you have done with 3-umpires, I know they are out there, but is completely irrelevant to the point of the code change) and changed the percentage of "at large" and "rotational" assignments was solely to reduce the cost of transporting and housing so many umpires. IOW, to save money. Well, part of that deal is to use local umpires which they (tournament hosts) consider close enough to commute to the tournament.

So, yes, there are nationals which do not provide housing FOR SOME umpires.

[azbigdawg]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

It is possible, but should not at 1200 miles away.

Part of the reason many of the games use a 2-umpire system for the majority of their games (please don't start listing all the tournaments you have done with 3-umpires, I know they are out there, but is completely irrelevant to the point of the code change) and changed the percentage of "at large" and "rotational" assignments was solely to reduce the cost of transporting and housing so many umpires. IOW, to save money. Well, part of that deal is to use local umpires which they (tournament hosts) consider close enough to commute to the tournament.

So, yes, there are nationals which do not provide housing FOR SOME umpires.

Mike, I am WELL aware of the dynamics between local/out of town umpires.

I should have framed my question as such.... WHAT organization would have made you travel THAT FAR and not paid for your rooms?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by azbigdawg

Mike, I am WELL aware of the dynamics between local/out of town umpires.

I should have framed my question as such.... WHAT organization would have made you travel THAT FAR and not paid for your rooms?

Darrell,

I know you are aware, but I know it happens in ASA as well as others. Hosts are just as different from each other than the brand of ball offered by different sanctioning bodies. Maybe ASA should address what a reasonable distance may be for an umpire, or any other rep, to travel to be considered a "commute" and not require a room.

To use your area as an example, I'll be damned if I want to walk off the field in Tucson at 10pm after my fifth/sixth game of the day, drive back to Mesa only to be back on the field in Tucson at 8:00am the next morning. Yeah, on a map it doesn't look far and it is all Interstate Hwy and during the week, some people probably do that commute, but that is a long drive, even in AZ.

Of course, this is an extreme example, but some people who make these decisions are not always the sharpest pencil on the desk, if you know what I mean.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

...but some people who make these decisions are not always the sharpest pencil on the desk, if you know what I mean.

Or, it might depend on what they are using the sharp pencil for...

[azbigdawg]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Darrell,

I know you are aware, but I know it happens in ASA as well as others. Hosts are just as different from each other than the brand of ball offered by different sanctioning bodies. Maybe ASA should address what a reasonable distance may be for an umpire, or any other rep, to travel to be considered a "commute" and not require a room.

To use your area as an example, I'll be damned if I want to walk off the field in Tucson at 10pm after my fifth/sixth game of the day, drive back to Mesa only to be back on the field in Tucson at 8:00am the next morning. Yeah, on a map it doesn't look far and it is all Interstate Hwy and during the week, some people probably do that commute, but that is a long drive, even in AZ.

Of course, this is an extreme example, but some people who make these decisions are not always the sharpest pencil on the desk, if you know what I mean.

Theres NO WAY IN HELL I would let that happen, even on a local tournament level... when we do nationals, anyone outside of the county gets a room (of course its a HUGE County)....