Proud dad moment. My 2023 threw a perfect game tonight with 16 K’s! So fun to watch. Stressful last inning and was so awesome on the last out. Dang allergies were bad tonight. Lol.
@ARCEKU21 posted:Proud dad moment. My 2023 threw a perfect game tonight with 16 K’s! So fun to watch. Stressful last inning and was so awesome on the last out. Dang allergies were bad tonight. Lol.
That’s awesome! Congrats
@ARCEKU21 posted:Proud dad moment. My 2023 threw a perfect game tonight with 16 K’s! So fun to watch. Stressful last inning and was so awesome on the last out. Dang allergies were bad tonight. Lol.
Fantastic! Congratulations!!
@ARCEKU21 posted:Proud dad moment. My 2023 threw a perfect game tonight with 16 K’s! So fun to watch. Stressful last inning and was so awesome on the last out. Dang allergies were bad tonight. Lol.
Congrats to your boy. I am sure the you slept well after that emotional rollercoaster ride.
Kid's team had their first scrimmage. Wonderful NY spring weather; cold, windy and wet. I arrived quite late and was surprised (and really envious) at the number of folks in attendance. The other team started their stud pitcher and there were several scouts in attendance. I was told he was blowing past the batters. Son played the protecting bullpen pitcher in the foul ball area position...I admit he looked pretty good, and I am sure he did that to avoid working the book. He was given an AB and faced a pitcher he is familiar with as they train at the same facility. It looked and sounded like he turned on it very well, but as it flew to the outfield the ball started looking like a pole vaulter and became the ol' can of corn catch for position 8. Pitching was great on both sides and game was won due to a timely hit and botched fielding (can't fault the other team given the crap weather)+ good baserunning. This is going to be an interesting year as it is the first time the parochial schools will have a state tourney. Lots of teams have stud pitchers but depth will determine who will be the last team standing.
Bad news - son's concussion aftereffects are still taking their toll. Son has been struggling to get back to where he normally is. A bit of blurriness, a bit of getting back in sync, and a bit of bad luck (winds have robbed him of two HRs in the past 2 weeks). Batting 6 hole instead of 4, but.......
The good news is that the team is really coming together at the right time. Swept a 3 game series last week in prep for region play, then took the first two games of their first region series this week. Going for the sweep tomorrow. They're at that stage where when the 1 and 2 hitters are having an off night, the 7 and 8 hitters go 3 for 4.
Our 3 starters are all at .870 or lower WHIP, FIP of 1.2 or lower, and two have a sub-1.0 ERA. Closer has a .5 WHIP. So with luck (meaning no bad luck) and the bats stay alive, they are in a great position. LFGMC!
That stinks he's still feeling the effects of the concussion. Hopefully those winds are blowing the other way for a few games!
I bet you guys get some great HS baseball up that way. I'm always amazed at the strength of the teams we see from GA every summer.
@TerribleBPthrower posted:That stinks he's still feeling the effects of the concussion. Hopefully those winds are blowing the other way for a few games!
I bet you guys get some great HS baseball up that way. I'm always amazed at the strength of the teams we see from GA every summer.
Thanks for the kind words. He's going to have to aim oppo tonight, west winds 10-20 and the 3rd base line runs nearly straight north/south.....
There are some bonkers HS teams, definitely. The one just down the road does a great job of recruiting. Currently has 9 D1 commits, 8 of them are P5. Lost to them 2-1 last year after coach pulled our starter when he reached his pitch count limit.
Another venting post. Nothing new. This has been the story all 4 years on varsity and it's been this way long before we came along.
HS regular and postseason is April through June. We usually play 2 games per week. Maybe there's one week where they have one game scheduled for some reason? But, there's always one week for sure where there's 3 games on the schedule - the week of "spring break."
Now, everyone knows, if you play HS baseball then you better not make plans to go away for spring break. And, I'm behind that one million percent. That's not the beef.
Our games are usually 3:45 or 4 PM starts. That's hard for the working parents. Some work out deals with their employers and get there. Others run out of work at 5 and maybe get there for the last 2 innings. But it is what it is and people do the best they can for supporting their kids.
But, spring break, where they always have 3 games and sometimes it's more because of rescheduled rain outs, the games start at 10 AM. Every time.
The only way parents can attend is to take the day (or the week) off from work. It's so inconvenient. Almost no one goes to these games as spectators unless it's a parent who is self employed or not working.
This year spring break is the end of April. And, while it's a month away, I feel a stomach flu coming on at least one day that week. Yes, it's juvenile but it's the only way to see the game without burning a vacation day.
Why 10 AM? Because the coaches are all teachers and that's their week off too - and they want the afternoons back to go golfing?
@Francis7
The coaches who are teachers deserve a spring break just like the players do. I think 10am sounds great. Kids know that they can't party at night because they have to be up early.
I saw a news report of a young man who saw his mother catch on fire after a bomb dropped. He was hurt as well. He was devastated. It was the last time he saw his mom. I cried my eyes out.
You are right your complaining is juvenile and it's not life or death. Grow up.
This reminds me of a Bill Veeck story. When he own the St Louis Browns, last place in winning and attendance.
"a fan called and ask Bill when does the game begin?"
Veeck said - "what time will you be here and where do you want to sit"?
Veeck said
"You can sit at second base we are not using it".
Bob
Same boat here Franny. Is your boy driving? This makes it easier at least. I don't need a war thousands of miles away to see the devastation of senseless violence, yes our venting is trivial in the big picture but this isn't this the forum for it?
When son was a senior in HS they traveled for spring break to Key West. It cost $$$. We didn't go because we had to work and were in saving mode for college. We survived.
IMO, it's not what you say, but how you say it.
My son's freshman year they had a local tournament during spring break. Games were at 11 and 3. The other 3 years they played at the Boras classic about 2 hours away. That was incredible. Most of the parents were there. We got to see our kids go up against many future college and pro players with lots of scouts around. Just the other day I was flipping channels and saw a kid who robbed my kid of a base hit hit a grand slam in Spring Training. I guess I was lucky in my job freedom. My kid played 4 years of varsity baseball and basketball and I missed one baseball game and I think two basketball games.
