You Get What You Pay For

Over the weekend I worked the Iowa Games, volunteering my time to umpire a 10 year old tournament game. None of the umpires there were being paid - teams were responsible for getting two umpires to umpire one game. There was no requirement for the umpires, the only thing they needed was a basic understanding of baseball. 

When I went down to the fields, I noticed that that is exactly what teams brought; random fathers or people to umpire a game. Nothing wrong with that, if that was all that was requested. But then I started talking to people who saw that I was certified and the only person who looked official. They were telling me how poorly some of the umpires were calling games. Heck, even the guy I worked with missed some pretty blatant calls in the field.

However, how can anybody complain when the only requirement was to have a basic baseball knowledge?? You aren't paying these guys to work a game, so you are going to end up with some bums who will be out of position and not know what to look for. I'm sure this wasn't the case for everyone, but it's quite possible when the only person certified was me. People need to chill out - these are 10 year olds and when you aren't paying umpires, you are going to get poorly called games. Don't be so surprised when Johnny Fat Ass isn't at 3rd to make the call and blows the call. If you wanted a better game, then pay the umps - until then, you can't complain.

Blown Call by Me

I remember early in my career when I really blew a call. I was in my fourth or fifth year at the time, and still was trying to get a grasp on all of the rules.

It was in the middle of the game, one out, with a runner on 3rd base. The batter hit a soft grounder just in front of home plate and started off to first base. The catcher quickly grabbed the ball and threw towards first. The runner from 3rd ran towards home, assuming he would be able to score before the throw came back to home. The batter/runner knew the catcher was going to try and throw him out, and decided to jump in the air. Very blatantly, he threw both of his hands in the air trying to block to throw. 

I called the batter out and then I also called out the runner from third out for the interference. My logic at the time was that the batter prevented a possible double play from occurring. The coach immediately came out wanting an explanation how I could call both the batter and the runner out. Obviously my explanation was pretty pitiful, and at the time, I was still pretty intimidated by the coaches, especially when I was only 16 at the time. The conversation lasted for several minutes and I stood by my call.

Once I got home, I looked in the rule book and talked to other umpires and found I had blown the call. I should have only called out the batter/runner and returned the runner to 3rd. I have never seen a play like that since then, but though I blew that call, I learned (the hard way) a rule which I should have known from the beginning. 

Poorly Run Little Leagues

Where to begin, where to begin...I guess I will start with tonight. I was scheduled to umpire a game in central Iowa where there are only four fields. 2 of those fields are for t-ball and do not require an umpire. The other 2 are for 12 year old baseball games. When I arrived at the fields 30 minutes before game time, both fields already had umpires and the games had already started. I was scheduled for a 6pm game, as was the other umpire who arrived to find that his field was double-booked as well. The other umpire called our assigner "Fred", who said that apparently these were make-up games.

When I returned to my car, I called Fred and asked what happened. He said that he was on vacation and did not have the schedule memorized. I said that I understood that and explained the situation. Fred's response: "Huh...I'm not sure what to say. Sorry about that." Really? That's the best you can say? Good thing this game wasn't one where I had to drive 40 minutes to get to, or I would have been really mad. I would have understood if this was the first time this had happened (disregarding the lack of care in Fred's voice.) Screw-ups happen. But this isn't the first time this has happened. Last week when I was working for the same league, Fred apparently double booked my field. Fortunately, there was another field there that had no umpire, so I still had a game to work. Clearly there was no communication between Fred and the league commissioner, because he was asking if I had the field, or if he was going to have to umpire. He didn't even know an umpire was supposed to be there!

Obviously, this league has major issues. There is little to no communication it seems between the umpire assigner and the league commissioner once the season has started. The league uses non-certified umpires, guys who come to work in jeans and a blue shirt (don't get me started again). It's no wonder why I hear constant complaints from co-workers whose kids are in the league about the umpires. The umps sit behind home plate, never removing their masks. The league provides 0 new game balls, and you have to hope to find one in an empty laundry basket in a shed. The least they could do was have new balls and have someone teach their umps some basic mechanics!


