Dealing with Bad Umpires

Kind of interesting that the topic of your post and what's in it are very different.

As for your post itself, are there more bad umpires lately?  Who knows - it's so subjective and there are so many umpires, leagues and associations. But there are certainly bad ones.  Ask Bruce Bochy, for example, what he thinks of Angel Herdandez, for example.

As for how to deal with bad ones - that's a totally different thing. Some people yell at them, some people kill them with kindness, some people file reports. I've tried all three. None work very well.  The one thing that does work (usually) is protesting a game when there is a misapplication of the rules.

I feel your pain and we are actually changing associations for next season due to the one we were previously in being so bad.  Our state rarely let's schools change associations but we won an appeal on a misapplication of a rule that just caused the state director of umpires to get upset at the umpire.  

As for if there is a trend going on I have no clue but I doubt it.  It goes back to the old saying that a great umpire is never seen or heard (I don't necessarily agree with that because when it's time to make that call on that play I want an ump who can make it).  But what I'm saying is good umpires tend to not stand out and allows coaches, players and fans to get caught up in the game so you don't notice them.  Bad umpires are opposite and focus will be on them.  So it seems there are more bad umps than good ones.  I think the level of umpiring is the same, or even better, than it was 10, 15, 20 or however many years ago.

How to handle a bad ump - I don't think there is much you can do during a game except be polite, professional and knowledgeable of the rules.  I've done this and lost my mind during games and I've gotten much better results from being polite, professional and knowledgeable.  Long term just keep telling your assigner of performance but don't focus on judgement calls.  Focus on things they can fix - being late to games, lack of rules knowledge, application of rules, positioning and things like that.

Most assigners are wanting to provide a good ump for teams because it reflects upon them.  But sometimes they just don't get good umps to work with.  They have to train them and find ways to make them good umps but sometimes it's just not possible.  Also, sometimes you find assigners who are hard to deal with that will protect their guys.  In our appeal this past season when I talked to our assigner he agreed with me initially and then he talked to his guy which totally changed what he was telling me.  During the course of the whole thing the story of what happened changed two or three times from the umpire side.  This is why I went above their head to the state director and we got a change in associations. 

There's a saying about a 50 foot pole that comes to mind

In any case, the first question you have to ask yourself before getting crazy is it going "both ways"?  If so, then both coaches are dealing with it and perhaps if both are amenable to talking after the game to file similar reports about what they saw - perhaps that'll help.  The first line of defense for an assigner might be - is the complaint coming from the losing or winning coach...  Then is this a "regular complaint" or "out of the ordinary".  Yes assigners can protect their guys and even more so their "goto guys", but if it's a recurring complaint, then either they have to do something with the umpire or risk losing a customer.  And it's not just 1 customer - coaches talk, so an assigner willing to look into it and get back to you is one that you may want to keep... For those out of the ordinary complaints - remember even umpires have 'bad days'.

Another consideration is the level of ball your team is playing or even their "attitude" on the field that day.  Tough for me to get overly excited if I'm watching pre-game and seeing sh*loads of errors and an unhappy coach... Then that carries over into the game, players walking around, moping, not caring, coaches yelling, etc.  Yep, that'll sure change my 'attitude' or 'desire' in a hurry. I also have a feeling at some point during the game - something will be directed at me - so, up go those guards...

I don't think it's a secret that a lot of the better players are going to showcase type teams... Some of the better athletes are taking up other spring sports...  Baseball in some areas is left with less quality players.  In our area I'm seeing leagues shrink, all star tournies changing formats because there's less towns participating, etc.  So while it's easy to say you're seeing more bad umpires, perhaps umpires are just seeing more bad baseball. There's a lot that goes into a "well played game".

I have handled this by deciding there should be no expectation of good umpiring in my area for travel or HS ball. It seems rare, even with the worst of umps that games are decided by calls.

I must say that the one time at East Cobb, Umps were great. Turns out they were SEC talent working their off season.

Lot of things need to be clarified before I can be clear.....the first thing is what level of ball are we talking about?........since this is a HS site, we often default to that level, but it is summer and summer rec ball is a whole other world....

Are these umpires from a contracted independent association or league supplied?....if from a contracted association you understand that your are the client and going to the assigner with your concerns is the proper path....

If they are league supplied, then you are at the mercy of who they hire......any untrained, unqualified, uncertified applicant or teenage HS player willing to accept the fee is acceptable....

In game, there is little you can do about a bad umpire, Coach gives you good advice about what to do while in game, by being polite, professional and knowledgeable.

Many Umpires who are "ultra sensitive, defensive and "eject" for the slightest comment usually are lesser experienced or untrained. Don't emulate what you see on TV from coaches......an earl weaver imitation in a youth summer rec game is never met well......regardless of the quality of the umpire...

I have a low ejection rate, not because I dont eject, but because I do eject...if you earn it you go....I will discuss anything with you....but if you violate one of the 3 P's you have to go...

