Pet Peeves..........

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by BlitzkriegBob

You must be watching some NSA tournaments around here. I admit that I enjoy working them, but these are some of the exact same things that kinda tick me off while I'm working them. I do most of them, following the "when in Rome" concept, but I drop them as soon as I'm working something else.

1) NSA plate conferences require attendance by the coaches and the entire teams, since we are to check for uniform compliance by both teams. If either team is not in compliance, then the opposing team gets their choice of home or visitor, rather than doing a double coin flip. Since they are there, we are to remind them that shirts are to be tucked in all the way around, yada yada yada.

2) Yeah, uniform inspections are done, though this is one that I conveniently forget to check during the game. On a few occasions I have had a BU who has called time and run up to remind a batter that her shirt needs to be tucked, since I was negligent in doing so. We don't have to worry about jewelry any more, since NSA discourages wearing it, but does not prohibit it. The passing along of game information to a new pitcher in mid inning I do, but it feels stupid while I'm doing it. Even most of the high school umpires around here do it also, but I don't do it in a high school game. Finally, yes when we call an IP, we are supposed to call a coach from the violating team out to the circle so we can explain what the violation was. I keep mine brief, but a lot of my partners have done the whole pitching clinic thing. This is another one that some of the high school umpires do, but again I don't do this outside of NSA.....

Wow! NSA actually requires the teams to line up for inspection? I can't imagine going through that rigmarole! I hope that whole Mickey Mouse process doesn't migrate my way...

[MD Longhorn]

Something in another thread reminded me of another pet peeve. I'm PU, and BU decides to call for "Balls in!" (before the minute OR number of pitches is up). Worse, the BU that adds, "Comin' down!"

Another - PU that says, after an outside pitch, "Bring em in, pitcher" or after a high one, "Bring em down, pitcher". How the hello do you know she didn't throw it high or outside on purpose?

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Something in another thread reminded me of another pet peeve. I'm PU, and BU decides to call for "Balls in!" (before the minute OR number of pitches is up). Worse, the BU that adds, "Comin' down!"

I wouldn't know why any umpire would says anything.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

I wouldn't know why any umpire would says anything.

75% of the time or so, pitcher / catcher know when their time is up, or their pitches are up. That 25% that's left, I generally say only where catcher can here me ... "Bring em in, catch", and they do the rest.

[ASA/NYSSOBLUE]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

75% of the time or so, pitcher / catcher know when their time is up, or their pitches are up. That 25% that's left, I generally say only where catcher can here me ... "Bring em in, catch", and they do the rest.

I think this definitely is a case of it depending on the level of play - when you have two good JV teams where the kids play travel ball, they are throwing it down after 3.....if not 1 sometimes - you have GOT to love that.....and then you have games where you have to nursemaid EVERYthing.......yuck....

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by ASA/NYSSOBLUE

I think this definitely is a case of it depending on the level of play - when you have two good JV teams where the kids play travel ball, they are throwing it down after 3.....if not 1 sometimes - you have GOT to love that.....and then you have games where you have to nursemaid EVERYthing.......yuck....

Usually an "okay, let's go" to the catcher is all that is necessary. It better be since that is all the notice they are getting.

[ASA/NYSSOBLUE]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

Usually an "okay, let's go" to the catcher is all that is necessary. It better be since that is all the notice they are getting.

We do a couple of youth leagues, and when you are dealing with 8/9/10 yr olds......eccch....babysitting for an hour and 3/4...the only decent thing is that our assignor makes em pay premium fees.....$50 a game working alone.

That's as opposed to $39 for babysitting the older 'children' of our rec leagues with a partner....

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

75% of the time or so, pitcher / catcher know when their time is up, or their pitches are up. That 25% that's left, I generally say only where catcher can here me ... "Bring em in, catch", and they do the rest.

I don't tell the catcher what to do, just "one more" or "this is last".

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Something in another thread reminded me of another pet peeve. I'm PU, and BU decides to call for "Balls in!" (before the minute OR number of pitches is up). Worse, the BU that adds, "Comin' down!"

Another - PU that says, after an outside pitch, "Bring em in, pitcher" or after a high one, "Bring em down, pitcher". How the hello do you know she didn't throw it high or outside on purpose?

I only say it if the PU already said it, and the players probably didn't hear him/her. The PU, in my opinion, is the one who sets the tempo on the field. The BU is there to assist. Kinda like dancing: one leader, one follower.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by NCASAUmp

Kinda like dancing: one leader, one follower.

So now we know, your real name is Arthur Murray!

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by CecilOne

So now we know, your real name is Arthur Murray!

Definitely not. I can't dance for ****!

Maybe Arthur Spooner...