@TPM posted:@Francis7
The coaches who are teachers deserve a spring break just like the players do. I think 10am sounds great. Kids know that they can't party at night because they have to be up early.
I saw a news report of a young man who saw his mother catch on fire after a bomb dropped. He was hurt as well. He was devastated. It was the last time he saw his mom. I cried my eyes out.
You are right your complaining is juvenile and it's not life or death. Grow up.
At a restaurant once, I mentioned to the staff that they got my order wrong. Sadly, none of them ever saw the Hidenburg Disaster in put me in my place like this. I can't believe it took all this time for someone to help me grow up. Thanks TPM.
Francis, as a longtime HS coach, if this is happening to your son and he is in danger of further injury, TAKE HIM OFF OF THE TEAM. I have dealt with similar situations and never have I gone against what doctors have said. Your son is not "comfortable" throwing. What the heck are you going to do when, in a game situation, he turns and throws to the plate on a cut?
We are in season now although, as most of you know I've switched over to softball. This year had tremendous potential. We had 6 pitchers in the program with three clearly varsity ready. Two were battling for the #1 slot in the circle. One of these two, who I think is better, decided to play TB in Missouri. Missouri plays HS in the fall. That player would have also been our SS. Then, we talk to #3 and tell her that she now is varsity and will play/pitch a lot. She is upset that she is not #1. Her mom is even more upset and pulls her from the team. This young lady is doing the same as the other. This young lady would have battled for the DH/1B position besides being #2. We have never thrown our #1 every game like a lot of programs do. Literally, overnight, we went from a team that could have gone deep into the state playoffs to a team that will have to battle to win a regional. We are now throwing two freshmen as #2. So far, we have beaten a team that had 2 SEC recruits and another Mid-Major DI recruit and have lost to a team that wouldn't beat us another time if we played them 9 more times. That is sometimes the nature of HS sports. Still, I am having a blast and love every minute of this.
@2022NYC posted:Same boat here Franny. Is your boy driving? This makes it easier at least. I don't need a war thousands of miles away to see the devastation of senseless violence, yes our venting is trivial in the big picture but this isn't this the forum for it?
I thought it was?
Anyway, he drives but they have to be on the bus. I think it's a liability thing? Nothing to complain about though...most of the schools are fairly close by. It's not like having to ride the bus is as devastating as the irish potato famine.
3 years after HS ball is in the rear view mirror, I am still learning that there were a lot of things I didn't understand at the time, for which the coach had reasons that made sense. This site is definitely a place to vent, or perhaps, put more kindly, to ask for explanations.
I can think of various reasons for 10 am games during spring break:
- the team will play some Saturday morning games in the season, and the coach wants to see how the players do in the mornings
- it will be colder in the morning, and the coach wants to give players practice playing in the cold (youngest son's golf coach did that this weekend)
- as someone already said, shows which players will take it seriously and not party the night before
@anotherparent posted:3 years after HS ball is in the rear view mirror, I am still learning that there were a lot of things I didn't understand at the time, for which the coach had reasons that made sense. This site is definitely a place to vent, or perhaps, put more kindly, to ask for explanations.
I can think of various reasons for 10 am games during spring break:
- the team will play some Saturday morning games in the season, and the coach wants to see how the players do in the mornings
- it will be colder in the morning, and the coach wants to give players practice playing in the cold (youngest son's golf coach did that this weekend)
- as someone already said, shows which players will take it seriously and not party the night before
None work for us. It's April in the NE. Colder in the morning than the afternoon and neither time is great baseball weather. We almost never play on Saturdays. And the kid on the team who drink don't care. They're going to party anyway.
@CoachB25 and others - an update
Kid has been DHing in scrimmages and that's OK because his orthopedist cleared him to hit while he's doing his RTT and before he returns to the field. Personally, there's some risk here...if he had a really bad fall and stuck out his hands to break the fall, it COULD injury the UCL. Then again, it would have to be a pretty violent fall forward and even then it might not injury the UCL.
He's not playing the field in games. He's been manning 1B in practice and in pregame I/O (along with 4 others) and he is not throwing. He either flips the ball to another 1B standing by him or rolls it into the catcher.
All this unnecessary? Maybe but it's also maybe good for his mental health because he's not happy when completely idle.
Meanwhile he is now on week 2 of RTT and has no intention of rushing or returning until 100%. I suspect the real test won't be until week 4. But by then, it will be almost 3 months since he was hurt.
@Francis7 posted:@CoachB25 and others - an update
Kid has been DHing in scrimmages and that's OK because his orthopedist cleared him to hit while he's doing his RTT and before he returns to the field. Personally, there's some risk here...if he had a really bad fall and stuck out his hands to break the fall, it COULD injury the UCL. Then again, it would have to be a pretty violent fall forward and even then it might not injury the UCL.
He's not playing the field in games. He's been manning 1B in practice and in pregame I/O (along with 4 others) and he is not throwing. He either flips the ball to another 1B standing by him or rolls it into the catcher.
All this unnecessary? Maybe but it's also maybe good for his mental health because he's not happy when completely idle.
Meanwhile he is now on week 2 of RTT and has no intention of rushing or returning until 100%. I suspect the real test won't be until week 4. But by then, it will be almost 3 months since he was hurt.
Your example is why my knucklehead's ortho was reluctant to clear him as a DH. Between the pandemic and injuries, my kid only played the field as a freshman. He is okay with it now, given he was on the edge of not getting cleared by the doc to DH. He does not like to platoon either, but he is happy he is seeing the pitches well, hitting the ball hard, and sometime placing them "where they ain't". The weather here is returning to Spring later in the week but the kid will be heading south for several days on his senior trip. The wife will spend that time learning to drive her car again....and cleaning it.
@2022NYC -
True story. When mine was 11, he got hit in the face with a ball. Nothing broken but had swelling, cuts, bruises, etc. That was in a travel game.
A few days later, we have a Little League game. I'm the manager. My wife says don't play him. I say: I will stick him in LF the whole game. He should be fine.
