Lack of Quality Umpiring

:banginghe I have watched both Varsity and JV Baseball games over the last 4 weeks including scrimmage games in which rookie umpires are put in game situations and supposedly taught the correct positioning and interpretation of the rules. It hasn't worked. 2005 will, in my opinion, go down as the low mark in umpiring efficiency. Umpires showing up late or not showing up at all. Umpires reinventing strike zones when games get somewhat out of hand. Umpires not positioning themselves correctly to make outfield calls and in general a frightening lack of knowledge of the rules of the game as determined by the Natl Federation of State High School Assc. Umpires are paid (pretty well if I may say so), to call the game by the existing rules and not alter the rules in cases where teams are getting their cans kicked. It makes a mockery of the game and, in some cases, hurts the ballplayers who have been taught the correct rules and strike zones. I ask the umpires to STOP changing the rules. Its not the boys fault that the other team cant get them out and the umpire should not become a mechanism to help the other team.

 

Don't mean to pile on, but I have to agree. Saw a game Thursday where the home plate ump was calling anything 6-12" outside a strike. He was brutal to both teams. By the end of the game, kids were swinging at pitches they could barely see, much less hit.

The same ump was behind the plate Saturday but called a more realistic game - early on. He started getting wide again and called a pitch a strike that was very much outside. The coaches starting chirping a little. The next pitch went to the backstop it was so far outside. Strike two was called. The batter looked back and was told by the ump, "You better be swinging as long as your coaches are complaining". What kind of attitude is that?

What can be done?

 

I've been waiting

I have been waiting for someone to bring this to the table. I have also unmpired my share of games, and it really bothers me that a few umpires take it upon themselves to alter the course of a game. Most questionable calls center on the fact that some umpires are lazy and do not get proper position to make a call. Second, in a lot of cases close calls will go to the defense; " to keep the game moving" as I was told by one umpire association. This is bogus!
Umpires are there to call the game as best they can. They are paid to hustle, be in the correct position to make the accurate call.
Some have used the slang, "the ball beat him there". I do not think the rule has changed... you still have to physically tag a runner. In many cases that I have seen over that past 8 years, the umpires use any method available to "speed up the game". ie. wider strike zone, ball beats the runner ( tag or not), and the 6 foot rule. You know, even if a runner is 6 feet beyond the bag, he is still out.
These situations have gone for both sides. Yes, our teams have also reeped benefit from these bogus calls. All anyone can ask, is that the game be played on its own merit and not influenced by an outside party.
It is sad to see the bat taken out of kids hands, because they are forced to swing at pitches 6" off the ground and 12-14" off the outside part of the plate.
This is not baseball. The only ones hurt by this are the players.

All of us will agree that this does not apply to all umpires. Majority perform their duties extremely well. I commend those that stick it out and work hard at this craft. It is a difficult and thankless job. But, these gentleman are paid well for a service. I ask that this service be performed with the utmost integrity and best possible accuracy. Let the boys, (and girls) play.

 

I guess we have been blessed this year. The umpires I have witnessed have been great. Of course, we have not been exposed to the "rookies'. But the one's I have seen have worked hard and tried to make the right call...and that's all you can ask for.

and being a father of a pitcher I may be a little biased, but I haven't run across that umpire with a large strike zone, yet. I hope he hurries up

 

Absolutely!

It's like I have had to tell me players many at times down the 3rd Base box..."It'S LIKE SWINGIN IN THE DARK UP THERE!" Geeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez have a clue blue :imagestor :banginghe

 

I must say that we have been fortunate this year to have had very good umps in all our games. Now let me preface that somewhat. There are some in our local association that are absolutely terrible. One in particular, that can't wait til the game is over to get to the cooler in the back of his truck. We have just had a group of good ones assigned to our games so far. I like a "pitchers ump" myself but he must be consistent. I have found that field positioning is done better by the younger umps that seem to get from station to station quicker. Experience does not always translate into good umpiring. I have found that I am not hollaring "come on blue" near as much as past years. But then Wednesday is another game.

 

Being a umpire in a high school level game is a very demanding job. You cant please everyone with that strike three call 2 or 3 inches off the plate. I have alot of respect for them just for showing up and giving their time to do this. Dont get me wrong, there are terrible one's that just look like they don't care and then there are the one's that take pride in what they are doing and try their best to make the accurate call. As a pitcher, I am not going to complain one bit with a umpire giving me a good 3 to 4 inches off the plate, thats where I will stay the whole night if it becomes that way. The umpire's I have a problem with are the one's who have a strike zone the size of a tea cup. I dont mind being squeezed at all, in fact, at times, it helps to make me focus more and understand that I need to hit a spot. But when your catcher is set up for a outside spot and the umpire is sitting inside and thinks that is too far off of the plate, that is when the difficulties set in and you realize that you wont be recieving many of those tonight. With the quality of a umpire usually comes the age too. Over the years I have been able to have a couple with knowledge of the game who have played before and are not just coming out for the money. They are doing this because they love the game and want to stay in it some how. As a pitcher, i would recommend getting to know your umpire that game. In fact, just getting to know them before the game, talk with them, joke around with them, it not only help's you out but it help's out the team, too. Call's will lean your way. Always be understanding, dont show emotion when the call does not go your way. Umpire's are not perfect.

 

I saw that in a game a couple of weeks ago. This umpire was consistent but WRONG. Make the pitcher at least hit a portion of the plate. This same umpire also lost track of the count on one batter that should have walked and K'd him. He wouldn't listen to the appeals. He also called several strikes that bounced to the plate. His buddy in the field wore ear muffs and was generally out of position to make the calls in the field. One very poorly officiated game.

Now I'll be the first to say that umpiring is very difficult and demanding. That they can catch a lot of undeserved grief. Therefore, I have a lot of respect for the good ones and the ones that try. But the ones that don't call the game by the rules, or change the strike zone because of the situation, or just don't care - I wish they would just get out of the game.

 

The quality of umpires I've seen so far this year leaves alot to be desired. It's not hard to be consistent with a decent strike zone, but pitches 6-12 inches off the plate and strikes called under your chin (on 6-foot plus players) give me a break. I don't buy this hard job excuse. Everyone has a hard job. These umps are paid very well for the 2-21/2 hrs of work they do. I've seen players swing at pitches they shouldn't consider swinging at because they don't know where the zone is! I was told by one player that an umps comment on making a bad call was " boy I missed that one, hope I won't do it on the next one". At a 4A level we should expect better officiating and something needs to be done about it.