Umpire Performance

[Sandman]

I have been in Meriden softball player for over 26 years and I can remember when you mentioned Meriden, people associated a few memories of this town, steamed cheeseburgers, the Ct. Falcons, the Meriden square and last but not least, SOFTBALL. I can remember when we had over 120 teams and we played till we finished for the most part. We had 21 games a night including the womens league. I have seen many things that have taken the fun out of playing in this town. There is no pride it seems

Perhaps we should make some changes to encourage more teams to come to the field. Perhaps we should even go with all wood bats to level the playing field and go back to how it was. I dont know, but I do know that something needs to change. I do know we need to get back the pride we once had.

I am going to touch on another sore subject with me and that is the umpires. With the fees we pay out you would think these umpires would be more efficient, but on the contrary some of them need to take a walk. I dont know if they have to attend a clinic once a year, but they need to.

I can have one umpire that calls a good game, calling illegal pitches and eveything they need to to make a fair game and then there are others that you can tell are more interested in collecting a check and wondering when they can go home. Now dont get me wrong not all are bad, but there are a fair share of bad ones, actually HORRIBLE comes to mind.

We need to make this league more enjoyable and find a way to bring it back to life.......

[SoftballFreak22]

I agree, cleaning house with some umpires would be the right thing to do. Only thing would leave us with fewer ump's. Im sure every ump has some sort of a life and doesnt want to ump every night, yet Im sure some would love to. As far as wood goes, if the league went to wood you would lose more then 50% of the teams.

[Sandman]

I understand that umpires have a life I used to be one, but if someone is paying me to do a job to the best of my ability, I did. No one puts a gun to someone and says be an umpire, it's suposed to be because of your love of the game and if you can put some coin in your pocket in the process? golden.
If your saying we have to take what we get and live with it in fear of losing umpires? then let the team fee reflect accordingly, but if your getting paid well? then work well.

I have had family members sitting behind the opposing teams beanch witness some of these umpires coming to thier bench saying " Score 10 runs so I can go home". To me thats not what an umpire is to do. All I know is when I started in this league the umpires were more of a professional conduct and they made less than the ones of today. I felt some games they tested the zero tolerance rule implimented, witnessing them( the umpire) keeping the ball rolling in a player dispute, even after the coach stepped in and shut the player up. Now I'm not saying this is the reason the league is were it is, but it doesnt help

[Mom4Life]

I understand that umpires have a life I used to be one, but if someone is paying me to do a job to the best of my ability, I did. No one puts a gun to someone and says be an umpire, it's suposed to be because of your love of the game and if you can put some coin in your pocket in the process? golden.
If your saying we have to take what we get and live with it in fear of losing umpires? then let the team fee reflect accordingly, but if your getting paid well? then work well.

I have had family members sitting behind the opposing teams beanch witness some of these umpires coming to thier bench saying " Score 10 runs so I can go home". To me thats not what an umpire is to do. All I know is when I started in this league the umpires were more of a professional conduct and they made less than the ones of today. I felt some games they tested the zero tolerance rule implimented, witnessing them( the umpire) keeping the ball rolling in a player dispute, even after the coach stepped in and shut the player up. Now I'm not saying this is the reason the league is were it is, but it doesnt help

Better yet....it was a game played in May @ Columbus Park 1 and the Umpire came right over to our team and told us that he didn't want to hear a "DAM word from us"....this was a first for our team, I looked at him and asked what was he talking about and he just shrugged his shoulders...with this being said, he made the worstest calls yet from any Umpires we've/team dealt with...There was a call when third baseman was running home and the pitcher tagged him midway running to homeplate and the "UMP" called it SAFE...HUH!!!!!....of course, that made our team/pitcher ****ed and the "UMP" told our Pitcher to "SHUT the FU*K UP"...mind you...the park was jammed packed with fans and family members with kids, that had to see/witness this "UMP" make a terrible call and tell a pitcher to shut the FU*k up...Our team lost that day...no biggie...the worse was when the "UMP" was "CHILLING" and "LAUGHING" throughout the game with the other team, and never once did he step over our way to ask for the score stats (like many other REAL PROFESSIONAL Ump's do)....We got chewed up and spit out during the first meeting about the so called "ZERO TOLERANCE" policy on Ump's...MASA needs to step up and practice what it preaches...I was raised that you have to GIVE respect in order to GET it back in return...MASA, just an FYI...same goes for these Ump's that are just there to benefit/help out certain teams..All we/team were asking for was a Fair-Neutral and Balanced game...out of our twenty games played, this Ump' was by far the worse...