Another thing - since when is the umpire the butler? Iowa is the only place where I have to take the score sheet or pitching sheet back to the concession stand in order to get paid. It's bad enough that the umpires are not paid until after the games, but when you have to wait for the coaches (who if you are lucky enough hated you throughout the game) to get score sheets, then it's just ridiculous. Also, the umpire is not responsible for grabbing game balls - that's the coaches' job. Not ours. I'm getting really tired of some things in these leagues - it really makes me appreciate the way things were run in Ohio. The assigners were fair and understanding, and you never felt like you were screwed as long as you showed some empathy and were respectful towards your assigner. 


Get with it Iowa! I have seen enough bad umpires this year that it makes me happy when I get to work by myself. I don't have a huge ego, but I know I am a good umpire. Not the best, or else I would be doing higher level games. I know that I am better than a lot of these other guys who represent the rest of us.

Best Game of the Year...So Far...

It's pretty sad that the best game I have seen this summer was a 12 year old rec game. Both teams were held scoreless in this 6 inning battle royal through the 3rd inning. The pitching duel kept the parents and coaches mesmerized during this city league semi-final game - the winner advancing the the city championship.

I have to mention first that I got another great opportunity to umpire with a Lump (see earlier post.) He was a nice guy and understood the rules (not that there were any controversies), but he never seemed to be in good position to make a call. One reason is that he really didn't move much to put himself in position to make a good call. There was only one close call, and that was at first base in the final inning with the home team down one run. The other reason though is the insistence by the league's officials to have the field umpires stand behind the players, instead of in front of them, which you are supposed to do for high school games. Their reasoning - the fields are small and we don't want the umps to get hurt. Last I checked, this wasn't a softball game and being practically out in center field doesn't help you make a good call at 3rd base. If I was out there, I would have said screw them and put myself in proper position in the infield.

The game, surprisingly, had very good pitching from both teams, and most defensive plays were made. I was quite impressed, especially when the 16 year-olds cannot seem to manage a lot of these fundamentals. The game ended in a 2-1 win for the visiting team on what seemed to be the 15th strikeout of the evening. Game time - 1 hour and 20 minutes, a very nice, short game.

The only downside though was that the umps were only paid $25. I don't care what age they are, and especially when I am driving 50 miles round trip to work this game, I want $40. Last time I do a game on the "little fields" out there...it's not enough money for my time and gas expenses. All in all though, it was nice seeing the kids enjoying the game, playing well and not having to see a bunch of fat "husky" kids who are too big for their age.

Time to Get in Shape

We all have come across this umpire on the field - huge gut, doesn't move much. Maybe even the guy who isn't so big, but is too lazy to move himself from behind the plate. I know, I have already alluded to this topic in prior postings, but I have not actually focused primarily on the Lump (large, lazy umpire). 

Several years ago while working in Ohio, I worked a game with a massive Lump. He was probably 6'6" and weighted more than 350 pounds. The guy would sweat through his entire uniform by the end of the 2nd inning. To keep himself hydrated, he required a gallon of water each game. Honestly, it was disgusting. He was an average umpire to say the least, but his massive butt rarely came out from behind home plate.

Lumps come in different varieties - you have the fatties, the bums who don't move, or the guys who are too old to move. I understand that there are guys who umpire for the love of the game, but they are doing a disservice to the players once they can no longer make a good angle on a play because their muscles don't work the same as they did when they were 30. It's okay to retire, because then you leave the game with your dignity in tact. You still have the respect of your fellow umpires. Unfortunately, they disregard this, and end up falling down the ranks of quality umpires.

Then you have the other breed - guys who can call one hell of a game while lounging behind home plate. I'm not sure how you can make a call at 2nd base when you are parked behind home plate, especially when there is no play at home (assuming you are working alone.) Heaven forbid the guy makes an attempt to be in position to make the call. This even happens when there are two guys working together and the base ump makes little attempt to be in position. Though this may not be issue for other umpires personally, it makes the rest of us look bad.

