Baseball: San Marino at it again, defeats La Cañada, 8-4

Eagleball:

What you don't seem to understand is that all areas are experiencing shortages of officials.

How can sombody from Long Beach, Foothill Area, or San Fernando work a game here in the SGV when they scramble to cover games?

Don't worry, playoff officials must come from other areas after round 2.

Someone who knows (no answer);
Here's a solution the CIF might want to entertain...consider contracting with the other umpire associations (beside SGV who seem to be beset with the flunkies from these other associations of which I speak) in order to ensure they have a mix of the brightest and best talent. I realize this is a novel concept for someone who knows so much about ... everything apparently. Give it a rest and do your home work next time. There are good umpires out there in every association, and the SS needs to do a better job of seeing that the poor performers work elsewhere (in every sport).

Complaining about the umpires again Eagleball?

Who else is going to work games at 3:15 when there has been a chronic shortage of umpires able to work HS ball for 20 years?

Let's face it, amateur sports are going to get part time officials. How can you send the "driftwood" out when there are not enough bodies to cover many games?

I am sure most of the other sports can use officials as well. If you don't like the officiating, go join up and show them how it should be done. Besides, who would want a part time job that people complain about how much they blow and offer no real solutions?

RHL fan:

After reading the account of events posted by an observer, it would appear that the ejection was warranted (arguing a zone strike early in the count, then continuing after the out had been recorded... I am familiar with the suspension process). I guess my beef is with the lack of quality throughout the umpire ranks. I see and interact with Pony umpires weekly (many also do CIF games)and they do an equally poor job at the lower level, have big egos, and otherwise do their best to distrupt the flow of the game. Alternatively, there are many solid umpires who work hard and take their responsibilities to heart. Send the dead wood adrift and promote the performers- it's a simple formula to improve the experience.

As long as I can remember, jewelry is not allowed in any team sports in high school. It's not a stupid rule, it's a good rule. If you've seen a torn ear lobe as a result of a kid sliding head first into second and his helmet getting caught on his earing or have to pull out a crucifix out of a kids chest because he forgot he had in on during a fooball game then you would also agree that it's a good rule.

Phiten necklaces are NOT safety issues. They have a breakaway clasp if you pull on them. They should be an exception to this rule.

RHL fan:

New safety rules? Those have been in HS baseball for more than 20 years if not 30.

Launch a bat = ejection, period.

Regarding the jewelry ejection, that had to be the second person on the team with jewelry warning to warrant an ejection. If a player kept on any jewelry after an official team warning, he was dumb enough to be ejected. It is a safety issue and it is also a Little League and Pony rule and many other similar youth leagues.

BFF:

You have no clue what you are talking about. Griping about such things is sour grapes. Oh yeah, I suppose you want Pony League or Little League umpire to work HS games if they blow so much? Maybe you can call MLB and have those guys work HS baseball in the WSGV before they work the evening game at the Big A or the Ravine.

Eagleball:

Why should someone remain in the game after throwing a bat? You want all players to be tossing bats just because they are mad?

What about decorum and sportsmanship?

It is a CIF rule for a one game suspension in any sport and it has cut down the number of ejections. Just understand that there are some strange HS baseball rules that don't jive with MLB and LL rules.

I have been to a lot of games in the RHL this year, I try to pick out the two best games of the week and try to make it out to them. This week I saw the SM/LC game and saw the Smith ejection. Let me start off by saying that Smith is a great kid and I have never seen him act in a way that disgraces baseball, his team, or other teams. However, the tossing of Smith was justified. When Smith came into pitch in that game and got roughed up you could start to see the frustration grow. In his AB the first pitch was a curveball that was well out of the zone and the home plate umpire called it a strike. Smith did not say anything to him at the time, but after the strikeout he turned to the umpire and mentioned something about the first pitch of the AB. After which he threw his bat into the dugout literaly almost hitting a few of his teammates. An absolute grounds for ejection with all the new safty rules.

I watched a game eariler this season where a kid got tossed for wearing a Phiten necklace to the plate. When asked why he was tossed a fan told me "for wearing jewelery, it's a safty issue." Stupid rule? Yes, but if it fars under a safety issue an ejection is warrented. In Smith's case he should have abosolutely be tossed, its just too bad it happened before the Monrovia game?

Could this be the starting of a snowball for the Spartans? We'll see.

Going to check out the SM/TC game tomorrow now that Smith is out for LC vs. Mon.

