I thought this was a very good and informative topic. I will comment on a few things. 1. Umpires are human. We agree. I tell youth coaches that if a Major League Baseball umpire who works / trains year around can make a mistake, then they should temper their expectations at the youth level. If a MLB umpire can make a mistake, don't expect a youth umpire to be perfect. The baseball umpire is the only job that people expect the umpire to be perfect and improve on that. 2. Well said on the culture starting at the top and filtering down on the team level. The umpire is not removed from this equation though. How we approach the game can have an effect on any team. First impressions mean everything. Arrival time. I am usually 30-45 minutes ahead of game time and I do a quick walk of the field if I haven't worked it before or if I have then I make sure the Managers both know I am there. No coach wants to be standing at the plate at game time with the umpire just walking on to the field. Uniform not wrinkled or dirty, don't look like you just crawled out of bed. Shoes shined (works for first game of the day anyways, later on.....well fields aren't quite clean you know). Short and friendly plate meeting "Good morning coaches. My name is {state name and partners name}. We have a 2 hour no new inning time limit but will finish the final inning. 15 in 3, 10 in 4, 8 in 5 run rules. Balls / Strikes, Fair / Foul, Safe / Out are judgment calls. If you have a question about anything else, ask for time and when granted approach the umpire that made the call. If necessary we will confer and make a ruling. Good luck to you. Let's show these boys a good time today. Clock is now running, take the field." I can do this with a smile on my face in about 1 minute. A good first impression makes a difference in how coaches / parents perceive you. Likewise, coaches are making that same first impression at the plate. One thing no umpire wants to hear is "No worries, we aren't that team." or "You won't have any problems with us blue". 9 out of 10 times, that is the team that there will be a problem with at some point that day. 3. Expanding on 2. Early arrival, be seen, uniform sharp, pleasant demeanor. When coaches and parents see this, they are much more at ease when there is a close call. You may still hear the "oooh" but it is short lived. I can't tell you how many teams ask me to come back or hire me on the side for non schedule games as a result. 4. We are not there to throw anyone out of games. If I have a pitcher reacting to my calls (usually a verbal or physical shoulder shrug or arm wave) I am likely sending the catcher out to the mound to give an unofficial warning. That usually does the trick on it's own. But jump on it between innings. A little harder to do with a batter. I agree with your manner in approaching. I don't mind telling where I see the pitch. Catcher already knows. Anything close is a "BALL!!" for all and a lower "Little outside" for the catcher. That's just how I work. Had a coach argue vehemently with a partner once. I had to separate my partner back to the plate and the coach back to his bucket with a warning. Very next pitch I was in C position just to the SS side of the mound. Pitch belt high right down the middle. "BALL!" was the call. I knew my partner was sending a message. Coach asked his catcher then put his head between his legs. Not something I would do, but I knew where my partner was coming from. 5. For me, you can be as nice as you want or as mean as you want. I call the game the same way. How I see it. With that said. If you show respect you are correct. You will get respect. You are likely to get a good explanation on a call and open discussion. I am always willing to hear a respectful coach out and consider the play in regards to rules or confer with my partner on something like a pulled foot, etc. Now coach wants to come out stomping his feet and waving his arms, he isn't likely going to get the same response. I may let him voice his complaint and send him back with no discussion. "I don't need help with that coach, my call stands". 6. I and no umpire no matter how good we may be is perfect. You are correct, there are some that are just not good umpires. Most assignors try to put the best umpires on the older age groups and more important games (or games with a known team / coach issue). The younger kids tend to get the less experienced or less quality umpires. With games going un-covered, sometimes you have to take what you get. And you are right. It won't do any good with that bad umpire to make a scene. Nothing is going to change and it may get worse. 7. Umpires hustle on the field. We have to read plays and take the best possible position to make the call on the play or possibly multiple calls. An umpire not hustling is an issue. I did a 15u travel game 104 degrees off the field. 4 innings into the 4th game of the day of 5 total (first 3 I was on plate, this one in the field with an older partner), my partner suddenly walks to the first base dugout and was clearly done for the day. With no reserve umpires available from other fields (we had multiple heat casualties that day) I suited back up for plate despite still recovering myself from my first 3 on plate and finished the final inning and a half of that game before time limit. Next game I was still solo. I ran out on fly balls and trailed base hits up the line with no runners on. 2 innings into the 5th game I was walking back with arms hung barely holding on to my mask. This is where first impressions and hustle comes into play. Both coaches ran to the plate with water. One to drink, one to pour over head and wrists. These coaches really earned my respect. They both said the same thing "Blue, just call the game from the plate. We won't argue a single call. If you keep running around like this, we will lose you too. Your health and safety is more important now". They were true to their word. 2 close calls and not a peep. But again. This is where coaches and umpires develop the culture.
Every coach in youth sports should be required to umpire in the competitive levels of rec ball before they reach the competitive levels of rec ball and travel ball. My experience is unique. I grew up with a coach / umpire Father. I read the Little League rulebook as a youth ball player and studied it. My first experience as an umpire was as a youth in Tee-Ball and it was the worst experience in baseball for me ever. Called a runner out at second which in my view wasn't even a banger and the coaches / parents went ballistic. That was Tee-Ball. I did 2 more games and didn't umpire again until I was an adult finishing coaching my son and staying in the game in a new way. As an adult umpire I train youth and work with coaches when youth are on the field to help change the culture. A lot of this I have to contribute to watching and learning over many years. So many comments I can make on this video and maybe I will make a few still. But yes, it does start at the top. But it also starts with the umpires as well. The culture has to be developed at all angles. Maybe I will comment on that as well. I have been thinking about doing a similar podcast in regards from an umpires point of view. I may not have your video presence though. LOL
Dude, Im a lifelong Phllies fan and to say Mitchiepoo Williams was "one of the best relief pitchers in MLB history" is comical. And 2nd, to put the umpire that called Jackie Robinson safe into the "bad umpire" category is a joke also. I mean, to expect a straight steal of home and to first have to call a 90mph pitch is not exactly routine lol