Though we cannot control the actions of our fellow umpires, we can control our own. If it requires us to work out twice a week to stay in shape, then so be it. This may require doing leg presses so we can build our stamina behind the plate for our tired legs, or even just running on the treadmill. In the end though, the appearance and abilities of other officials have an impact on all of us. Lumps give coaches and players the idea that all of us give forth little effort, even if it is just a small handful of those who are guilty. Get in position, hustle, and lay off the bag of chips fatty.

Consider the Age Group When Making a Call

When we are working little league games, it is important to take into consideration the level of play as well as the age of the players. Have you ever worked a game with another umpire who calls a high school strike zone or is very strict about balk calls during a 12 year old rec game? I understand that it is important to enforce the rules at all ages, but it is still important that the players have fun while they are on the field. Some players may be learning how to deal with runners leading off for the first time. Some batters are still afraid of the ball and they don't swing. Pitchers are still learning how to find the strike zone. 

While working younger kids, say for instance 10 year olds, you can't make your strike zone halfway between the belt and the armpits to the bottom of the knees. I don't care if the team is a tournament team. A lot of pitchers are never going to hit that zone. I'm not saying that my strike zone is the greatest either - I don't give much leniency on the corners (unless the ball hits the corner), but I don't give one to two inches either off the plate. I do, however, call as high as the armpits to the bottom of the knees. I think that coaches appreciate this more, since most of them want their players to swing. The only way they are going to swing is if you are calling more strikes than balls. Plus, those are pitches the players can still hit.

When working 14 year old rec teams, most of the players ones who couldn't make an AAU or travel team, so they still aren't very good. At the same time though, the zone has to become smaller. My zone shrinks from the armpits to "nipples to the knees." Once again, not saying this is the best or most efficient zone, but I have had few problems with it from coaches, players or parents. 

Another issue I have noticed are some umpires who see slight movements from younger pitchers who are just learning to watch lead off runners. If they slightly move without trying to deceive the runners, I typically won't call the balk, even if the coach starts to shout. If it is very obvious though, such as a turn of the shoulders, I have to call the balk. From there, it's important for the umpire to instruct the pitcher what he did wrong. If you don't tell him, he will never learn and will do it again. Same goes for pitchers who don't come to a complete stop when coming set. This seems to be a more prevalent problem over the past several years. If you quietly reminder the pitcher to pause, without calling the balk first, you may be able to nip the problem immediately.

My point is that not all players are on the same level as their peers, especially if you are comparing rec teams to travel teams. I won't ever criticize an umpire's zone or tactics to him, unless he asks for help or critiquing. It's important though to remember how old the players are and what level they are playing - keep the game fun and relaxing, while making sure the players develop and maintain the integrity of the game. Not only is that the job of the coach, but it is also the job of the umpire. 

Are Umpires Paid Too Much?

Let me just say this - as an umpire for the past several years, I have seen several pay increases per game. When I first started umping, before I was certified, I was making about $25 per game. Once I was certified, we made $40 per game, which was then upgraded to $45, then in some cases, to $50 per game. To umpire a little league baseball game, $50 is pretty excessive; even I can admit that.

One of the main complaints back home in Northeast Ohio was from umpires who felt that they were underpaid. They compared themselves to associations in New York and Florida, where umpires were paid as much as $60 per game. To do an eleven year game, $50 is excessive, especially when there is a 2 hour time limit in place and they only play 6 innings. Many games wouldn't even last the full two hours, so umpires would be making more than $25 per hour. Either way, it was a pretty sweet gig. When you are in high school and college, there is no reason to work another job - just umpire baseball and you can come away with $3000+ from the summer.

Though we were paid more, this led to several things happening: more games were being scheduled with only one umpire instead of two since we were asking for too much money. This obviously leads to less games available to work. Teams also started increasing the run rules from 10 runs to 12, then to 15. Many leagues also began eliminating time limits, so you could have games that last 3 hours long. There is no reason for a 7 inning game to last 3 hours, but, it happens. Some of us were willing to take a pay cut down to $40 if we could get a 2nd umpire on the field.