It SAD to see that our business sponsored our team and we get this Sh*ty azz Ump that can't even make FAIR calls...:mad: :mad: :mad: :(

We couldn't rate his performance because our team lost that day and didn't need to fill out the white sheet (that goes to Record Journal)...POOR-POOR-POOR...let me know MBoard if u want me to write/type his name for ya, be happy to put the Ump's name on BLASTTT....:rolleyes: :cool::D

[BigEasy]

Since you are a member of the board can you also tell us why year after year umpires that play are allowed to Ump games within their own division? It is an ongoing issue that needs to be addressed. If names are what you are looking for start with Gary Hughes. Then add the catcher from PBA also. 3 of my games were done by them this season already. Is this not against league rules that we are all required to follow? As well as the Zero Tolerance rule that doesn't seem to pertain to Mr. Hughes either.

[BigEasy]

And wouldn't you guess my last two games of the season were done by the same two umpires that also play in our division. How about that..... We lost both games through no fault but our own but that isn't the point here.. aren't there enough umps in the league to avoid this situation?

[mboard]

Actually we are down in the amount of available umpires for the end of the season and for playoffs. Umpires have been off on vacation and others not availalble. We realize some umpires might be doing their own division, but we would hope and expect, the game is umpired like any other game...impartial and down the line.

[BigEasy]

We realize some umpires might be doing their own division, but we would hope and expect, the game is umpired like any other game...impartial and down the line.


Hope and expect.... that's the issue. There were issues in C div. last year right before playoffs for the same reason, with the same umpire. There is no way a different ump couldn't have been found for the last two games, no way. There were other games going on at the same time and the umpired could have been switched. Even the teammates of these umpires said it wasn't right that they were doing the games.

[mboard]

Yes you are correct with your observation.
We will ensure umpires do not do conflicting games next season.

[NLC_LF]

I agree that the Umpiring in MASA is spotty at best. You have some Umps that really get into the game and call fair games, Sonny is one that comes to mind. Then you have others who can care less (I'll refrain from posting their names for now). One thing I can not stand is when the Ump doesn't even move out from behind homeplate and feels he can make the correct call at second without even getting a closer look. Another thing that really gets me is that some of these Umps feel that if the ball beats the player to the bag he is out regardless if he slides under before the tag is put on the player. I can not even recall how many times this has happened to me and my teammates. At least make an effort to jog out to where the play is so you can make a better call.

Like I said there are some good Umps out there but the majority of them are pretty bad and I think really do not have a clear understanding of the game or the rules. Some will call a pitch illegal whereas another will allow the same pitch to be in play. I guess it's the extreme inconsistencies that really upset players and I think this needs to be looked at a little more.

[mboard]

Yes, Sonny does care and does his best, as do others. I agree we have some umpires that could put more effort into their performance and some need to be more consistent with their knowledge of the rules.
What we need from teams on the write up is a true evaluation of the umpires. This year I have heard "so and so is a lousy umpire", I pull his evaluations from game writeups - the umpire is getting 7 or 8 for ratings. Because we can't be everywhere, we really do rely on those evaluations. They are not a piece of paper put out by MASA just to waste the time of teams.

As far as the illegal pitch call -- even though a pitch is called illegal, it is still alive and can be hit. The only certainty on an illegal pitch call, if not swung at, it will be a ball.

