I will be meeting with the Executive Committee of the Big League Umpires Association to discuss issues pertaining to the 2010 season. All items are open for discussion, and any topics that people feel should be addressed, can be sent to me, and I will be sure to bring them up.
As a bit of background, the Pittsburgh NABA has struggled since its inception to find a quality, reliable umpiring service for a affordable price. Early years saw members of the Pittsburgh NABA umpiring games with no formal agreement in place to provide umpires on a regular basis. As the league expanded beyond 8 teams, it became difficult for our internal umps (Craig Boley and others) to cover all the games every week.
Last year, by about the 1/3 point of the season, about 25% of our league games had gone without coverage. By vote of the managers, a change in associations was agreed upon. Big League Umpires agreed to pick up our existing contract (approx. $15/game cheaper than any other association) as is in exchange for the 2010 contract. The 2010 contract would be at the same rate other associations were offering for 2009 ($100/game).
After Big League Umpires picked up the contract, there were no more reported issues of umpires not showing to games, and no documented issues with their association whatsoever.
However, I am sure there are some things that people would like addressed. I'd be happy to address any of your concerns this evening. The BLUA has its own evaluation form for individual umpires, and they have expressed that they would like those filled out, none of which were done by NABA teams this year.
Please be aware that this is not a forum to bash individual umpires, as their is a means by which to properly evaluate their strike zones, knowledge of rules, game management, etc. For more information on the BLUA please visit their website.
NOTE: Articles in this section of the blog represent the opinions of Mr. Graff, and are not the opinions of the Pittsburgh NABA, nor of the Pittsburgh Bulldogs franchise. For more information on this visit “The President’s Blog”.
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$100 a game, though it may be norm, is ridiculous for a recreational league. Way too costly for teams. Let the catchers call ball and strikes, or have one umpire at home plate is more than adequate. Most kids can’t afford $200-$225 a season to play and it’s a pain in the butt to have to hound them incessantly to pay their fees.
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this isn’t a “kids” league. get a job if you cant afford it. we had 12 teams worth of kids last year that could afford it. all teams have the option to get a sponsor to help cut costs.
catcher calling balls and strikes? give me a break larry.
exactly….this aint a kids league. most people can afford 200 – 400 bucks.
We need to talk to the umpires about growing some balls and having the guts to throw someone out of a game. They is way too much bush league antics that goes on in the NABA.
The problem isn’t with umps showing up. It’s with game calling and general disinterest. I can count at least 5 games where umps were texting during the game. Collisions at home play and general bad attitudes and foul-mouthed stuff by players and no ejections.
Swoosh is correct.
The second ump in the field provides little additional value in my opinion.
larry why post twice? as a league struggling for legitimacy we need 2 umps a game, and they have to give a shit, i think in retrospect paying a bit more is better.
if you have 16 players per team, and you have to pay 1200 for umps, that’s $75 per player, right? the best we can do is get that to $65 a game for one guy which saves $35 or just over $2 per player per game savings. I think the logic is “if they suck anyway why not just have 1″, when that does nothing to address the problem.
the biggest problem in general in the league is people don’t take action to fix the problems we have, but who have no problem pointing them out.
No one wants to put the time in to find sponsors, or hold fundrasiers, but we all want it to be cheaper, no one wants to find fields, but we all bitch about the schedule.
I’m guilty of this myself, i think we should disaffiliate because after getting look at how national operates they are fucking bullshit. but i don’t have the time to put that in to motion. Basically everything we get from national we can do on our own, its a convenience thing.
things will continue to get better, and the more people who help joe the more progress we will make.
drradical4life.
Amen. Mtg went well tonight. Umps will be required to work games on their own next year, but with a split personality, thereby giving illusion of two umps.
agreed. i would love to break away from the NABA too, but i just don’t have the time to help start a entire new league from scratch. it would be like a full-time job.
@Swoosh – there are other leagues around the area you know… you wouldn’t have to start from scratch is you are looking to get away from the NABA.
I think Ben means to simply disaffiliate (not start a new league). However, in order for that to happen, it means you are going to need a new commish (he’s under contract), new bank account, new insurance provider, and a new set of rules drafted and approved (we get ours from national).
So yes, it would basically mean starting a new league… but, hopefully someone takes over the league in 2011 and then it could concievably be done. I like the structure of the league, but we pay extra for the convience of not having to create our own rules, and insurance. Is it worth the extra $25 per player or so? If it saves one guy from doing three extra jobs… yes. If there is a bunch of people helping out… probably not.
no, no. i don’t want to leave this league. just disaffiliate because i think the NABA is a bunch of shucksters. But as i said, we really dont have the time to disaffiliate because it would be sooo much work
the NABA national office is the problem. i think everyone who runs the Pittsburgh NABA are good people.