Umpire Qualifications

wossa.....I think this guy does a lot of our Legion games.

 

Maybelline mud pies for your face?

OK you win!!!!! Here is your prize.

 

In defense of Officials (of which I am a retired College Ump/Referee):

It amazes me the naivity of most fans. I just wish for one day the same standard of scrutiny could be applied to their job: unqualified critics looking over your shoulder using biased eyes to 2nd guess everything you do (even thought they don't have a flippin' clue about the rules).

I never worked w/ an Official who didn't care about getting the call right. Yea, we make mistakes. And yea, sometimes I get frustrated watching inept Officiating. But it's an honorable profession that is unjustly disrespected. But that's the nature of it....and we all know it. That's why during pre-game in lockerrooms, I always ended my talk: "For the next couple of hours, I only have 1 friend. I've got your backside. Let's give it the best we've got." And we did.

I smoke a stogie at the ball park (when permissable) for 2 reasons: #1 because I enjoy it. #2 because it gives me a reason to sit 100 feet from Parents.

 

Another point in defense of umps...

... is how many times (just to be honest) have you seen an umpire make a call which sets off one side of fans,,, but in actuality your standing there knowing that (while that umpire is catching heat), he actually made the correct call. Saw this happen just the other night.

The fact of the matter is that while some rookie umpires DO struggle with knowing most of the rules,,,, the fact is the average fan knows even less.

 

ump update

Baseball to Replace Umpires with Player Honor System
Faced with a scourge of umpires blowing calls in this year’s playoffs, baseball announced today that it will get rid of its umps before next season and replace them with a player honor system to call all balls, strikes and outs.
“It’s important that we address this problem of missed calls that are affecting the outcomes of games. The credibility of our game is on the line,” said commissioner Bud Selig. “It’s unfair to teams to play 162 regular season games only to see the umps make mistakes and decide who wins in the playoffs.”
But Selig said instant replay is not the answer
“Instant replay would destroy the sanctity and purity of the sport,” he said. “Baseball has never used technology in the past and won’t begin now. What our new player honor system does is take the sport back to its earliest roots – back when men played the game simply for the joy of it and policed themselves without umpires.” Baseball will phase in the new umpire-free honor system during spring training, with players taking complete control of games the week before the regular season begins. It is Selig’s hope that each major leaguer will take the new role very seriously.
“Everybody wants to win, of course, but this new honor system will not work unless the players are completely honest,” said Selig. “It’s my hope and expectation that they will be. If a first baseman’s foot comes off the bag, I expect him to say: ‘Gee, fellas. I made a mistake there and my foot briefly came out of contact with the bag just as the base runner stepped on it. So the he’s safe. But I sure will try to do better the next time though.’ Or if it seems like a batter has been hit by a pitch like the other night with Jermaine Dye, he’ll pipe up and admit it when the ball really struck his bat and not part of his body. Honesty and accountability will be imperative.”
The move has been embraced by many baseball purists.
“First with the designated hitter and then with the wildcard and then the steroids era, I thought baseball was ruined forever,” said broadcaster Bob Costas. “But this is the step in the right direction. Next they need to get rid of electronic scoreboards and catcher’s masks and everything else that wasn’t a part of baseball back when it began. It’s the American way.”
But others are quite skeptical.
“You know what? Screw baseball and screw Bud Selig,” said longtime umpire Babe Allen. “There’s no way this will work. Take somebody like David Ortiz who whines and complains about every call – you think he’s going to admit when the pitcher throws a strike by him? Right.”
Before the new player honor system is adopted, however, the players’ union must accept it, a move that seems likely under one condition.
“The players will happily accept the new umpire-free system,” said union chief Don Fehr, “provided the drug testing program also be replaced by an honor system. I think the players would really get behind that.”

 

I don't want to be no umpire.

But, I would imagine that most fans expect that umpires should:
be in a good position to make a good call (pay attention)
be obvious as to what your call is
be consistent with the strike zone for both team's pitchers
be in control of the game without being a tyrant
have some thick skin (no rabbit ears)
ask for help from your partner if you're not sure

Oh yeah, and don't be afraid to read the rule book (from time to time) before the game, and be willing to take continuing ed.

 

Can't give him too hard a time. At least he is reading up on the rule book.

 

Forgive me if this comes across as argumentative, but how do you know:
- if an umpire (working a 2 man crew) is in the 'right position'?
- when is it appropriate for an Umpire to ask his partner for help? (Do you want him to do that on every call? Every pitch?)
- if an umpire has a consistent strike zone? (Does that mean he never misses a call all game behind the plate? If not, how many missed calls define 'inconsistent'?)
- if an umpire has been studying his rulebook? Can you name occasions when they mis-applied a rule? (Rare)

Etc Etc I guess I'm asking: How do you measure an umpire? I'll answer that: His supervisor & the coaches are really the only ones qualified. And they do.

 

Well said UK7

 

Note answer above. I know we all look at things differant. I would be the first to say they have a hard job. And it is thankless. But, if you put yourself in a boat and head for the falls. Guess what you take you chances.