- May 29, 2015
- 4,057
- 113
Overall, a very weird day for umps. Anyone else experience anything similar?
You mean old (age) and new (experience) umpires? Or do you mean too many games being played and not enough umpires? Or do you mean expecting an MLB/D1 level umpire for your local 12u league?
I know you are "just venting" but so am I.
All umpires have to start somewhere. We are NOT good when we start. Neither are you as a coach nor are your players. Just like you, we need practice and repetitions. Unlike you, we can't just "go practice." Yes, there are things we can do, and yes, many umpires don't do those things. The surest way to make sure a person doesn't make it as an umpire is to expect perfection every time and to let them know your opinion on every call.
Here is what I want you to do: stop hiring them. They continue to work because they continue to get work. Don't hire them. Although, that also means being willing to not play your game.
Re: pitchers not getting strike calls . . . Pitchers should not be throwing every pitch IN the strike zone. Pitchers should be throwing pitches that, as @Vertigo said, get hitters to swing. If your 12u local pitcher has the movement and control that you state, you shouldn't be needing strikes called.
The strike zone is a reference point. It isn't the end zone in football. It isn't the goal. Not all good pitches are strikes; not all strikes are good pitches; not all balls are bad pitches; and not all bad pitches are balls.