How do ya do it

[dilligaf]

I had the pleasure of working with one of the UMPIRES tonight. This was a guy who complained about every umpire he has ever worked with. He did the bases on this occasion. During our pre-game I was covering with him the assignments we would both cover. He gave a nod but never stated what he would actually do. I admit it made me work harder to make sure the correct calls were being made. Between innings I would take my position along the foul line and he would make his way to my position and start in with his griping about other umpires.

Between the next inning I took the foul line farthest away from him and believe it or not he again came over to complain about this and that. Finally on the next mid inning I just made it impossible for him to track me down. It went two more innings and he again came to me. I finally told him that I was not interested in hearing about other umpires and I just wanted to focus on the one I was doing.

The issue is that he is a high ranking official in our association and carries a great deal of influence on who gets additional assignments. I know I will now be on his CRAPPY Umpire list.

I am going to stay focused on improving my game and giving it 100% both on and off the field.

My question is should I just keep my mouth shut when I am questioned about him by league officials or should I inform them about the issues. I admit that his complaining about other official wore on me a bit and I am sure that others may or may not get the same feelings when they work with him. Input would be appreciated.
Many thanks.

[NCASAUmp]

If I'm asked about another official, I try to mix the positive with the... not so positive. I won't come out and complain about an umpire unless they are so bad that they should never get another assignment with me (only happened twice). However, there's plenty I can say (or not say) for my assignor to get the hint that there may be issues.

I don't want to be perceived as a complainer, nor do I want to be perceived as someone who isn't a team player. But if I'm asked very directly about an umpire's behavior, I'm going to be honest. I won't lie to cover for a substandard umpire if there's no chance of him or her improving.

[BretMan]

This past weekend I had the pleasure of working with "That Guy".

"That Guy" shows up 15 minutes before game time- as I'm getting dressed for the plate because I'm not sure if he's going to make it- and the first words out of his mouth are, "I want to do the plate". I tell him I'm already half-dressed and the game starts in a few minutes. He tries to tell me that I have the game times all wrong and we have 45 minutes, not 15 minutes. Ummm, no.

"That guy" is wearing a hat that looks like it was rolled in the mud in an effort to get the sweat stains out of it.

We get to the field and "That Guy" seems more concerned about having a good ol' boy friendly conversation with anybody he can corner than administering a ballgame. We make a quick equipment check and then I start rounding up the coaches for the plate conference. I get both the coaches together and...no partner. I scan the field to find "That Guy" chatting up somebody along the outfield fence in left field! W have to stand there a minute before he comes ambling up to the plate.

The game gets going and I find out that "That Guy's" idea of being in the "A" position is standing right next the first base coach's box, all the while chatting up the first base coach. Seriously, he's standing right at the far end of the box, eight feet off the line and even with the bag, yakking it up, apparently oblivious to what is happening on the field, most of the first inning.

Between innings, he might be anywhere. If he wasn't coming in to talk with me, which he wanted to do every inning, he might be along the third base fence, down the rightfield line, milling around the dugouts...wherever his running commentary with fans, players and coaches might take him.

"That Guy's" mechanics were...unusual...to say the least. Every out call was accompanied with a signal that looked like the old "pull the rip cord" you see on a called third strike. No hammer for him! He also had a habit of calling foul balls and catches on batted balls that were the plate umpire's calls, where he had no business signalling anything.

All in all, it made for an...interesting afternoon. I tried to hit on a few points with him afterwards, but didn't really lay into him like I would with some umpires. Oh, I forgot to mention..."That Guy" is the brother of the local ASA assigner.

Don't be "That Guy"!

[MD Longhorn]

Our "that guy" is interesting as well. Other than cans of corn, he can't make a call standing still. He's always (yes, I mean always) running toward the play as he makes his call. Safe looks like an airplane. Out looks like he's running up to clock the runner. The call ends up beyond the base where the call happened. He's fallen down twice after a call in my games. At least I know as PU that I have EVERY other base after an initial call.

Regarding the plate, coaches call him "ankles". 14 year olds ... 12 year olds - call him "ankles". He lets them - they call him that to his face, off the field, at the plate, anywhere. Should have been calling him toes one game. One strike call literally hit the plate (yes, this is fastpitch).

His version of asking for help, "What do you got?" Not, "did you have a pulled foot", "did she drop it" etc... just what do you got. Expects me to overrule him if I simply thought she beat the throw (won't happen). Worse, he brings the coach with him. I have to literally split them up to have a conversation.

The kicker, though, is he's an incredibly nice guy. Everyone likes him. Umpires, fans, players, coaches, etc. I would love to go have a beer with this guy ... just dread being on the field with him.

[TwoBits]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

The kicker, though, is he's an incredibly nice guy. Everyone likes him. Umpires, fans, players, coaches, etc.

That isn't unusual for "That Guy". He knows how to be friendly and politic, so everyone thinks he is the best umpire in the area.