When you only have one umpire on the field, typically you get guys who are out of shape, or may even be fat slobs who need to retire. They don't hustle towards the plays and barely move from behind home plate. They just don't give much of an effort - their way of saying "Go hire a 2nd umpire." Not a very good tactic if you want people to get off your back about your lousy calls at 1st. 

In Iowa, games have time limits no longer than 110 minutes and they pay umpires $40 per game. There may be one ump, there may be two. I have to say though, that is a pretty sweet deal. A less than two hour game and getting paid fairly. For me, I'm driving from Ames to anywhere in Des Moines for many games, so that's a lot in gas money. In the end though, it's still worth it. If I have a $30 game in Ames, I'm still making more money, because I'm saving myself 1.5 hours round trip of driving, along with saving gas. 

My point is this - there is no reason to pay an umpire $50 to work a little league baseball game. Some of the local associations seem to be pushing towards this, and I know that it will not turn out the way they want it to. Based on the quality umpire you get and the fact that its little league, there is no reason to jack up the rates. 

I Left Work Early to Coach My Son's Team

A tough 3rd inning for Jimmy as he throws his 8th walk of the night. He seems to be really letting down his 10 year old teammates. But wait - they don't care - since most of them just can't wait to either go home or get some candy from the snack bar. Jimmy hurls another pitch and it is just high as it bounces off the top of the backstop. Ball four - the 9th walk of the game. "Arrrgghhhh!!! Where was that one blue?!?" bellows the coach. This isn't his first complaint - he has been on a role since the 1st inning. Miraculously, Bobby Catcher throws out the truck of a runner Tommy as he tries to steal 2nd to snag the 3rd out.


In between innings, the coach makes another comment about my strike zone. I walk over to the coach in the dugout, and say to him, "Coach, if you don't stop right now, I will throw you out of the game. Have you ever been thrown out of a 10 year old baseball game because you can't handle your emotions? I'm pretty sure you don't want that to happen." From then on, Coach Loudmouth kept his mouth shut the rest of the night.

Coach Loudmouth is just one of many coaches who volunteer their time to coach their kid's baseball team. Nothing wrong with it, especially since somebody has to do it. But when you are focusing on the lineup and where you will be positioning your bench players the next inning, don't start barking at the umpire. Let me just say this - the more you bitch about the strike zone, the larger the zone is going to become for your players. The coach acts like I care who wins the game - trust me, I could care less, as long as the game is smooth and quick. But If you decide to harp on me about my zone during a ten year old game, I am going to widen it even more. These kids don't get the high school strike zone - they get the zone that is from armpits to the bottom of your knees. Swing the bat, because Mommy and Daddy aren't there to watch you look at pitches. They want a reason to cheer for you.

One more thing about Coach Loudmouth - when you have your butt parked in the dugout and I call the other team's runner safe because your fielder missed the tag, don't come storming out to the field ranting and raving that he was clearly out. This goes back to a prior post, but I feel that it is relevant to bring it up again. Yesterday was a great example - I'm umping a 9 year old game and there's a close play at first. The visiting team is already getting blown out. A close play at first and I call out the runner of the losing team. The coach hollers: "Are you serious?!?" My response: "Yes I'm serious." That shut him up - something nice and simple. Why don't you take that can of tobacco out of your back pocket, put it in your mouth, and focus on teaching your players fundamentals? 

Every one of us has had a long day at work and we are hear watching a little league baseball game. You have two jobs to do as a coach for kids this age - teach them the fundamentals of the game and make sure they have fun. Bitching to the umpire is not of those responsibilities, so keep your trap shut.

Did I Forget What Age I Was Umping?