Personal- Dont get personal...calling names, personal comments are never met well...

Profane- swear and your gone...

Prolonged- if you won't let it go, eventually we have to get on with the game...say your piece and move on....

Each umpire has his own toleration level....so be careful....if you want on my bad side, just tell me to "call it both ways".....might sound harmless to you.....but my integirty is everything to me and being called a cheater is something I dont tolerate well.....

So, Watch your language, and try not to get thrown out of the game. if you get ejected and then file a protest, your behavior, can be held against you...

Never argue a rule if you dont know it.......nothing is more embarassing than to argue a rule and be in the wrong.....plus umpires talk and respect is hard to regain after prooving you are less than proficient in rules knowledge....

Again if its higher baseball, then its best to go to the association or assigner, it is a business after all and we supply a service to our clients....if it isnt good, we need to act on it.

Overall I think that in HS baseball we are seeing better umpires on the whole. BUT it is limited because of availability..The early starts often rule out the better umpire.....oftentimes, the umpire you get is not the best umpire, just the most available umpire...the retiree...etc...

The last point is that there are umpires out there that should not be doing the job....if it was easy anyone could do it and they cant....but because of the chronic shortage of umpires, they keep showing up.....

best of luck....

One thing that I have learned over the years is to go out there and ask "What did you see?"  It's non-confrontational and allows the umpire to explain what he saw happen.  Too many times (and I've done this in the past) is go out with "you missed the call" which just starts out on a negative tone.  If you get that ump who is thin skinned or quick thumb you've already thinned the ice even more before anything has even happened.

Another thing when you go out on a judgement call you better be ready to go back to the dugout with the call staying the same.  Look bad calls happen and sometimes you have the better angle from very far away but it's not going to matter because the call is not going to change.  Once an ump changes a judgment call the barn doors are open and that horse ain't going back in.  Don't expect them to admit they MIGHT have missed it but if you build that reputation as a good coach with a reasonable head the better ones might admit it was possible.  If an umpire admits blowing one don't lose your mind because there goes that credibility you just built up.  Let it go because if that ump knows he blew the call then he's kicking himself enough that he will do everything in his power to get it right from then on.

What I think is a good example of how to handle a situation.  Playoff game and we are using a 3 man crew.  My power hitter who runs with piano on his back with cement shoes crushes a ball down the right field line.  The ump on third went out to do fair / foul.  The RF picks it up and throws to second.  My guy who was blessed with slow was sliding into the base as the ball was getting there.  There was not an umpire anywhere near the base.  Everyone looked at the guy who was in the outfield easily 100 feet away.  He has the look on his face that you know he has no idea what's going on.  He rings him up for the third out.  The defense has never ran faster to get off the field.  I jogged out to him and I had the I'm pissed look on my face because I was.  You could tell he didn't want to have this conversation.  I started with "Your boy at first hung you out to dry didn't he? Wasn't he supposed to watch touch of first and then trail for the play at second?"  The guy relaxed a little and said yes.  I followed up with "well I'm going to let you discuss it with him because if I do I'm going to get tossed and I really don't want that since it's the playoffs."  I'm getting ready to leave and he asks me if he was safe or out and I told him he was safe easily because he was but I can see from his point of view not seeing that.  

That guy shouldn't have made up a call to cover his buddies rear end but everyone reacts differently when they are in a panic situation.  It wasn't his fault and he did have the conversation with his buddy and after that the game was umpired excellently.  I'm not saying that what happened and how I handled made it be umpired excellently but I like to think it did.

14U summer travel ball.  Umpires assigned by local association. 

"Many Umpires who are "ultra sensitive, defensive and "eject" for the slightest comment usually are lesser experienced or untrained."

That is the pattern I am seeing.  I call them "lazy knee benders."  They put their hands on their knees and stay behind the plate all game.  They never attempt to get into a position to see the play.  Then they are quick to eject on any "question." 

I guess I am spoiled.  On prior teams, we had our own umpire.  Did all of the home games. Found him at an "away" game.  Turned out he lived in our town.  They hired him direct -- no association to go thru.  He was good.  Consistent and worked hard.  Ended up doing 100's of games for all levels of the organization.  Good for him.  Good for us.  The good ones seem hard to find.  I miss him dearly. 

The way I dealt with it several years ago when my oldest was playing tournament ball, was to join my local chapter.  I have been calling HS ball for about 8 years now. 

I think coach2709 is correct in saying that the good umpires don't get noticed, but lazy umpires with bad mechanics and big egos do.

So in reality this whole post comes down to the fact that you prefer one man games done by your own hometown umpire than your away one man games with the opponents own hometown umpire?

Go figure....

No.  The previous coaches knew early on when you find a good umpire (not lazy, will get out from behind the plate to get the right view) you tie him up. 

What I prefer is good umpires who have a little pride in what they do.  Guy who don't want to be there, shouldn't be there.  We have run into too many guys who really don't want to be there.