Sure enough, someone singles to left, the ball hits a hole in the ground and springs right up and hits him in the face.
That's baseball. The highly unlikely likely happens!
@Francis7 posted:@2022NYC -
True story. When mine was 11, he got hit in the face with a ball. Nothing broken but had swelling, cuts, bruises, etc. That was in a travel game.
A few days later, we have a Little League game. I'm the manager. My wife says don't play him. I say: I will stick him in LF the whole game. He should be fine.
Sure enough, someone singles to left, the ball hits a hole in the ground and springs right up and hits him in the face.
That's baseball. The highly unlikely likely happens!
The morning before my son's first coach pitch game I took in the backyard to hit a few balls. My wife asks if he needs a helmet. I shake my head like, "uh no". Sure enough, I plunked him in the head. Hence the username
@TerribleBPthrower posted:The morning before my son's first coach pitch game I took in the backyard to hit a few balls. My wife asks if he needs a helmet. I shake my head like, "uh no". Sure enough, I plunked him in the head. Hence the username
Years ago, I was asked to coach a Little League All-Star team. They made the mistake of letting me throw BP once.
Three years later, I'm at the Little League complex and I ran into one of those former all-stars. My team was practicing and I asked a coach to throw BP as I was talking to the kid. I said to the kid "Better that he throws BP because I suck at it" and the kid says "I remember. You hit me in the back twice during all-stars."
He wasn't wrong.
Has a HS senior committed to play in college ever quit his HS team during senior year?
@Francis7 posted:Has a HS senior committed to play in college ever quit his HS team during senior year?
Yes
@TerribleBPthrower posted:Yes
What were the circumstances?
@Francis7 posted:What were the circumstances?
He quit
@Francis7 posted:What were the circumstances?
One that comes to mind was due to a new coaching staff coming in. He didn't like the way they ran the show so he called his future college coach to let him know he was going to take the season off to train and get ready for college ball. Wasn't an issue for the college coach.
I'm sure this isn't very uncommon.
I know one who did and some on the bubble for reasons already mentioned.
Sad sign of the times.
Opening Day is tomorrow for our HS team. So...very...exciting!!
But, wait. The game is canceled. Why?
It's not a conflicting school event or holiday. It's not the weather. It's not because the visiting team can't get a bus. It's not because of COVID-19.
It's because they can't find any umpires to work the game tomorrow. No one is available.
True story. Welcome to 2022.
Really? Why are there no umps?
@TerribleBPthrower posted:Really? Why are there no umps?
Too many games in the area at the same time and not enough umps to go around...or willing to work the game.
@TerribleBPthrower posted:Really? Why are there no umps?
Chip shortage
@Francis7 posted:Too many games in the area at the same time and not enough umps to go around...or willing to work the game.
Are umps quitting? Is that game considered to be bad because of the parents ripping umps in the past?
@adbono posted:Chip shortage
Now that made me laugh. Well done 
@TerribleBPthrower posted:Are umps quitting? Is that game considered to be bad because of the parents ripping umps in the past?
That's part of it
Damn, the supply chain has impacted HS baseball officiating. Rumor has it there is shipping container full of them sitting in Port Elizabeth. My kid's season was supposed to start on Monday but it was cancelled (weather?). They played yesterday at the opponent's home field, it was >2.5 hour drive for me with traffic so I passed. It was tight game and kid's team took the lead on the top of the 7th with a double, kid was punched out at home trying to score from 1st. He was disappointed for walking and not scoring, told him he part of the rally to win the game, but he is a teen and I am the "dad", so I am guilty of "dad 'splianing". He left in the middle of the night with the other seniors for their class trip to FL, so the team's next game is not until next week.
@Francis7 posted:That's part of it
IMO, AD's need to start getting control of these parents. I've seen it quite bad recently. Parents following them to cars, making inappropriate or threatening comments, etc. I wouldn't put up with that for a measly $50 either.
@Francis7 posted:Too many games in the area at the same time and not enough umps to go around...or willing to work the game.
We had something similar happen last week with our sub varsity teams. The sophomore and JV teams had their Friday night games canceled and moved to the next day. The reason was because there were no umpires to work their games. Someone told me that the umpires were having a "walk out" that weekend to protest something. I didn't get all the details or don't know if that story is true. The next day the two teams did not have umpires again for their games. Luckily one of the dads on the JV team is an umpire and had his gear with him. Both schools agreed to let him umpire the games rather than cancel them.
We have a serious shortage of umpires in the STL area. At our team's "parent night" the AD and HC emphasized this and asked everyone to be mindful of comments made to them. Reactionary expressions are one thing, but riding them is another. We were told that there may be games with only one umpire. The other day we had two, and they were great, and no griping from either side.
It has been very difficult around here finding young men and women to umpire, or, to continue umpiring, as they have to deal with nutty coaches and parents. Seems like the younger the players, the worse it is.
I'm surprised that coaches (like me) aren't required to take some kind of training course on how to work with and approach umpires. Probably makes too much sense.
It would be like everything else.
Everyone would be on their best behavior during the training class and 90% of them would revert to past bad habits once the training was over.
@ARCEKU21 posted:Proud dad moment. My 2023 threw a perfect game tonight with 16 K’s! So fun to watch. Stressful last inning and was so awesome on the last out. Dang allergies were bad tonight. Lol.
Bumping this post to let everyone know that @ARCEKU21 son named 6A Pitcher of the Week in the state by Texas High School Baseball. Congratulations!
Francis, you not correct. During 25 years of International Baseball, Area Code games and Coaching, I have not experienced the "parents behavior" as you described.
The greater the baseball knowledge and talent level of the players = the greater the respect for the game by coaches and parents. Our coaches are former pro players or pro scouts.
"Constantly teaching and learning". Wearing the uniform the correct way, observation. study & learn.
Bob
@Francis7 posted:It would be like everything else.
Everyone would be on their best behavior during the training class and 90% of them would revert to past bad habits once the training was over.