[Hot Corner]

There's only 2 things that will bring Meriden softball back to where it once was. The first is to get rid of their stupid bat restrictions. I play tournaments every weekend and leagues in Bristol, Wethersfield, and North Branford. And for the last 5-6 years the only place that I have to swing a singlewall bat is in Meriden. If they go to either the ASA or U-trip bat list that allows composites then a lot more players would come back. I've had many people tell me that they used to play in Meriden but it wasn't fun anymore because of the bats so they went elsewhere..
And the other reason I get from people is because of the horrible balls they use. Those things are awful!! At least use a 44 cor. 375 comp. ball at the minimum with even composite bats nevermind with singlewalls. But with singlewall bats they should at least use 44 cor 525 comp. balls. In East Hartford they use singlewalls and 47cor 525 comp. balls and it's was a hell of a lot more fun to play.
It's just like any business if you offer an inferior product then people will start going somewhere else and that is what has happened!

[SoxFan]

My team was reasonably lucky this year in both the quality and consistency of the umpires who had our games. They are humans, and do make mistakes. I think one thing that would help MASA in weeding out the bad ones is to have the umpire performance form be something that is a separate document that BOTH teams are required to fill out. If a bad call by an ump aids my team in winning, then I am unlikely to go after the guy in the evaluation form in the winning write-up because he hasn't done anything to adversely impact my team. The second thing that would really help would be for Parks & Rec to put foul lines in the outfield so that the "guess work" can be eliminated...really can't get on the umps for close calls down the lines since there aren't any lines. :)

In one of our play-off games this year we actually had 3 umpires, and the one who wasn't supposed to do our game but was allowed to stay was the one who blew a couple of calls (against us) that fortunately for us did not ultimately impact the game, but sure could have. Both other umpires knew he blew the calls, but unfortunately did not overrule him. Again, ultimately it was "no harm, no foul" because we won the game, but again, allowing both teams to evaluate umpire performance might give a truer sense about how the umpire is really doing.

And I'll offer my two-thumbs up for Sonny Williams, as he absolutley does the best he can, is always hustling and is just a nice guy. Eddie K is another one of the good ones. And as for umps doing games within a division that they play in it just is common sense to avoid this at all costs because no matter how consitent and fair that ump is if someone disagrees with them the cloud of impropriety looms large. Glad to hear that MASA will attempt to end this next year...its just makes sense.

[sjckk]

So you need better bats or better balls? Why so you can hit 350ft bombs and win games 38-28...wow that sounds like a lot of fun.:rolleyes: I see guys from D up to A divisions in Meriden hit balls 320ft plus, with single wall bats and gray dot balls. I'm sorry you and everyone else can't do that and need the assistance of double wall / composite bats and superior balls to compensate for your lack of power. How would you have ever played softball 25 years ago when they didn't have these juiced up bats?? I've seen pitchers from Branford get drilled in the head/face, why you ask?? because the hitters are using double wall and composite bats. And if you think Meriden is bad, go look at Wallingfords league. They use those soft, florescent balls and NO white steels are even allowed. Meriden's league is fine, sure we would like to have more teams, but it's a little more competitive and you get to see a players true hitting abilities....so you enjoy playing in those other towns and we'll enjoy our league in Meriden.

[BigEasy]

I think the bats and balls are fine in Meriden. Guys that SHOULD hit home runs hit them, Plus I think b/c of these restrictions it's one of the safest leagues around. I play in Wallingford, now those bats and balls are terrible. What's driving teams out are the inconsistencies with umpires and the way the league is run overall. Scheduled nights a week for divisions, and a website instead of the hotline would be a great start. Meriden is one of the last if not the last to still go 9 innings which I think is great. I say keep the composite swingers up at the plex, and at the tournies, this is a rec. league.

[NLC_LF]

I think the bats and balls are fine in Meriden. Guys that SHOULD hit home runs hit them, Plus I think b/c of these restrictions it's one of the safest leagues around. I play in Wallingford, now those bats and balls are terrible. What's driving teams out are the inconsistencies with umpires and the way the league is run overall. Scheduled nights a week for divisions, and a website instead of the hotline would be a great start. Meriden is one of the last if not the last to still go 9 innings which I think is great. I say keep the composite swingers up at the plex, and at the tournies, this is a rec. league.


