Matt, how can you say that I am spouting “stuff” that wasn’t said by you. You said, “Rules meetings once a year mean about as much in knowing what an umpire does as a visit to the ER means to a knowing what a doctor does.” I then posted that a coach’s perspective is based upon many more things than just one rules meeting per year. My perception from your statement was that umpiring requires a higher level of intelligence and can’t be understood by anyone other than an umpire. Your analogy was that as a coach I’d have as much knowledge of umpiring as I would have understanding what a Doctor does after visiting the emergency room. I didn’t make that up. To further make your point as to the higher level of training that is required to umpire you went on to say, “No one, and I mean no one, that has not done this can understand the ins-and-outs of both the art and science of this profession.” Again, not trying to put words into your mouth but responding to what you posted.
Jimmy, I think your position on that assistant is valid but I disagree in most cases that it would result in two ejections. I have to speak as to my experience for a few decades of coaching and both you and Matt have to respond as to your experience as umpires. Apparently they are not similar. What a shame.
This has been a great discussion. I hope that everyone reading has had a chance to read both perceptions and that the membership here has something to think about. Jimmy and Matt, THANKS!
quote:Originally posted by CoachB25:
Matt, how can you say that I am spouting “stuff” that wasn’t said by you. You said, “Rules meetings once a year mean about as much in knowing what an umpire does as a visit to the ER means to a knowing what a doctor does.” I then posted that a coach’s perspective is based upon many more things than just one rules meeting per year. My perception from your statement was that umpiring requires a higher level of intelligence and can’t be understood by anyone other than an umpire. Your analogy was that as a coach I’d have as much of umpiring as I would have understanding what a Doctor does after visiting the emergency room. I didn’t make that up. To further make your point as to the higher level of training that is required to umpire you went on to say, “No one, and I mean no one, that has not done this can understand the ins-and-outs of both the art and science of this profession.” Again, not trying to put words into your mouth but responding to what you posted.
Jimmy, I think your position on that assistant is valid but I disagree in most cases that it would result in two ejections. I have to speak as to my experience for a few decades of coaching and both you and Matt have to respond as to your experience as umpires. Apparently they are not similar. What a shame.
This has been a great discussion. I hope that everyone reading has had a chance to read both perceptions and that the membership here has something to think about. Jimmy and Matt, THANKS!
What you are saying here is different than what you said above, when you put words in my mouth. At no point was I comparing umpires to doctors--I was comparing other people's perceptions of the two. I also never said anything about coaches being clueless--I said that rules meetings are not sufficient to understand umpiring.
I would have you think about this. Jimmy and I both have a pretty decent background in umpiring. We have never met personally (AFAIK,) and we umpire(d) in different areas at different times. He's a bit older than me, so he has experience in the old school--experience that I don't have, being in my early 30s. The fact that the two of us are, essentially, telling you the same thing, coming from two different yet qualified backgrounds, should be an indicator that there may be something to what we say.
I don't think it's a big deal.
When an umpire takes control of a situation I don't see that as making himself visible. He's doing what's neccesary to maintain control over the game. When I see some jack@ss punching out twelve year olds like the umpire in the video, to me it screams, "Look at me!"
My personal experience is I've never seen the better umpires drawing attention to themselves with the way they make an out call.
My personal experience is I've never seen the better umpires drawing attention to themselves with the way they make an out call.
When I was a kid, the playground supervisor was the umpire. When we asked for a ruling, he never looked up from reading the paper, just made out or safe motion with one hand. 
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Ahhh, I remember those days...newspapers!
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Ahhh, I remember those days...newspapers!
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A trend that's bound to continue is starting. With the Times-Picayune discontinuing daily publishing New Orleans becomes the first major city without a daily newspaper. The T-C said focus will be on the content of the online daily.quote:Originally posted by gotwood4sale:
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Ahhh, I remember those days...newspapers!
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You know, you guys are probably arguing semantics.
Maybe the saying should be, 'A great umpire doesn't draw unneccisary attention to himself'.
There are times when an umpire has to insert himself into a game. Disputed plays, sometime obnoxious coaches and explanation of rules occur but the good umpires know that the game isn't there for them, they are there for the game.
Maybe the saying should be, 'A great umpire doesn't draw unneccisary attention to himself'.
There are times when an umpire has to insert himself into a game. Disputed plays, sometime obnoxious coaches and explanation of rules occur but the good umpires know that the game isn't there for them, they are there for the game.
This umpire definitely was way over the top and acts like a stooge on a punchout but I hardly think it'll ruin a kid's feelings as the article suggests.
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There must be something in that Tumwater out there in Washington...well said Wklink!
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There must be something in that Tumwater out there in Washington...well said Wklink!
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quote:Originally posted by mcmmccm:
I am sorry if little Johnny cries his eyes out on the way back to the dugout, but maybe he should have swung at the called third strike. Maybe next time he will be more aggressive at the plate and not wait for the umpire to award him first base.
I have not read any replies after your post so I have no idea if this has already been expressed.
Little Johnny is new to the game and the last thing anyone should want to do is turn him or his parents off to participating in the future.
Now before you assume I am some bleeding heart, keep in mind that we are talking age appropriate lessons that will be learned along the way(assuming the kids sticks with the game). I know of some kids that no longer play because a coach over did it at too young an age trying to man them up by tearing them down. That might be needed somewhere along the way, but not when they are in PeeWee ball.
As to it being more exciting for the parents, spectators, and pitcher I tend to agree.
However at that age most parents should be concentrating on their kids learning the fundamentals, and the game is just to gauge how well they are coming along. Granted it is fun for the kids and parents alike, but winning and losing at that age is not the most important thing.
In my view that ump was over the top to the point of being obnoxious. This was not a MLB game, nor do the umps in the majors even carry on to that degree.
BTW - I use to pitch and my son is currently a pitcher as well, so I know the extra boost you get when an ump rings up a batter.
Has anyone thought that maybe this kids like this ump and how he acts behind the plate?
When I was about 7 or 8, there was an ump who had a very exagerated strike three call. I remember clearly us laughing about it and actually smiling after being called out. It is one of my few memories from playing at that age.
He was also over the top on his safe/out calls at home. He usually had a pause before making the call and I remember sliding home one game and both me and the catcher staying frozen and looking up at him until he made the call. When he said very loudly and signaled safe, we both just busted out laughing.....
When I was about 7 or 8, there was an ump who had a very exagerated strike three call. I remember clearly us laughing about it and actually smiling after being called out. It is one of my few memories from playing at that age.
He was also over the top on his safe/out calls at home. He usually had a pause before making the call and I remember sliding home one game and both me and the catcher staying frozen and looking up at him until he made the call. When he said very loudly and signaled safe, we both just busted out laughing.....
I completely agree. My son pitches and he just needs to know the call. Seeing an umpire get his jollies by ringing up little (or big for that matter) kids makes my skin crawl.
quote:Originally posted by Vector:
In my view that ump was over the top to the point of being obnoxious. This was not a MLB game, nor do the umps in the majors even carry on to that degree.
I wouldn't be surprised, at all, if the batter does the same thing when he strikes out a complete stranger on xbox live.