Our LL would get the local HS's to send their players out to umpire our games and we'd give them a donation of $50/game for the program. It was a big fundraiser. The kids started complaining and feared umpiring. A couple times cops were called for safety for a HS kid to walk to his car. I then became league president. For 3 years I had a zero tolerance policy for yelling at kid umps. After a few suspensions things calmed down and for those 3 years we had no problems with umps. Some of the old adult volunteer umps started coming back. By the 3rd season we had 4 umps for every majors game. I handed it over after the 12u season and the new guy did away with the rules. It is now a mess and they are struggling to find 1 ump per game.
@Consultant wrote, “Francis, you are not correct.”
Can’t tell you how often I have uttered those same words.
@Consultant posted:Francis, you not correct. During 25 years of International Baseball, Area Code games and Coaching, I have not experienced the "parents behavior" as you described.
The greater the baseball knowledge and talent level of the players = the greater the respect for the game by coaches and parents. Our coaches are former pro players or pro scouts.
"Constantly teaching and learning". Wearing the uniform the correct way, observation. study & learn.
Bob
I would argue the parents act a little differently at ACG than your typical travel or HS game. I've watched the biggest A-hole parent in the universe switch to the role model fan/parent with the committed college coach came to watch his son to check in on him.
Our 2030 daughter started playing club volleyball after a few years of church/school league volleyball, where there was typically a HS aged referee and either parents/coaches or other HS age kids called the lines, kept score/book, and everything seemed to go well.
For club in league and tournament play, an idle team from the age group calls the lines, provides the 2nd referee, and keeps the score and book (their coaches assist them). For a bunch of 9/10 years olds, it was impressive how well they did. Very, very rarely did a coach appeal to the first referee on a call, and I don't think ours ever did. I guess they figured the calls would even out over the evening or weekend, and these coaches are from a perennial HS and club volleyball powerhouse. It was also made known to all parents that the 1st referee can and will toss any coach or spectator from the facility for poor behavior, often without issuing a warning (never happened in any of our matches).
It was rather refreshing to simply watch the kids play without anyone getting all over someone. Same holds true at the older ages.
Edit: She still plays church/school league. When that season ends, club picks up.
In NJ there is a short supply. Those that are still around are on the older side. At our association meetings, there has been no talk of unruly parents. Some of my observations. The covid hit and canceled a season. Those that were umpiring and needed the $ found another job to pay the bills. Not many NJ teams have fields with lights. Games start at 4pm. Travel time and prep time means most umps need to be out of their other job by 2:30. For me personally, that is not possible so I do LL and Cal Rip - USABL. Those that get into other sports see a greater income / hour. A varsity level baseball game in NJ - 7 innings - often takes 2.5 hours. Part of that is the umps own fault for not managing the time between innings. Some is the talent level and walks / errors extend the game time. The sub varsity levels are now looking to have a 2 hr time limit implemented. Var level umps get $85 / game, sub var 67. Lacrosse umps in NJ get that and more for a 1 hour game. Softball - a much shorter game get the same as baseball. I hear the same holds true for other sports. Now take into consideration Uncle Sam. Many schools have moved to on line payments through one vendor. Just a few years ago - you could hide your income by not umping more than $600 worth of games at one school. Now - no matter what school you ump - the income is all managed and reported thru the vendor. Assuming a 30% tax bracket (fed + state) that $85 is now net $60. The state also charges a fee as dose the association. Then there is the unemployment benefits - the PPE and other subsidies that surrounded the pandemic. For some the cost is not worth the effort. There were also a number that chose to retire during the "off" year. I don't know that there is a quick fix to the problem or that there is one fix. Getting the young kids involved at 12 yo to do 8yo games on the bases in rec leagues, get them training before each season. As they get to 15-16 yo get them behind the plate. And for the state associations - do not have a 18yo age minimum to do games. Let a 16-17yo fo F or JV games on the bases. Let them work the lower level schools and work their way up to V and higher levels. Pair them with an experienced ump one that can evaluate and corrrect as needed.. but then you get push back from the experienced up because he / she will be on lower paid / skill games.
HS sports officiating supply has been dwindling - even before covid... There's another thread about where hsbbw members sit during games. In that thread you will find a reason why there's fewer umps - parents who don't get it and why we don't sit near them... Feeling entitled to attack the coach/umpire or talk smack about others children - yikes. Administrators / coaches fear for their jobs from parents that will go above their heads. If a player or coach gets ejected from a game, there are repercussions including suspensions, taking anger mgmt / sportsmanship courses, etc. An umpire cannot eject a parent only an administrator / coach could do that. Imagine a coach stopping a game and telling his star pitcher's parent to leave because he's riding the ump for a single pitch his son didn't get called his way. I had to track down an administrator recently who was sitting way away from the "fans" who were riding the opposing pitcher because of his weight. Once he moved closer the jeering stopped, but no other parent or person nearby dared to step in and say knock it off. The coach knew who it was but was not getting involved.
Time and pay wise, yeah other sports make more per hour. You have to love baseball to want to take 4+ hours out of your day (travel, game, travel) for what you get paid and deal with a few ignorant parents. Many associations have mandatory off season training and then there's the FED test. I have to wonder how many parents would get an 80 or better on an open book test of FED rules. How many can track 3-500 pitches a game satisfactorily and judge in real time safe/out, fair/foul, balk or not, etc. While roboump could solve one problem - I think it would shock you how the game would change at the HS level. It could be longer without the ability to steal a strike. For the most part, pitchers aren't that good yet with control.
Umpires aren't blameless... In some associations there's an old boy network to get to the good/better games. Then again, imagine how hard a 1st year umpire would be ridden at a cross-town rival game when he makes a mistake... Those that are new sometimes have grand dreams, but some of those that have been around for a while don't want to let the newbie get the experience. It's a balance. The newbie gets discouraged and moves on. You can make more per hour at travel or tournament games which are usually timed and you can do 5 or 6 games in a day.
One final thought - the players aren't getting any younger and neither is the average age of the umpire. In a sport where the age of the player is constant, but the age of the umpire increases eventually supply runs out - it's only a matter of time.
@JohnF - we see that a lot by us...the umpires are usually over 50 and most of them are in their 60s or early 70s.