My thoughts exactly, Meriden is one of the few leagues out there that still plays nine innings and I think that is the best feature of the league. The bat situation could be solved if we move to wood bats :) That way no one can complain. I think their bat policy is fine the way it is, the fields are too short to have these double wall bats come in, not to mention the injuries that could happen. If you can't hit a home run with a single wall bat then you then that's your problem and not the bat you're using.

[BigEasy]

shhhhhhh, don't say "wood"........... I used to play in a wood bat league and it was horrible...... single wall only get's rid of 99.9$% of the cheaters already.... if I wanted to swing wood, I'd join a baseball league. :)

[mboard]

The fenced fields in Meriden are as follows -- Nessing 267' -- Columbus -- 280'. If players need a double wall bat or a COR 44 to reach those dimensions, then I think a swing doctor would be in order. If someone needs a doublewall bat and a COR 44 to have fun, then Meriden is the wrong league to participate. The bat technology keeps on improving and the COR 40 we use now is hotter than the COR 40 we started with a few years back. Of course it might really be fun to bring in double wall bats and COR 44 balls and not allow any homeruns. Then we can watch hitters play buzz the tower and get to see pitchers carted off the field.
Wood bats will be the only bat allowed for the men in the coed division this fall. Since this is the first year for a coed division, we are a bit concerned about safety and secondly we want the opinions from the men on the feel of wood bats, along with performance.
MASA is working to improve umpire performance, but honestly we could really use more umpires. As a collective group, the performance of our umpires was on the disappointing side.
Funny nine innings should be mentioned. There has been some discussion on the Board about going to seven innings. Overall, I think all of the teams would prefer to play nine.
We are also discussing the "hit and sit" rule for homeruns and returning the ball to being in play on an infield fly.
I do agree with the outfield foul lines being put in place -- the City used to burn the lines, they would last the whole season. Then again, we used to have warning tracks in front of the outfield fences. Since MASA is maintaining the fields for fall ball, there will be outfield foul lines in place.

[mboard]

MASA is working on a website, but will have to maintain the hotline -- some people do not have computers or do not have access to computers.

Set nights for divisions is also on the table for discussion. However, requested nights off will be removed. As of right now, requested weeks off and any request dates not listed on the roster when handed in are done.

[NLC_LF]

...Wood bats will be the only bat allowed for the men in the coed division this fall. Since this is the first year for a coed division, we are a bit concerned about safety and secondly we want the opinions from the men on the feel of wood bats, along with performance.
No chance the regular Men's division could play with wood bats? I was just wondering because I would love to hit with one if it's possible.


Funny nine innings should be mentioned. There has been some discussion on the Board about going to seven innings. Overall, I think all of the teams would prefer to play nine.
I say always keep it nine innings no matter what. It makes it more of an exciting game.


...Since MASA is maintaining the fields for fall ball, there will be outfield foul lines in place.
Very cool!!! :D

[NLC_LF]

On the plus side, this thread has proven to be a very good discussion about issues common to all of us, and it is great that the tone has been kept at a professional and respectful level.
Agreed, I think guys are just tired of being bull****ted or lied to and that's when things start to get heated. We all want the same thing and that's the play softball to the highest possible standard in Meriden. My biggest gripe with Meriden softball is not with MASA but mostly with the city and how they upkeep the fields and their conditions. I'm glad to hear MASA is taking control over a some of the work to be done on the fields this year, hopefully the city will let MASA continue with it next year because I think they will do a better job.