Eagleball, I could not agree with you more that the umps should let the contestants play the game. Last week I observed an up ring up a kid on a called third strike to end game with bases loaded, and I was sure that he rang him up so the ump to get some recognition for his game-ending call; an not because the pitch was necessarily a strike. there are few ways that umps can bring recognition to themselves in a game; tossing a kid is one way, ringing someone up on the called third strike on a borderline pitch in a dramatic setting (two outs in bottom of 7th with bases loaded) is another way to do it.

the rumor is true, Rob Hertel is stepping down as SP baseball coach as of Friday (Personal issues, nothing to do with the team's performance). School will begin a search for a replacement once the season is over. Rob has really turned the program around, and hopefully with the nucleus of kids returning, plus a good incoming crop of freshmen, a new and talented coach will be able to continue to build on Rob's efforts.

On the Smith thing- that is pretty lame. I could understand the ump tossing him for throwing the bat in the dugout if it was a reverse K, but if he swung then he was probably pissed at himself and not really showing up the ump. So why toss him? How about a warning instead? What is up with people beating up on the kid here? It sounds like he really wanted to come through for his team and was upset that he failed. That is a competitor to me so give him a break.

BFF,

Sounds like a good game and the pitcher must have done his job. To bad you couldn't get enough hitting or at least manufacture a couple runs for him. Are the rumors true that your coach won't be back? That would be a big hit for the South Pasadena program.

BFF,
The post wasn't to represent any "whining",but simply a statement of fact. The only people who should care about such an incident is the staff and his team-mates. Once again, the contest officiant disrupts the potential outcome of a game on Friday with everything on the line. That is a shame and there needs to be accountability amongst these blow-hard umpires who think they are more important than the game itself. Glad to see SP competing. They will improve and be a force into the future as a couple of their youngsters are good ball players.

by the way, SP battled Cats for 7 inning yesterday before losing 1-0 on a bases loaded walk.

To WOW:

Sounds like there is streak of jealously on your part. Eric Smith will go on to play Pro Baseball one day, he's that good. I haven't seen a left handed swing like his since the days of Steve Kemp. The kid is a class act, smart, focused and a top competitor. I can assure you this was a very isolated incident.

Again, it's unfortunate the fans won't get to see the two squads battle each other at full strength.

Now look at who is whining about the CIF baseball umps. In general they blow, big time. My impression is that these umps will give the benefit of the doubt to the team that is perceived to be the "better" team. and when you are South Pas, you dont get too may borderline calls from these knuckleheads.

Smith seems like a class act. and when compared to some of the showboating by a few SM players that have been previously discussed on this blog, I have no issues with Smith. He was a very classy victor in SP losses to LC this season. no bragging or chest pounding.

The umpire pictured with Mack is a fool! Seems to be the standard for CIF these days. Some how, the bar must be raised. So what if Eric throws his bat... shouldn't have an impact on the contest or future contests. Too bad that these idiots think that parents and kids are coming out to see them perform.

With or without Smith La Canada is tough.

Cats will have to play well to get the Win.

On a different note... is it me or is

that Umpire is always around when somebody gets tossed.

It is unfortunate that all of the talk is of Eric Smith. This game was a pitchers duel for 5 innings and neither pitcher is given much credit for keeping their team in the game. Baseball is a team sport, not all about one player!

It is unfortunate that all of the talk is of Eric Smith. This game was a pitchers duel for 5 innings and neither pitcher is given much credit for keeping their team in the game. Baseball is a team sport, not all about one player!

To me, Eric Smith is a great player, and from my experience he's a humble kid, too. He's the the leader of his team and will continue playing baseball at Stanford for a reason. If you had a chance to have him on your team I know you'd jump on the opportunity without blinking. When you're such a competitor like Smith is your emotions run high, and sometimes you can have a lapse in judgment. We're not all perfect.

Miguel,

the thing about great players is that they dont let their emotions get a hold of them. He is good at best, not great.

Thanks for the "easy" comment Miguel. Too often the persons posting here forget that these are still boys and girls.

Over Coaching by LC and The Titans capitalize, SM knows what they have to do now to win big.

Easy ... easy ... Smith's a great player but he let emotions get the better part of him. Losing him, however, is huge for the Spartans.

Smith got thrown out? Maybe he shouldnt go to stanford for being a cry baby. And is LC going to choke again?