I get part of it. You have to be retired to be able to umpire a HS game at 3:45 PM on a weekday. Nobody is going to make a full time living being an umpire.
But I also think some of those real old timers are doing it because they need the money. And that's sad. People shouldn't have to work like that in their 70s...with the cold or heat, having to wear gear, behind behind the plate for 2.5 hours. Not for $50.
agreed the ump situation is bad. there's no accountability for the umps so the longer tenured, older umps get the better games. Also, i was told by a friend whose son just started umping that HS games are a higher "status", but weekend tournaments are where the money is. His son can make 70 bucks a game during a tournament, doing 5 games a day for saturday and sunday. that way, he can just work weekends and not worry about one-offs during the week.
Umps?!?! We’re talking about Umps??? Who needs umps!!!
Last week for a double header we all sat around for 25 minutes waiting for the umps. At that point both teams decided that a coach would call the games from behind the pitcher. Umps never showed.
This week in middle of a game the field ump took off to the parking lot. Plate ump called the game for a while. Then out of no where the field ump just came back on to the field.
Not related, but also a lot of fun, our team showed up for away game and there was a second away team there. So our team did not play. Just had to get back on the bus and headed back home.
Sorry but our HS experience has been suspect at best.
My son’s high school games started at 3:45pm. A majority of the umpires were of retirement age. Most were 65-70. One was eighty-eight. He was in great shape. He was sharp. He knew the rule book. But, it’s a turn off to have the field umpire standing behind second ask the HPU if the ball bounced over or cleared the fence.
I might umpire when I retire. But I'm doing 46/60 and 10u and younger. Easier to track the ball and not get killed.
@Francis7 posted:I might umpire when I retire. But I'm doing 46/60 and 10u and younger. Easier to track the ball and not get killed.
A friend (at the time) was a freshman basketball head coach. He’s now a D3 head coach. He showed up at one of my 12u games (I coached) dressed as a ref. I was surprised.He told me he couldn’t possibly suck as much as some of the refs. So he took the test. What he discovered was making snap decisions in a second wasn’t that easy. He was mediocre at first. But, he improved quickly.
So Around_The_Horn you do understand that as you age the chance to have a middle of the game "need" is greater than that of the <25 yr old who seemingly can go hours... It sucks to have no shows, but sometimes that's the fault of the coach and/or parents... I have no idea in your case, but it's hard to get excited to go for a DH somewhere that every decision is questioned by those that have zero interest in figuring it out. And Francis7 - trust me when I say 40/60 and 10u is not easier to track the ball. Yes, it's easier to get out of the way, but parabola's and waiting for gravity for kids that are under 4 feet tall is not as easy as you think it is
!
Lack of umps just hit our sophomore team already this week. They usually play on Tuesdays and Fridays at the field opposite of where varsity plays. They have now been forced to play a double header on Wednesday night, starting at 5pm. It's looking like the trend may be that sub varsity teams have to play on different days from varsity to fee up some umpires.
@JohnF posted:HS sports officiating supply has been dwindling - even before covid... There's another thread about where hsbbw members sit during games. In that thread you will find a reason why there's fewer umps - parents who don't get it and why we don't sit near them... Feeling entitled to attack the coach/umpire or talk smack about others children - yikes. Administrators / coaches fear for their jobs from parents that will go above their heads. If a player or coach gets ejected from a game, there are repercussions including suspensions, taking anger mgmt / sportsmanship courses, etc. An umpire cannot eject a parent only an administrator / coach could do that. Imagine a coach stopping a game and telling his star pitcher's parent to leave because he's riding the ump for a single pitch his son didn't get called his way. I had to track down an administrator recently who was sitting way away from the "fans" who were riding the opposing pitcher because of his weight. Once he moved closer the jeering stopped, but no other parent or person nearby dared to step in and say knock it off. The coach knew who it was but was not getting involved.
In that thread I said I sat right behind the plate and this ^ is one of the reasons why. When my then sophmore made varsity the first game was appalling (argueing balls/strikes, C'mon man how are you so blind? on close plays, etc). I wanted no part. But instead of moving to the outfield where my husband wanted to go, I parked my unafraid of confrontation butt dead center. When Lefty was pitching and people would try to harrass the ump I turned and said "He missed wide, I'm right behind the plate. When your kid pitches you can argue and make the strikezone shrink, but not when it's mine." I had an umpire ask me in the parking lot after the game if I was the pitcher's mom. He gave lefty some compliments and also thanked me for attempting to control the situation. It took a full season (and some seniors graduating) but I feel like we're finally there. Complaining is said to the people directly around you
and a really bad call gets laughter or a OOOOOh?!?
@JohnF - just mark this down as another one of your blown calls. The ump returned from the parking lot, which is in the opposite direction of the restrooms. So him leaving the game had nothing to do with bladder control.
@Around_The_Horn posted:@JohnF - just mark this down as another one of your blown calls. The ump returned from the parking lot, which is in the opposite direction of the restrooms. So him leaving the game had nothing to do with bladder control.
You do know you don't need a restroom to manage bladder control 
... Still seems like a perfect opportunity for you to become part of the solution instead of the problem 
...
Just checked in on a game a school in our region is playing. Player X threw 80 pitches over 4 innings, then took over behind the plate for the rest of the game. And this is not the first time this has happened.
I don’t understand how a HS coach can a) think this is ok and b) not have the parents or player say something.
Game #1 for my favorite baseball player's senior HS season yesterday. Haha for all of you warm weather baseball parents...was a breezy and chilly 38 degrees at game time. We were supposed to play a couple last week but with no turf we had to wait longer to play.
Son has not played for his HS since he was a freshman with covid eliminating sophomore season and a broken hamate bone eliminating junior season.
Caught and led off for his squad. First AB he wrecked a preseason goal of no looking strikeouts...he handled it exceptionally well and was my proudest moment of the day. Next ab against the crafty lefty he smoked one between the first and second baseman. 3rd AB got a pitch he hammered after fouling off 2 with two strikes. 4th AB was with his team up 10-2 in bottom of 5th and a guy on base for a game 1 walk-off bomb (not hit as far as the prior homer).