[mboard]

Yes, this has been a very good discussion with a nice exchange of thoughts. MASA very much appreciates feedback that provides ideas and thoughts which push the league forward.
Wood bats have never been prohibited, a player may use a wood bat at anytime.
MASA will do its very best to have Nessing Fields looking the best they can for play this fall. I do not think the City will allow MASA the opportunity to maintain the fields in the spring. About 10 / 12 years ago, made the same offer to the City and was turned down.
MASA will be keeping the original "two request dates" which can be filled out in the upper left hand corner of the roster. What MASA will not honor are requests for full weeks off, requests for having a set day off every week (example, every Friday), or last minute requests. We are still looking at the viability of going to set nights for divisions. We may run a pilot with this idea in the fall.

[BigEasy]

I personally think if you have set nights a team really shouldnt need to request nights off. You will know early enough to make arrangements to handle things..

[mboard]

I agree, one would think requested nights off would be known in advance.
But you would not believe how many requests come into MASA once the season starts. We are not just talking about early in the season, requests keep coming deep into the season, up to and including playoff time.
Now MASA, being a recreational league, has tried to be accomodating to these requests. However, this past year, the amount of requests has become crazy, bringing MASA to the point of stating no requests.
MASA understands about critical emergencies and we will accomodate them. But the last minute request for stags, rehearsals, bus trips, vacations, and you name it, will no longer be accepted. As you so correctly stated, most of these events are known before the season starts and should be noted on the roster. This is not to say all teams are guilty. The majority of teams still follow the guideline and submit their two dates on the roster.
From a personal viewpoint, the one request that drives me over the wall is when a team wants one particular night off for the entire season because said team is playing in another league. Next year those teams, if they choose to play in more than one league, will have to figure out how they can be at two places in one time or have enough players to accomodate simultaneous play in two leagues.
One thing for certain, the above issue with requests combined with the weather made this one brutal season for scheduling.

[jlt5580]

Actually we are down in the amount of available umpires for the end of the season and for playoffs. Umpires have been off on vacation and others not availalble. We realize some umpires might be doing their own division, but we would hope and expect, the game is umpired like any other game...impartial and down the line.


I see many people complaining about the MASA umpires this year but no one volunteering their services to prove that they can do better. In this post MASA says that they did not have enough umpires...So here is a thought.. Why doesn't MASA post how one can volunteer and become a MASA umpire? Then after MASA posts this information why don't the complainers volunteer and do a better job? Maybe if MASA had more people to umpire games they could rid themselves of the bad umpires. Right now it seems they keep them out of need and not because they are wanted.

Also if wood bats are allowed then need to be on the Allowed Bat lists. I had a team member want to use one because his normal bat just had a small dent in it. The umpire who goes around with the ring before the games and checks bats (which many people think it ridiculous since no other umpires do this)would not let him use his bat. He asked about the wood bat and he wouldn't let him use it either since it wasn't on the bat list.

[BigEasy]

I think if the league goes to set nights, if anything a team could get 1 requested change, no changes would be fine in my opinion. It's a teams choice to play in 2 or more leagues, not the leagues choice. Changes should be made in the schedule for emergencies only, not rediculous reasons like "half my team has a game in Wallingford tonight and I can't field a full team".. Your fault for that one...

For the life of me I cannot understand why you would want to use wood if you can swing a white steel but to each his own.... put em on the list....

[Monk]

I really hope MASA does not go to wood bats. The only time i have seen someone get hurt was a coulple of years ago when half of the lights at nessing were out. If we continue use grey dots with single wall bats there is no reason to go to wood. I think MASA will lose a couple more teams. I like that MASA is starting to do some great things. We have fallball,coed league and we might have a internet site. Lets keep 9 innings and single wall bats. I also think they should look into letting you have as many out of town players as you want. If they have an ID and are on the roster who cares. You can still charge them 50 bucks per out of towner

[mboard]

MASA would like to be able to reopen the league to more out of town players, however, it is not the call of MASA. The City of Meriden has set the limit of 2 out of town players. Lawsuits against the City ended MASA a wide open league, bringing in the era of clauses and id cards. It took MASA almost 3 years to get the City to agree to allow 2 out of town players.

[Monk]

Thank you for explaining the out of town clause. I did not even think of that being a reason. Good job on keeping the fall league going i know park and rec didnt make it easy.