Johnny Pitcher situates himself on the mound - a bit of a little foot dance to find where he will stand on the rubber. Johnny checks the runner on 1st, who is waving to his mom in the stands. Billy Batter nervously steps into the batters' box, barely having a grip on the bat. Johnny comes set, picks his nose, then hurls a wicked 20 mile-per-hour fastball. Billy tries to swat at the ball and misses. "SSSSTTTTEEEEERRRRIIIKKKKKKEEEEE THHRRREEEEE!!!!" The umpire screams. And Johnny gets his 7 year-old Ames Yankees teammates out of the inning. 

This is just one type of umpire you see on the field. He pretends like he is working a high school baseball game and overreacts on all pitches thrown. I hate to tell him this, but he looks ridiculous ringing up the kid with the right hand pulling back like he's trying to start a chainsaw. Not only that, but he dresses very unprofessionally. I don't care that it is little league. You don't go out on the field with your hat turned backwards under your mask, while wearing jeans and a light blue polo shirt. Last time I checked, I didn't see the ghost of Walter Matthau or Billy Bob Thornton in the dugout, so you aren't umping a Bad News Bears game.

 

Then you have the other umpire working the 14 year old game. He is definitely dressed for success - hat turned backwards and what looks like black capris. Clearly, he is not suited for a game like that. 

But let's not forget the other side of the spectrum. You have a 28 year old Seth Rogan working a 13 year old tournament game dressed like he working a World Series game. I swore I thought at first it was Jim Joyce, but then I saw it was just an overweight college dropout drenched in his own sweat after working a tough 7 innings on a cloudy day. There is no reason to wear a black shirt and diversify yourself from the other umpires who are wearing blue. If one of us looks stupid, it makes the rest of us look stupid. We don't need to have shirts with colors of the rainbow. None of us are working big time games here, so don't overdress. I didn't have to think I would need to criticize other umpires, but when we look so unprofessional, many of us shouldn't wonder why the parents and coaches are so quick to complain about calls they don't like.

I Can Call a Better Game From the Stands!

Runner on 2nd base and I'm the field umpire over by 2nd. The pitcher throws a strike and the catcher looks down to 2nd and sees how far off the runner is from the bag. The catcher fires the ball over to the shortstop who is covering 2nd. The runner finally becomes aware of what is going on and runs back to 2nd and tries to avoid the ensuing tag by the shortstop. The shortstop is slightly out of position, so when he makes the sweep tag to tag out the runner, he misses the runner and the runner slides back safely. I call the runner safe just as the parents are celebrating their big out. From their, they freak out. "What?!?!? How can you call him safe??? You gave that inning to them!!" Of course, this quote becomes more relevant when that runner goes on the score instead of being the 3rd out of the inning.

Here's the problem with parents and coaches - they complain about calls they don't like and feel they have a better vantage point from 100 feet away than the umpire who is less than 5 feet away and has a better angle. I didn't realize that they had such a good angle on the play! My dad, who is also an umpire, decided not to put up with this. After listening to a coach complain about his strike zone for several innings, my dad went over and stood next to the coach and started the inning. The coach said, "wait, aren't you going to go behind home plate??" My dad's response: "Clearly you have a better angle than I do, so I figured I will just make the calls from here." 

If parents and coaches can call the game so much better from the stands or dugout, maybe we should just join them there. Instead of me hanging out by second base and being within 3 feet of a play, I will just join the parents in the stands and call the game while eating a hot dog and drinking a beer. Obviously they have the better angle. My point is, complain and moan all you want, but when we are within spitting distance of the play, and you are comfortably sitting in your lawn chair watching the game, I'm pretty sure we will have the better vantage point of the plays going on. If this wasn't the case, then assigners would only ask for one umpire, and he would park his fat butt behind home plate and never move any further than 2 feet in front of the plate. 

I get tired of the bitching and complaining, so a few years ago, I told a coach who for two innings complained about my strike zone in between innings, "Coach if you don't stop right now, I will eject you from the game. And I'm pretty sure you don't want to be thrown out of an eleven-year-old little league game." Not everyone will agree with our calls, and sometimes our calls may be incorrect. But let me say this - as long as we are in position to make the right call, we have a much better chance of calling it right than the parents who are lounging out behind the fences.