Ended game 3/4 with 2 HR, threw out a kid at 3rd and zero passed balls. Thankful for a healthy start to what I hope is a fun, healthy, senior year for my kid. (attached is video he made of the 2 HR's).
Attachments
Videos (1)
That looks like it was pretty cold! I put on a pullover when it's 75 and breezy!
Awesome start to the season!
Well 4 games left to the season. Sadly kind of looking forward to it being over. A lot of decisions being made that I don't understand. Most not evolving my son. Looking forward to summer ball. Where things just make more sense.
@TxballDad posted:Well 4 games left to the season. Sadly kind of looking forward to it being over. A lot of decisions being made that I don't understand. Most not evolving my son. Looking forward to summer ball. Where things just make more sense.
Thanks for sharing. This is exactly my sentiment. Is this a normal state in high school baseball? I look back now before the season started to conversation I had with more veteran parents and I’m like, “oh that is what they were talking about!!”.
Snowing today, all day rain yesterday. Some form of precipitation called for every day this week, and the past two. Not sure how we will get any games in. Miserable.
@Around_The_Horn posted:Thanks for sharing. This is exactly my sentiment. Is this a normal state in high school baseball? I look back now before the season started to conversation I had with more veteran parents and I’m like, “oh that is what they were talking about!!”.
What happens in high school baseball depends on whether the coach is a baby sitter who isn’t going to lose his job or expected to maintain a winning program.
When our high school had the former there were seventeen losing seasons in twenty years with the same coach. Only juniors and seniors made varsity.
A new AD fired him. The new coach was expected to win. Talent played regardless of class year.
The team went from a country club atmosphere to coming out of the locker room or off the bus like a well oiled military unit.
Talent played regardless of class year.
Isn’t is supposed to be like this! Play the best 9????
I wish my kid school had this principle! Our current seniors can’t make playoff but loyalty to seniors prevented the amazing freshman from moving up!
@NY posted:Talent played regardless of class year.Isn’t is supposed to be like this! Play the best 9????
I wish my kid school had this principle! Our current seniors can’t make playoff but loyalty to seniors prevented the amazing freshman from moving up!
Most in the HSBBW community believe it’s supposed to be that way. And it absolutely should. But are we in the majority in today’s current society? I submit to you that we may not be - as unbelievable as that sounds. So many people are not about things being a meritocracy. They are about their kid getting his/her turn. It all started with participation trophies, not keeping score, everyone gets to play, and Barney the Dinosaur espousing that everyone is a winner. Well, the world doesn’t work that way so those of us that know that continue to be frustrated by the ones that don’t.
How has your kid's team practices and game prep been like? My son told me the team barely practices and almost never do pre-game hitting. They are winning or tying every game so I guess there is no need for that. I was informed these coaches do not coach in the summer and really do not have a clue who the underclassmen players are. They are lucky to have a deep pool of kids to choose from since there are 2000 boys. I do not sense this is going to change. I am trying to subtly convince him to go back to his facility so he can get the work in to prep for the summer ball since he will not be allowed to field for his HS team. I am hoping the frustration will make him pull the trigger.
@adbono it’s not just about participation trophies. It can also be about donations to the program, nepotism and other types of favoritism. If you are in a situation where the best 9 play, savor it because it is not always the case.
@TxballDad posted:Well 4 games left to the season. Sadly kind of looking forward to it being over. A lot of decisions being made that I don't understand. Most not evolving my son. Looking forward to summer ball. Where things just make more sense.
it's funny how many conversations I have that sound the exact same. Every year so far has been like this. Then for some reason around January we start to get excited and think things will be different. Then the season starts and we start watching the clock waiting for it to end.
@PTWood posted:@adbono it’s not just about participation trophies. It can also be about donations to the program, nepotism and other types of favoritism. If you are in a situation where the best 9 play, savor it because it is not always the case.
Politics affect baseball at every level. That has always been the case. Only the very best players are immune to it - and hopefully James remains one of those. But the “attitude of entitlement” being an effective strategy is relatively new. Back in the day that got you removed from the team. Now it buys playing time. That’s the world we live in.
@adbono he was not immune from it at his first HS at all. He earned far more opportunities at his second school and in the minors. 😂
My kid has elected to tough it out. He thinks he can be ready for summer ball by piece meal training during the gaps in the remaining games schedule and the last 2 weeks before deploying to his summer team. I can see his frustration and his confidence waning, as a parent that kills me. Wife and I will continue to be his cheerleader on the sideline luckily I have this place for my therapy
Son’s HS clinched 2nd consecutive region championship tonight against their region rival. He hit a 3 run shot in the 1st, with a double and single later. Teammate had two HRs. Pitcher ended up with a perfect game after a 5th inning run rule.
Helluva night to be stuck watching it on an iPad 400 miles away, but I’ll take it. Can’t wait to give him a hug tomorrow.
Just heard all the baseball coaches (JV and Varsity) will be leaving at the end of the year except 1. Not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing yet. As a coaching career move, I think it is the time to go, if they can. The whole starting infield and all the starting pitchers are graduating this year. And they haven't done much development for the other classes. Maybe they all knew they were leaving and that is why they only focused on Varsity for the most part. We shall see how it goes.
Went to my son's HS rivalry game the other day. It was a beautiful evening, I saw old baseball friends from little league and HS, really a fun time. Our team lost, but it was a close game; it was slower and smaller than the college games, and I had forgotten how short 7 innings is!
I usually do not go to my sons games. Easier to watch in game changer. A big part is I do not like being around several of the parents. One game I did attend several of the dads started yelling towards the umpire about a call. Then one of them started to yell and scream at the umpire. If the fence was not there he probably would have gotten in his face. It was embarrassing. All for a call he was not happy about. He is the reason why the local sheriff had to escort the umpire to his car last year. His son cusses at the umpires. It gets rediclous. We had one kid flip the other team off when he was done pitching. His parents and their friends just laugh and think it is funny.
No way would I be an umpire.
