What makes the perfect umpire?

[EdLovrich]

My answer hit the spot? By recognizing that umpires' judgments will differ based on the angle/distance they are from a play? Is your complaint about umpires that their judgment is different or that they are applying the rules differently? If it is the latter, a few examples would be helpful.

 

[Bullseye]

My answer hit the spot? By recognizing that umpires' judgments will differ based on the angle/distance they are from a play? Is your complaint about umpires that their judgment is different or that they are applying the rules differently? If it is the latter, a few examples would be helpful.

Not complaining.
You asked what is a perfect umpire.
From your own post you recognize there are multiple reasons how why umpires will interpret when how to apply the rules.
I do not think its an artsy canvas for the umpire.

 

[EdLovrich]

@Bullseye: You are correct, I asked for various input about what others think is the perfect umpire. I even asked if it was one who called the rules as written. I did not mean to have this thread become MY debate about which is better, but rather hear what you, the coaches and parents think. I will sit back and try to learn from the discussion you all have about which way is better.

 

[ANNASDAD]

For the perfect answer just read Westwind's #20 post, it pretty much sums it up!

 

[texasheat]

Pattar kind of nailed it in the first reply.

I like to see unshakeable professionalism.

That means not responding in any way to the fans and coaches baiting you into a reaction. Ignore 99% of what happens outside the white lines. It doesn’t matter.

Above- don’t let coaches bait you into their games. If you are going to tell them to knock it off, do it in a way that no one else can hear, face to face from a few feet away. When you do it by yelling from the field to the dugout, you are PLAYING THEIR GAME and there is an audience. He HAS to save face by keeping up with you. How can experienced umpires not understand this? Be patient. Fix it quietly when the time is right when you can speak quietly with lots of eye contact when there isn’t an audience for him/her to perform to.

I‘m not a fan of umpires chumming up to players. At. All. They are there to play, not make a new friend out of an adult. They are a captive audience. They laugh at your jokes because they have to. Related: don’t ever call a player “sweetheart“ or whatever men addressed women/girls in a 50’s movie. Do it to a female coach only if you want her to know you are a ignorant chauvinist pig.

Next: some coaches are jerks. That doesn’t mean the players are. Don‘t make a kid pay by shrinking the zone because you aren’t a big enough person to realize it isn’t the 12 year old players fault that her coach is an insecure twerp.

Quit acting like everything is an affront to your authority. If a coach comes out and wants to know why you made a call the way you did, you better be able to say why. If the coach wants to speak quietly face to face, explain it. He may not know the rule. This is your chance to educate the coach and explain why you did it. To some extent, in 2021, yes you DO have to explain yourself no matter how right you are. If you do this right, you will have to do this a lot less. If you screw it up, it will be once per inning.

Former. Player. Umpires....... We love you. We really do. But you gotta quit acting like you know everything just because you played college softball. Yes, you probably know more about the game than us poor old dads who are doing this for free because no one else was willing to do this. What nobody needs is you proving it every damn pitch. You have spent more time on a field than any of us. YOU HAVE NOTHING TO PROVE. Quit acting like you do! Act like you have been here before, because you have! Yes we know that coach reminds you of your 12u coach but quit making a spectacle of yourself!

The best umpires blend in. You don’t notice them. They aren’t trying to be noticed. People are usually there to see their kids. They aren’t there to see you and if you are being entertaining in any way, you are screwing up.

Very good post.

Ed. Pay attention to the bolded text..

 

[Westwind]

It’s a rough conversion of what I think a perfect police officer is, lol!

I’ve been unreasonably screamed at lots of times. Usually it’s because the person is having a really bad day that you didn’t actually have any role in causing. It started before you got there. And usually the person screaming is doing it because they are showing off for an audience.

The best umpires and cops know it isn’t personal.

All the world‘s indeed a stage and we are merely players. Performers and portrayers. Each another’s audience, etc, lol

 

[ANNASDAD]

All the world‘s indeed a stage and we are merely players. Performers and portrayers. Each another’s audience, etc, lol

I see what you did there!

 

[Tango]

I love interacting with umpires, always have. I've only ever had an issue with one particular ump who called TONS of our HS games, this guy was 6'8" tall and had a terrible time getting into position! If I had a dollar for every strike he called above Anna's head.....I'd probably have $70 or $80. He was a nice guy, just not a very good ump!

Just once at the coaches meeting at home plate, I'd love to hear the plate ump say "look guys, I'm a pitchers ump, I give a ball + off the plate, you better tell your girls to swing the bat!"

Take this with a grain of salt (being a pitcher's dad), the thing I hate probably more than anything is a ump that makes a girl throw the ball through a pie plate straight down the middle, it's dangerous for both pitchers, and a pretty good clue the ump doesn't have a clue!

Local guy if the ball stays between the the chalk I'm calling it a strike. LOL.

We have three good HS pitchers. One can't locate but has awesome spin on her curve ball (sometimes looks like rise), the other two locate very good. The kid that can't locate has become our ace, catcher will align outside and she will paint the inside corner. The other two if the catcher lines up inside and you hit the mitt it has been a ball all year. Odd.

 

[Westwind]

I see what you did there!

I knew you would! It’s so perfect...

There are times when people just need to “act” out a role because they need to perform in the real world in a way that doesn’t come natural to them.

 

[Strike2]

Knowledge, consistency, cordiality, and near-invisibility. All will have their quirks when it comes to judgement, but the best umpire calls the game without bringing attention to him or herself other than for being professional and acting like they're happy to be there.