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Online now: 2 members: Johnsr57, TABLE SETTER 11; 72 anonymousDiscussion: Vegas Umpires
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| Oct. 20, 2013 DaddysPestControl Men's 40 22 posts | Vegas Umpires What is the deal with some of these umpires in Las Vegas. They act like they don't really care to be there. I play on a 40 major team and our team was screwed twice. Once on Friday and again on Saturday. Our seeding game was over when the umpire called a ball hit a homerun when it landed 15 feet foul. As he walked off the field he told a man in the crowd "I was wrong but oh well it's time for lunch". That's crap!!!! In our elimination game we allowed the other team to hang around and that's our fault. We had a kid no more than 20 years old as a base umpire. A ball was hit out and our player climbed the wall and brought the ball back in and turned to throw the ball in, when he turned to throw he dropped the ball with his throwing hand. The kid never left the first base area to see the entire play and called it a dropped ball. The director even said he made the wrong call. Some thing needs to be done with these guys. Every umpire makes mistakes Its part of the game. But to have almost every team commenting on the poor calls made by them. We all pay a lot of money to play and just want the game to be called correctly. Please use the most experienced umpires in the biggest games. |
| Oct. 20, 2013 ShaneV Men's 55 393 posts | I apologize for the first one. The wind was blowing right to left at about 30 mph. Without the wind the ball would have been 30 feet foul. High fly ball clears the fence and is angling from foul to fair. I didn't get a great look at it as it landed because I was expecting it to be clearly foul, the wind fooled me. It may have been as much as 12 inches foul. Also there was a white line that appeared to go beyond the fence but actually was painted ON the fence. As you look at that white line standing on the foul line it would appear straight. From slightly foul that line angled toward foul territory, and was also a factor in what I saw. No excuses, I think I missed the call. I and most of the umpires "selected" to work the major tournaments do love the game and care first and foremost about the teams and players, and proving the best umpiring we can muster. I still work full-time but my life is dedicated to Senior Softball, in many ways, as a player, manager, umpire, tournament director, league director and advocate for the game. As you pointed out, I am human and I do make mistakes. Sorry Rancid, ShaneV |
| Oct. 20, 2013 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | ShaneV, Takes a good man to make an apologetic statement so publicly. I congratulate you. Too mad others at all levels can't do the same. |
| Oct. 20, 2013 JamesLG 420 posts | Shane: We all do make mistakes but many are not humble enough to admit it. Many people on this board don't know how much you do for senior softball here in the NW but those of us who benefit from it appreciate your efforts. I feel bad for the team that a missed call hurt but unfortunately it is part of playing any game. Hopefully you will get a break your way next year. Thanks: James |
| Oct. 21, 2013 stick8 1992 posts | Over the 20+ years I've umpired, officiated basketball I wager I've made thousands of bad calls. I'm 100% certain players & coaches would concur!! lol There is an old saying: "umpires aren't always right but their never wrong" |
| Oct. 21, 2013 ShaneV Men's 55 393 posts | And they're there for their love of the game! ShaneV |
| Oct. 21, 2013 stick8 1992 posts | Absolutely! At least I hope that's why they ump |
| Oct. 21, 2013 Pinky 13 posts | Fair or foul determined by where ball is when it clears the fence, not where it lands. |
| Oct. 21, 2013 lewis 49 posts | Pinky is correct it is where the ball is as it goes over the fence. Also you have to remember the only people being paid to be there are the umpires so they are suppose to be professionals or at least should try to earn the money they are being paid.Like hustling and being in the right position to make a calland lastly they need to be consitent so if nothing else we can adjust to them. |
| Oct. 22, 2013 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | That call can be tough, especially when the wind is blowing hard and the ball is curving as it goes over. The umpire calling it is 300 plus feet away. I've had a couple times I've actually discussed the call with an umpire I know as we watched a ball curving toward the pole. I'll never forget the look on one catcher's face as I convinced the umpire a ball was fair when it landed 20 feet foul over the fence. Lewis-were you in Santa Rosa with us a few years back when that umpire home teamed us on one I hit? The wind was blowing straight in from left about 35 miles per hour and I hit a ball high and probably 375. It went over the right field fence about 50 feet fair-almost right center, but the wind pushed it and it landed about a foot foul, across the parking lot. The umpire called it foul. |