@Alanj posted:I usually do not go to my sons games. Easier to watch in game changer. A big part is I do not like being around several of the parents. One game I did attend several of the dads started yelling towards the umpire about a call. Then one of them started to yell and scream at the umpire. If the fence was not there he probably would have gotten in his face. It was embarrassing. All for a call he was not happy about. He is the reason why the local sheriff had to escort the umpire to his car last year. His son cusses at the umpires. It gets rediclous. We had one kid flip the other team off when he was done pitching. His parents and their friends just laugh and think it is funny.
No way would I be an umpire.
Holy cow. I had to do a double take on your post. Reading your post I thought you may be a parent from a team in our district.
@Alanj posted:I usually do not go to my sons games. Easier to watch in game changer. A big part is I do not like being around several of the parents. One game I did attend several of the dads started yelling towards the umpire about a call. Then one of them started to yell and scream at the umpire. If the fence was not there he probably would have gotten in his face. It was embarrassing. All for a call he was not happy about. He is the reason why the local sheriff had to escort the umpire to his car last year. His son cusses at the umpires. It gets rediclous. We had one kid flip the other team off when he was done pitching. His parents and their friends just laugh and think it is funny.
No way would I be an umpire.
How can the umpire continue to let this go on? Stop the game - warn the head coach to control his fans - if still a problem - tell the AD to remove the parent - game will not continue until issue resolved. As for the players cussing and flipping off - thats an immediate ejection. Enforce the rules in place when the infraction first occurs and it helps stop future infractions. Failure to enforce the rules encourages the actions to continue.
A message to my son.
Just when I thought I had you figured out, you show me another level of your character. Throughout the years I have tested your resolve with both fair and unfair methods and yet you continue to prove your love and dedication. As a parent, we all want our kids to be better than us and I am truly happy I can leave this world knowing that. I am going to miss your senior game and while I know in your heart you don't care, I will carry some regret, as this part of your journey is ending and it means a lot more to me than you think. One day you will find all my posts here and see the insecurities I had, the comfort this place has provided me as well as my own personal growth from strangers sharing a common bond of having sons playing the greatest sport and learning about life. Maybe you will be surprised by my depth too.
Love,
Dad
Last year in the parking lot I chatted with the umpiring team. They said coaches are now reluctant to tell their fans to behave. The coaches fear one of the misbehaving parents might be a donor with the power to get them fired.
Speaking of Umpires, this is an honest question. I can't for the life of me figure out why 6-10 inches off the plate is a strike, consistently from every umpire, yet belly button high is a ball, and god forbid you should actually throw a ball on the inside corner for a strike even though thats where they set up? I ask this because of all the pitches thrown, 8 inches off the plate is un-hittable. IF you need to expand the zone, up or down, fine at least you can stay within the confines of what is actually the strike zone, letters to knees. Do they think the other batters box line is the edge of the plate?
Okay, mini rant on this one... have none of them actually ever seen a curve-ball before? It seems it can go around the plate and be called a strike, but not across the plate and end up out of the zone and be called one.
I guess consistency can be called good, but consistently wrong?
Honestly, why is it every umpire, all the time on the 6-8 inches off the plate.
As a pitchers dad and a catchers dad, I tell my boys to live with it and for the first to take advantage of it and the second not to complain for his pitcher's sake, and I also tell them they better not be complaining if they get rung up on it cause they know it's a strike, but it does stink going down 0-2 on two pitches not hittable.
@HSDad22 posted:Speaking of Umpires, this is an honest question. I can't for the life of me figure out why 6-10 inches off the plate is a strike, consistently from every umpire, yet belly button high is a ball, and god forbid you should actually throw a ball on the inside corner for a strike even though thats where they set up? I ask this because of all the pitches thrown, 8 inches off the plate is un-hittable. IF you need to expand the zone, up or down, fine at least you can stay within the confines of what is actually the strike zone, letters to knees. Do they think the other batters box line is the edge of the plate?
Okay, mini rant on this one... have none of them actually ever seen a curve-ball before? It seems it can go around the plate and be called a strike, but not across the plate and end up out of the zone and be called one.
I guess consistency can be called good, but consistently wrong?
Honestly, why is it every umpire, all the time on the 6-8 inches off the plate.
As a pitchers dad and a catchers dad, I tell my boys to live with it and for the first to take advantage of it and the second not to complain for his pitcher's sake, and I also tell them they better not be complaining if they get rung up on it cause they know it's a strike, but it does stink going down 0-2 on two pitches not hittable.
My son feels your pain. He has a really high spin rate so he tries his best to live at the top of zone. However, he hardly ever gets the high strike called. So unless hitters swing at pitches above their belt buckles it's going to be called a ball.
With that said, I don't know if I fault the umpires for this. So many pitchers live way down and away that I believe umps have just got accustomed to calling that pitch a strike. Game has to end eventually right? Very few guys challenge up and in, so almost all hitters in today's game crowd the plate. I believe this shifts the focus of the average umpire away from the actual strike zone. Most coaches, and players for that matter, are okay living with the way outside strike call. That is as long as you don't give the inside strike call, and it gets called equally for both sides.
By the way I'm not saying it's right, I'm just pointing out what I've tended to notice over the years.
My son loves to throw inside. Doesn't get the calls very often. There have been a couple good umps that would call it and he shredded those lineups.
I agree though, the pitch a ball or two off the plate called for a strike sucks for the hitters.
@TerribleBPthrower posted:My son loves to throw inside. Doesn't get the calls very often. There have been a couple good umps that would call it and he shredded those lineups.
I agree though, the pitch a ball or two off the plate called for a strike sucks for the hitters.
A called up and in strike is a game changer. Put a little velo on that pitch, and it sets up you off-speed really well. Nothing really tunnels with a down and away fastball. Over the years I've noticed a lot guys becoming very accustomed to the down and away pitch. All they do is move on top of the plate. This simple tactic (along with protective gear ) obviously makes the away pitch not so far away anymore.
I’ll see your bad pitch calls and raise you one:
This year, son threw a curve. Batter got way out front and swung. On the miss the batter brings his back foot forward and gets hit with the pitch. Umpire gave the batter first. Again I believe that HS games would be better without umpires.
