Working Alone.. one of those plays

[DeputyUICHousto]

I've found over the years that working a single umpire in any game is unfair to the teams playing the game. One umpire can't possibly cover enough. Its bad enough when you have two umpires. Unfortunately, most leagues "can't afford" two umpires.

Having said that, when I'm forced to work as a single umpire I try as much as possible to get into the middle of the diamond without being in the way. With bases loaded and a ball hit to the outfield the likelyhood of a play at the plate is minimal. You're more likely going to have a play at 2nd or 3rd. I would suggest moving out in front of the plate somewhere near the pitching rubber offline of where the throw to the plate...if there is one.

I had a situation come up in a single umpire game where an outfielder went to make a shoe string catch with a runner on 3rd tagging up. Just as the ball got to the outfielder the pitcher crossed in front of me. I had no choice but to call "no catch". When the pitcher heard my call he immediately turned to me to object. He also the realized what had happened. He said "I got in your way didn't I"...Yep!

Sucks having to call one man.

[surf24]

Here is a shocker. Our local complex runs all games with one man (or woman) except for when training newbies. Last night I am working and so I always go out to where the action is, by 2nd or 3rd or wherever you know. One of the pitchers actually asked me how many times I planned on doing that. I told him I was sure he wanted me to see the plays........typically it is the other way around with them complaining about the umps NOT moving out from behind the plate.

Just can't win. lol

[MD Longhorn]

Hey DepUIC... email me at mike at imstoday dot com - curious which part of Houston you're in.

[MD Longhorn]

I think that at the younger ages / abilities, 1 umpire can easily call the game if they move around. Any 8U, and all but the very best 10U generally just need 1 - an adult umpire is generally much faster than any of the baserunners and the ball doesn't move very fast either. Above that including adult slowpitch, you really need 2 or you're simply going to miss stuff.

[surf24]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

I think that at the younger ages / abilities, 1 umpire can easily call the game if they move around. Any 8U, and all but the very best 10U generally just need 1 - an adult umpire is generally much faster than any of the baserunners and the ball doesn't move very fast either. Above that including adult slowpitch, you really need 2 or you're simply going to miss stuff.

true but our local league just doesn't "budget" for it.......and most of the newbies only get one or two nights of flying with a veteran before they are turned loose on their own.........it is sometimes very ugly

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by surf24

true but our local league just doesn't "budget" for it.......and most of the newbies only get one or two nights of flying with a veteran before they are turned loose on their own.........it is sometimes very ugly

Well, then that league is just setting umpires up to fail. Training is crucial, and to subject a rookie to that kind of situation without the proper training and guidance is just absurd.

[surf24]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

Well, then that league is just setting umpires up to fail. Training is crucial, and to subject a rookie to that kind of situation without the proper training and guidance is just absurd.

I agree, and it is a sad thing to watch. This is my first year certified and in uniform. I have umpired for years on a volunteer basis. It amazes me how much some of these new "young" umpires think that they know. I'm not saying that "young" umpires can't know their stuff, I'm saying that experience is a big plus and you really only get that through time.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by surf24

true but our local league just doesn't "budget" for it.......and most of the newbies only get one or two nights of flying with a veteran before they are turned loose on their own.........it is sometimes very ugly

Well... many self-respecting umpires wouldn't be caught dead working a league where they are set up to fail. So not only do you get just 1, you get 1 that can't or won't find work elsewhere. Not to say this means that all of your umpires are bad ... just means you're going to attract bad ones (or there will be no one there to make the bad ones better, at the very least).

A league that devalues the role of umpire this much is simply going to get what it pays for, I guess.

[celebur]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Well... many self-respecting umpires wouldn't be caught dead working a league where they are set up to fail. So not only do you get just 1, you get 1 that can't or won't find work elsewhere. Not to say this means that all of your umpires are bad ... just means you're going to attract bad ones (or there will be no one there to make the bad ones better, at the very least).

A league that devalues the role of umpire this much is simply going to get what it pays for, I guess.

I would add that working a lot of solo games also leads to slower development of umpires. Being the lone wolf means you don't benefit from post-game discussions with your partner(s), and you don't make the connections you need within your association to learn what you should be learning.

Unless such an umpire is dedicated enough to work around this, or unless the evaluators within the association are keen enough to get out there and help such umpires along, doing a lot of solo games tends to develop umpires that are content to coast along where they're at.