| Oct. 22, 2013 paul0784 Men's 60 218 posts | Mark we had 2 this year in the EAST/WEST game. One went over the fence fair and landed about 3 ft foul and the umpire called it foul. Even the third baseman said it was fair. Believe it or not the other one hit the foul pole and again he called it foul. We got him to check with the other umpire finally and they got the right call on that one he changed to fair because the base umpire knew it hit the pole 3 ft over the chain link. I have to admit we had some umpires that were definitely there just for the money but we had a couple of great umpires one from CA and his name was Tommy and he did one of our bracket games by himself and he was all over the field. I remember him from the Worlds in 2011 in Phoenix and he was great then too. So I guess there are trade offs, some are good and some are a little less than good. |
| Oct. 22, 2013 garyheifner 649 posts | DPC You said something very important. Ump like you want to be there!!!! 2 years ago we had an ASA ump who was calling about a 6-9 foot arc. I said we play 6-12 arc. He said senior rules were stupid and we will be playing with whatever rules he wants. The TD must get across to all the umps that they signed on to use SSUSA rules. Just had a lady ump in the Huntsman games. She missed 3 calls against us and 2 against the opponents. We had to sit out a game and the next two teams teams to play were on her after only 1 inning. It is hard to contain the anger sometimes when you travel, spend a lot of $$ and all you just want is a good effort from the ump. |
| Oct. 22, 2013 jrd231 18 posts | Guys, I am not an umpire, but overall I think they do a real good job (some better than others). I do agree with garyheifner on one very important item. Make sure all umpires are enforcing the same rules. |
| Oct. 23, 2013 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | paul0784, I have played in games with Tommy umping and you are correct that he is a role model. I don't know how he has the energy for a whole day to run out on the field for every call at first and home, stay consistent, always in charge, never biased or argumentative. Makes you appreciate umps who love the game and try hard like him, even if they don't have his stamina. |
| Oct. 23, 2013 jrd231 18 posts | Omar, paul0784, Tommy has done several of our games in Nor Cal and you can not find a better one anywhere. He probably would not accept praise from any of us, but he knows that we know how good he does a each and every game. |
| Oct. 23, 2013 DaddysPestControl Men's 40 22 posts | Shayne V. Thank you for admitting you made a mistake. As I said before umpires do make mistakes and it's part of the game. I didn't mean to make it look like all umpires were bad. There are many very good umpires that respect the game and I could only hope that the other umpires learn from all you good ones!! |
| Oct. 27, 2013 TD. Tom 74 posts | I would like to know why so many umpires quit during the world tournament and left bracket games to be played 1 man..If you make the commitment of umpiring and quit you should not be able to ump for some time..Some of our ump's were very uptight and just wanted to get games over with and were really did not want to talk to any player or coach even if you had a valid beef.. If this tommy guys is so good was he in vegas? |
| Oct. 27, 2013 paul0784 Men's 60 218 posts | Evidently you didn't read my post TD. He was there and we were lucky to have him for two of our games. He is one of the best umpires we have had all year. Kind of like myself when I umpire. LOL All kidding aside he is a great umpire and we have had him in both of the Worlds we have been to in Phoenix and Las Vegas. Good job Tommy. |
| Nov. 4, 2013 lewis 49 posts | Webster, sorry just getting back from having both knees replaced and saw your post. I remember when that happened and if you recall we all said that he waited till the ball landed foul before he made the call. Louie |
| Nov. 4, 2013 stick8 1992 posts | TD.Tom I'm not certain if this will shed some light on your question or not. From what I understand (and I could be totally mistaken here) whoever scheduled the umpires for Vegas believes in scheduling them for only 3 or 4 games at a time and that's it for the day. Anything more than that they feel umps will get tired on their feet, won't hustle, get mentally tired--not concentrate and many times cop an attitude. Perhaps the last one could answer your question of why some wanted to get games over with quickly? |
| Nov. 4, 2013 paul0784 Men's 60 218 posts | Shanev how would I go about umpiring at one of the World tournaments or any tournament for that matter. How are you by the way? |
| Nov. 4, 2013 VINNY LV Men's 50 178 posts | there are plenty of umps in Vegas that wanted to work but SSUSA feels that the out of town umps deserve more games to cover their expenses of traveling to Las Vegas.. There fore when they did get stuck for umpires the guys in Vegas don't wanna work cause they werw not ask to work from the get go.. I know what the attitude is here cause I live here.. |
| Nov. 4, 2013 paul0784 Men's 60 218 posts | Then they should poll all the local guys first and then only bring enough out of town umps to fill the roster and be able to do all the games. Then maybe the LV umps could lose their egos and do the games when the director gets in a bind? |
