The Decline of Umpiring

[radness]

There could also be #'s
used to compair how sb has grown by looking at not only travel ball,
1. How many more high schools there are that have softball teams.
2. How many more middle schools there are that have softball teams and games.
3. How many more colleges there are at all levels.
4. How many more city leagues do to new communities developed.

 

[Cannonball]

With the exception of 3 umpires, I rated the umpires we had in HS ball this year as high as possible. The 3 I didn't rate highly were due to various issues.

For one, at the pregame coach/umpire meeting, this umpire clearly stated that on this field, if the ball went beyond the temporary fence on the sides and the fielder continued to play the ball then that ball was in play. I made this clear to my left and right fielders. We were away and down in the game. Our #4 pulled a ball down the RF line and it went beyond the corner fence post. We had bases loaded. From the pregame discussion, my hitter was standing on 3rd and we scored 3 runs. NOPE. Two runners scored and one was called back. My hitter was told to go back to 2nd base. I politely, no joke, asked this umpire why and reminded him about how emphatic he was in the pre game about playing that type of ball. His answer was, "coach the ball went further than 20 feet past the corner post. 20 feet? I asked him where he came up with that. He started to get upset and so I told him I would not get thrown out of a game but he created his own rule after what was established in the pre game.

The second umpire wanted to be the show. Every strike he called was a show. The coach for the other team was constantly arguing balls and strikes and this show got even more dramatic. It reminded me of the scene from a movie where the umpire called a strike and then moon walked. No one knew what the strike zone was by the 2nd inning.

The third was an umpire who refused to let us take infield when we arrived at a game late. Our bus driver got lost and all we wanted was a brief time to play catch, field a ball or two and get my pitcher ready at the same time. I walked off of the bus, he demanded our meeting before I reached our dugout and then wanted the game started. By the 3rd inning I walked up to him and asked him what was wrong. His response in this time of COVID was, "I'm sick and need to get the game completed." I told him to get off the field if he is sick and reminded him that we are in a pandemic. He did leave the field.

I'd say that the quality of umpiring I witnessed this year was exceptional. In fact, I'd say that I rarely, if ever, had anything to say to any umpire. Again, I rated every other umpire exceptional.

 

[El Oso]

I am surprised that there is not more 18 to 25 year old umpires. In So Cal an ump makes minimum $50 per 1:20 DD game. Start at 8:00 am and finish at 5:00 (6 games). $300 tax free cash (mostly). That's pretty good money. Beat the crap out of working at Starbucks.

And, how is that? We are talking about TB and rec umpires, not NCAA D1 umps.

Ask him...................

 

[Rolling Hard]

Most umps in So Cal are paid $50 per game. Often they are 1:20 DD. Most games have only one ump.

 

[chinamigarden]

Are umpires’ skills declining? Or are more people videoing and posting examples of poor umping? I am of the opinion that good and bad umps have existed foe years. You just didn’t have the ability to see an ump from accross the country blow a call in some sub regional class C 10 U tourney until recently.

13 years ago I watched an ump call a ball on a pitch the batter swung at, I watched an ump consistently call strikes on pitches that bounced in the other batters box… I saw an ump blow 3 simple plays during a 2 inning stretch… all before videos on social media became a thing. I am sure I also saw 1000s of well called plays but who remembers that.

90% of the posters here probably weren’t involved in softball much longer then their current DD’s career. Hard to really say how good or bad things were prior.

 

[radness]

IF Society henpecking is so horrible then somewhere in the system needs to be an example set. How about no more pro coaches berrating and yelling at umpires and officials during games ... How about an announcement by all the head coaches and all colleges and all professional sports that they themselves will no longer display behaviors that have been inherent in professional sport since they began.

I'm just throwing this out here to possibly get the train back on the track

 

[BB875]

With the exception of 3 umpires, I rated the umpires we had in HS ball this year as high as possible. The 3 I didn't rate highly were due to various issues.

For one, at the pregame coach/umpire meeting, this umpire clearly stated that on this field, if the ball went beyond the temporary fence on the sides and the fielder continued to play the ball then that ball was in play. I made this clear to my left and right fielders. We were away and down in the game. Our #4 pulled a ball down the RF line and it went beyond the corner fence post. We had bases loaded. From the pregame discussion, my hitter was standing on 3rd and we scored 3 runs. NOPE. Two runners scored and one was called back. My hitter was told to go back to 2nd base. I politely, no joke, asked this umpire why and reminded him about how emphatic he was in the pre game about playing that type of ball. His answer was, "coach the ball went further than 20 feet past the corner post. 20 feet? I asked him where he came up with that. He started to get upset and so I told him I would not get thrown out of a game but he created his own rule after what was established in the pre game.

The second umpire wanted to be the show. Every strike he called was a show. The coach for the other team was constantly arguing balls and strikes and this show got even more dramatic. It reminded me of the scene from a movie where the umpire called a strike and then moon walked. No one knew what the strike zone was by the 2nd inning.

The third was an umpire who refused to let us take infield when we arrived at a game late. Our bus driver got lost and all we wanted was a brief time to play catch, field a ball or two and get my pitcher ready at the same time. I walked off of the bus, he demanded our meeting before I reached our dugout and then wanted the game started. By the 3rd inning I walked up to him and asked him what was wrong. His response in this time of COVID was, "I'm sick and need to get the game completed." I told him to get off the field if he is sick and reminded him that we are in a pandemic. He did leave the field.

I'd say that the quality of umpiring I witnessed this year was exceptional. In fact, I'd say that I rarely, if ever, had anything to say to any umpire. Again, I rated every other umpire exceptional.

Good observations. Most umps I work with ( I coach, they run the game) are great people that give so much for the game. I have also ran a few tournaments and really enjoy BS-ing with them between games.

 

[kennykozman!!]

We played in a PGF Showcase and one of the umps was 80 years old. Really, I asked him. Ump are getting older and older. I don't have the answers, just an observation. I fear for their safety.

I worked HS last year with 3 guys over 80 and I think every person over 50.

There are a few young guys but not enough to make up for the growing need

 

[kennykozman!!]

That's the funniest thing I've seen all day. Thanks for a good laugh!

The declining number of umpires in softball is no joke. Games get cancelled because of the shortage. We can all justify the problem away, but the fact is new umpires are not coming into the sport. I'm sure there are a multitude of reasons, but complaining won't solve the problem.

So, like we tell the kids, control what you can control. You want better umps? Pay more. You want better umps? Start tossing parents and coaches, and make it hurt. TDs need to let all the coaches/fans know that umpire abuse will hurt. Otherwise, its the same-old same-old.

Too many coaches and parents berating TEEN umps at the rec level. Ridiculous.

 

[kennykozman!!]

Honestly this narrative of "everyone yelling at umps is making them quit" is bogus IMO. i know quite a few umps and none of them, zero, have told me that they get hassled all the time, much less to the point where they want to quit. On the contrary, they all tell me they really enjoy umpiring. To a man.

You are flat out wrong. Why else would they quit? Hell even the real old guys that cant even brush the plate are still out there.

I know a handful of guys that were followed to their car by parents or coaches and that was the end.