Umpires-Love them or Hate them

Lots of good points made here about what we would like to see in umpires. It's easy to pick out the ones that do a good job. Just like its easy to pick out which coaches do a good job with thier teams or programs. I love to see confident but not arrogant umpires. I appreciate umpires that will allow me to come out and get an explaination or at times argue/complain (I feel there is a time and a place to do this, both for yourself and your team).

Umpires and coaches are human. I do feel like that no matter how good my behavior is at times, umpires can take out their frustrations on teams due to the heckling and pressure they are getting from parents and other fans at the park. I try and understand that, but I still get very frustrated with them when I see this happening.

The one thing that I cannot stand (and this point has been made) is the baiting of coaches and players by an umpire or official. Umpires know the consequences for both coaches and players if they throw them out of the game. If i deserve it and don't shut up, toss me. But when I'm not sayig a word, leave me the heck alone. Here is a quick example.....

I went down to watch my brother-n-law in a HS football playoff game. The official had been getting some flack for some bad calls (pass interfernce on a ball thrown to no one, and then an inadvertant whistle on a big 4th down stop, which resulted in the play being run again). My brother-n-law tells me after the game that the official told him that he "had better stop looking at him, or he was gonna throw him out of the game" and "you shoudln't be upset with me, I'm not the one dropping passes and missing tackles".

There is no need for that and I'm sure most would agree.

 

One bad apple......

Officials that talk like that are really awful. Be professional no matter what.

 

My view...

I 'll fight like crazy for my team and players, but I have always told them no matter what, these guys(umpires) don't win or lose this ballagame for us. My main goal is to put my guys in a position to be successful and win. If my focus is on the umpire, their focus will be there as well. If that happens, we're screwed and probably won't perform. I learned this the hard way.

 

I remember him. Little guy. I'm sure we might have some more for him in the future if you know what I mean.

 

So, if we get six of those right, we might just get a pass on number 5?

 

Think back to sometime when you were at a game and the plate man was "stove piping" the pitchers. I bet you and everybody there were miserable, especially the pitchers and coaches. I think that most people will agree, unless your kid is batting, that the more strikes an umpire calls (within reason) the better.

THE PLATE IS 17 INCHES, YOU HAVE A 33 INCH BAT, NOBODY EVER GOT A SCHOLARSHIP OR DRAFTED CAUSE THEY CAN REALLY TAKE A WALK.

 

Perfect???

There is a saying in umpiring, don't know who to give the credit to, but anyway.
Umpiring is the only profession where you are expected to be perfect on the first day, and improve every day thereafter.

 

Yeah, I remember saying that. Thank you u-r-out. By the way, you have been gone far too long. Don't let that happen again or I'll sic Stretchy on you

 

i aree with all the above. especially the hustle to get into position one. don't be the show and DON'T CALL A GUY OUT FOR MISSING FIRST ON A HOMERUN.
had to throw that one in for you braves

 

I've been waiting for that one...right on cue Coach!

and I'll go on record in saying you are absolutely correct.