Why on earth? LL softball

scottk_61 · #1 (**permalink**) Mon Jun 23, 2003, 11:18am

Why on earth would Little League ding you on an evaluation if you go and clean the rubber or bags with a brush while working as a base ump?
I got asked to do some all-star games for the Southern Region and was told this in the clinic.
I have never heard of anything so rediculous.
Their answer.......you are changing the playing field if you clean the rubber or the bags.
Does anyone work any code where the base ump is NOT to clean the rubber?
I always clean them between innings if needed (bags) and the rubber every half inning.
Comments??????

Mike Follett · #2 (**permalink**) Mon Jun 23, 2003, 11:39am

...you must be a pretty good umpire if that's all they could find to critique you on, because it's obvious they're having to dig pretty deep to come up with that.
I've gotten dinged before for cleaning the pitcher's rubber, or a base by kicking the dirt off with my shoe, and not using a brush, but NEVER for the act of cleaning alone. If that was truly the case, why would PU ever need to clean the plate?
Just consider the fact that your eveluator is a MO-ron and go on about your business.

scottk_61 · #3 (**permalink**) Mon Jun 23, 2003, 08:05pm

This is suppossed to be a total LL thing, don't clean the rubber or the bases with a brush but you can "kick it off"
I am just flabbergasted by this idea.

Striker991 · #4 (**permalink**) Tue Jun 24, 2003, 12:03pm

This is NOT a Little League thing. I volunteer with an association that only does LL and am currently working All-Star tournament games. How does it matter how you clean the bags or plates? We have umpires that do one or the other or both, depending on the pile of dirt. It is important that they are clean, so you can see them clearly on a tag. Ask your District Administrator about this...they should be able to answer this question definitively.

greymule · #5 (**permalink**) Tue Jun 24, 2003, 12:24pm

If you pick up a rock that's lying in the infield, you have changed the field. If you smooth out the dirt where somebody slid, you have also changed the field. Don't brush off the rubber? That's about the dumbest thing I ever heard. If some evaluator gave me a hard time about that, I would quit on the spot.

scottk_61 · #6 (**permalink**) Tue Jun 24, 2003, 12:30pm

Quote:

Originally posted by Striker991
This is NOT a Little League thing. {CUT} Ask your District Administrator about this...they should be able to answer this question definitively.

These instructions were given by the Southern Region Umpire staff and from one who worked last years World Series games.

I can't get over it, this is suppossed to come from Williamsport as a rule for responsibility for umpires.
I told the staff that I would clean the bags and the rubber as I saw fit. If they want to ding me on an eval for that then, oh well.

scottk_61 · #7 (**permalink**) Tue Jun 24, 2003, 12:32pm

Quote:

Originally posted by greymule
If you pick up a rock that's lying in the infield, you have changed the field. If you smooth out the dirt where somebody slid, you have also changed the field. Don't brush off the rubber? That's about the dumbest thing I ever heard. If some evaluator gave me a hard time about that, I would quit on the spot.

It is really stupid sounding to me, I will work the district all star games because they need the officials but beyond that, forget it.
If LL doesn't want to do it right, then they don't need me.

Striker991 · #8 (**permalink**) Tue Jun 24, 2003, 01:21pm

You may not be interested in pursuing this further...but, if you are, please phone the District Administrator. Ask him the same question...get an answer in writing. We have the smallest district in the region, but have sent the most umpires to regional tournaments. If, as you say, this was a regional directive, then phone the regional director. A simple statement to your evaluators: "Boss, if I can't see the bag, I can't make the right call."

Good luck...sorry your experience has been a difficult one. Little League needs good umpires!