I hear many umpire associations are looking for new members - seems we have a couple volunteers here 
Consistency is hard when your P gets lucky 1 out of every 5 pitches and it crosses the plate... Some have no idea where the ball is going when it leaves their hand - scary, huh? There are C's that don't help their P out by awful mechanics - snatching, rolling, falling. Damn you know a curve is coming don't freaking stand up!! There's far too many parents that believe it's where the C receives the ball that matters. I've seen C be > 4' behind the tip of the plate - go figure how hard that can be on an umpire!
A baseball is ~3" in diameter, the plate is 17" wide, there is supposed to be 6" between plate and outside edge/line of the batters box... If a bat averages 32" - there's a math quiz about reachability especially for 6' batter, but I agree a ball in the other box shouldn't be a strike... So it's not every umpire ;-)... Down the channel - sure it's possible. If the "true zone" was called *both ways* in every game, it'd probably a much longer game - is that what you want? Or do you want the strike zone as written only for your batter? It's not an exact science and there's so much that goes into it.
I hear many umpire associations are looking for new members - seems we have a couple volunteers here ... Yes - our association is running a recruitment drIve. Part of the problem is that many of us have full time jobs that do not allow us to do HS games. I have been a varsity certified ump for 10+ years and have only done 4-5 games - all were last minute fill ins on Sat. I just cant get out to a game that starts at 330 - 4pm and because I can't do weekday games - I am last in line to get weekend games. Just a fact - there isn't a lot to choose from.
When the boys were younger, umpires often told us at ground rules that the zone would be "from chalk line to chalk line" and for the boys to "get up there and swing." None of us had a problem with it, as it forced the kids to get the bats off their shoulders. Not uncommon, I'm sure.
As for curve balls/offspeed, so far this HS season I'd say they have been called well, and that's not my opinion, that's based on what the catchers have to say. We have a couple of pitchers with pretty good command that will "test the zone" in the appropriate counts, particularly the high strike. If they start getting a few calls upstairs early in the game, they'll attack it.
Speaking of pitches off the plate, last summer 2024 was in the top of the 7th with a 1-0 lead against a solid team where he was pretty much hitting his spots and getting weak contact and a handful of Ks. Got the first two outs, then hit a kid up-and-in (leaned into it -- smart batter), got p.o.'d and walked the next batter. So now he as runners on 1st and 2nd with a beast at the plate that he struck out the first time then hit up-and-in the second time (he also leaned in). I think he got 1-2 on him, went down off the plate, and watched the ball get pulled and sail over the wall -- by a lot. 2024 couldn't believe what had just happened, kneeled, and put his head in his hand while the other side went bananas and the beast sloooow trotted the bases. What he (and the catcher) didn't notice was that the beast moved in the box and was practically standing on the plate, effectively putting the "outside fastball" right in his wheelhouse!
Consistency is the only thing that I think any reasonable player/coach/fan asks for from the ump. Once a zone is established, stick with it.
Bottom of 7 last week, ump suddenly stopped calling a certain location vs lefties a strike. Pitcher threw it 3 times in a row, all 3 called a ball. Those of us in the press box were staring at each other with mouths agape when those 3 pitches were called balls.
Next pitch is in just a hair, roped for a single to start the 1-out rally that ultimately won us the game.
My son’s games mostly started at 3:45. Most of the umpires were retired and 65-75. As a whole they we’re mediocre. You live with it and adapt. You don’t come back to the dugout with called thirds twice whining the pitches were two inches outside.
@JohnF posted:I hear many umpire associations are looking for new members - seems we have a couple volunteers here
Consistency is hard when your P gets lucky 1 out of every 5 pitches and it crosses the plate... Some have no idea where the ball is going when it leaves their hand - scary, huh? There are C's that don't help their P out by awful mechanics - snatching, rolling, falling. Damn you know a curve is coming don't freaking stand up!! There's far too many parents that believe it's where the C receives the ball that matters. I've seen C be > 4' behind the tip of the plate - go figure how hard that can be on an umpire!
A baseball is ~3" in diameter, the plate is 17" wide, there is supposed to be 6" between plate and outside edge/line of the batters box... If a bat averages 32" - there's a math quiz about reachability especially for 6' batter, but I agree a ball in the other box shouldn't be a strike... So it's not every umpire ;-)... Down the channel - sure it's possible. If the "true zone" was called *both ways* in every game, it'd probably a much longer game - is that what you want? Or do you want the strike zone as written only for your batter? It's not an exact science and there's so much that goes into it.
Not so in agreement with this: If the "true zone" was called *both ways* in every game, it'd probably a much longer game - is that what you want?"
IF the high strike and inside strike was called it would counter the issue with the outside strike. Just as many balls are called on those pitches as strikes are on the 6 inches off the plate... Sure, Amateur umpires, a ball or maybe 2 off the plate, sure, you're not perfect,,, but when you can tell an umpire just wants to go home, that's stinks.
The games now have 2 hour limits, I mean that's pretty short, so if it ends by time because pitchers can't throw strikes, who can complain.
I don't give umpires a hard time, ever... they get enough of that from too many coaches and players, maybe though if they called things straight up, there would be less hassle, cause they'd have the rule on their side. But maybe not, usually the times I've seen coaches ride an umpire it was mostly because they just did it on everything, half the time not knowing the rules themselves. I typically associate that with football coach mentality vs baseball coach. Umpires will talk with you over a call if you are civil, but too many just think if they ride the ump they'll get later calls, not likely. And parents, to them every call is wrong against them, it's pretty ridiculous.
As far as hitters, you are supposed to try and hit good pitches, sure sell out to get that 2 strike bad pitch, foul it off if you can, but when you go down 0-2 on pitches that you should not be swinging at, that's tough. Why would I swing at a 0-0 or 0-1 pitch that the best I can do with it is a weak grounder to second.
Again, not complaining about a bad umpire or call, just wanting to understand why it's so consistently called a strike, when It's so obviously not. What I'm hearing is it's an organizational attempt to shorten the games. My preference on that would be expand up and down, at least it's hit-able, especially now in HS nothing is ever called above the belt.
BTW, in North East... 6' is the anomaly