Certified, and paid by contract
At least one league-approved umpire makes a game official and the league standard is a two-man crew for every fixture. All umpires must hold current certification and produce proof on request. Payment runs through a contracted umpire association under a terms of service agreement, with the association paying the individuals. Umpires supply their own uniform and protective gear. The plate umpire reports ejections and the crew chief notifies the Division Commissioner.
Contracting an association rather than paying men in cash is what a league does once it is serious about being insured, and it is also why the $150 forfeit fine exists. No crew or assignor is named and no route to working games is published; on High Cheese the crew attaches to the fixture, so an assignment lands where the clubs already look.
Florida Adult Baseball (MSBL/MABL) in detail
- A non-profit running Tuesday nights at 19+ and Sunday mornings at 30+, on the Gulf coast.
- Tuesday nights and Sunday mornings, and not one fixture published.
- The rules describe division standings; no table is published.
- The winning manager reports the final within four hours. Nothing is published after that.
- Twelve to fifteen a side, bound for the year, and every roster on the team's own page.
- No player figures are published.
- A rainout line, a contact form, and no email address for anybody.
- Register even if you have no team — everyone gets the weekly short-of-players email.
- Six county parks with street addresses, from Palmetto down to Sarasota.
- Ten sections, nine innings, a 10:15 curfew, five-inning pitchers and a $150 forfeit fine.
- Registration notices, and nothing else.
- A gallery in the menu, with nothing rendering behind it.
- Eleven partners, including two law firms, a bat maker and a tutoring service.
- Half a season played to be eligible, and non-rostered players thrown out on sight.
- No founding year, no champion, and an empty page where the national affiliation should be.
- Six board members named: Katynski, Tremblay, Lear, Franklin, Gagnon and Pulcinella.
- Who, when, where and how to join are all answered. The fee is not.
- A ten-section rulebook, a liability waiver, and written notices of suspension.
- Fall starts September 8, fees due September 1, and a rainout line on 941-999-1146.
- Uniforms can be bought; no store or price is published.
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