Attitude

06catcherdad,
Its a good question......but you got the information right from the Umpire in question right? If so, then he isnt someone I'd want as a partner. Now I can make that statement since I work 80% of my games with a regular partner, 10 percent youth games with my son as my partner and only 10% random assigned or games done single.

The one thing an Umpire has is reputation for being fair......and anytime an umpire admits to unethical behavior, it is reasonable to wonder what his motivation is in other situations.

If you did not get this information directly from the umpire himself, then as "hearsay", you'd have some doubt. But from your post, that isnt the case.

How would you approach your coach?, Im not sure, probably be difficult, but Im betting if this umpire admitted this to you, then the coaches know about him..........he's probably the guy who "speeds up" the game with a nose to toes zone, or evens up a missed call with a classic make up call.......Coaches know umpires pretty good.

PIAA, you described it right with your last comment. The tough thing is my kid will probably play in front of this guy multiple times this year and in coming years, and I hate to say it, but I'm really hesitant to mention it to anyone in our program. Everyone knows everybody around here, and I'm just worried about it getting back to the wrong people and my kid paying for it for a long time. I'm leaning toward just trying to forget about it, and enjoying the games this year. One thing though, I'll certainly be watching what goes on with this guy in the future. If I see something that doesn't make sense, maybe I'll approach the coach then. Thanks for your thoughts. Its nice to be able to bounce stuff like this off everyone here.

I can understand your reluctance. Part of me is just hoping that this umpire was just embellishing an experience he had with a scout. I know how I felt when a real MLB scout came and asked me about my opinion of a player. Pretty heady stuff. Now that was years ago.

But I have only been asked by scouts about players after games, never before. It's not a rule of course, but thats just the practice of the guys who have talked to me. It makes me think about this umpires experience.

I agree you should watch this guy this year....and if you see any improper behavior, I would support your going to your coach or his assignor or league. If you see nothing more than the usual missed call or judgement type disagreements, then I;d bet it was just some old fashioned bragging, which backfired.......good luck to your son this year........

Bump...

Based on what I see in the big leagues I'd have to say it doesn't mean much.

quote:

Originally posted by piaa_ump:

The one thing an Umpire has is reputation for being fair......and anytime an umpire admits to unethical behavior, ...........

No reason I can think of for such a debate, however you may have not wanted to use the term "respect" where the term 'competent' may fit...better.

Since the history of umpires may mirrors the distinctive eras and developments of the game of baseball itself, it's best to agree on what was that history before debating what is the best of terms to use.

Umpires, in the BIGinning, were regarded as villains by fans, adversarial autocrats by players, and invisible men by the press.

Traditionally, baseball umpires "have been submerged in the history of baseball like idiot children in a family album." (so I've read..)

Yet the umpire is baseball's indispensable man. Most can also agree, as an arbiter, he has transformed baseball from a recreational activity to a competitive sport and today, personifies the benchmark of professionalism in the integrity of modern game itself.

Regards
Bear