mtnump

UPDATE: Spoke with her yesterday before the games and she is sore, but does not even have much of a bruise...no swelling. If you didn't know what happened you would never be able to guess. Bottom of 7 in the second game, high pop foul over the backstop with everyone screaming "Heads!!!" Yep, there she is standing still while covering her head with both arms as the ball lands 2 feet to her left! She has a homing beacon or something!

HS doubleheader. Field has backstop around to dugouts and then fence extending about 25' down the line - ends approximately where the outfield grass starts. White chalk line indicating DBT extends on out. Mom from VT sets up her chair right at the end of the fence in DBT. Game 1 I have the bases and right where she is sitting is where we usually stash our Gatorade/water so I chat with her a couple times during the game. She is VT F8's mom and her husband is actually in our Association, but works few games as his kid is playing. Game 2 I have the dish. Outs, score, none of it matters. HT B8 is at the plate and hits an absolute screamer that hits this lady on the left side of her face. She falls face first out of her chair and onto the grass. We are all surprised that she is conscious when we get to her. She is a little confused, but awake and talking with stitch marks on her swollen face and the blue shadows of a whopper bruise already apparent. Another parent calls 911 and we keep her on the ground until the trainer gets down from the lacrosse game on the football field and allow her to take over. Fire/EMS arrive, evaluate and she refuses treatment and stays to watch the rest of the game while holding an ice pack to her jaw! The first base coach said there was no way to explain the sound that was made when the ball hit her. Her kid seemed pretty unfazed and played a great game. I have this team again tomorrow so I will see how she is doing.

Same partner, wrong date...next Thursday. The state looks unfavorably on too many EJ's. There is no such concern with things in football or basketball, which I also officiate. This partner always says, "I was going to run him if you didn't." So far in 3 years of HS ball 4 of my 5 EJ's have been with him as partner and he hasn't got any. As in at all...

Thanks for the comments gentlemen. I am hoping it is Lala's #3 that is the case and I just happened to have been assigned to the games where trouble has occurred. It gets frustrating at times because the guys I work with think ejections are a bad thing. I certainly don't go looking for them, but I am not afraid to go there if warranted. The only one that bothers me is the night between 2 and 3 where I should have tossed another kid for MC and didn't... Yoda brings up some great points to file away for future reference and I will work to be more pro-active in trying to diffuse some of these situations in the future...

We had our Association meeting on Monday night and the topic of ejections came up. It seems that I have 25% of the ejections in the state to this point in the HS season. There was talk of not wanting anyone to get labeled a redass, etc. by having too many ejections. I will present to you in hopes of some constructive feedback as I work in an area that is EJ averse. EJ #1. I am U1,R1 at 1B gets picked off and ends up in a rundown. Is run back and forth several times until he is finally tagged out going back to 1B by F6. The tag involved F6 diving and tagging the runner on the hip after which both ended up on the ground with R1 on top. As F6 attempts to get up, R1 definitely is impeding F6 and F6 is getting agitated. I step in from the working area, and give a "That's enough!" Both players comply, untangle and get to their feet. F6 is turning toward the mound to get the ball back to F1, while R1 gets up, takes a step towards 1B and then turns around, takes 2 full steps and shoves F4 (standing next to F6) in the back with both hands. I immediately state "You're gone!" Partner comes over from foul territory/1B line and we confirm we have and out and an EJ for MC. EJ #2. Same partner, JV game 3 days later. I am U1 again. HT HC has switched the starting pitcher and F3 to begin the second inning. After struggling for a couple of batters, HC just hollers out from the dugout for them to switch back. VT AC says from the dugout, "He can't do that!" I ignore. He starts heading for the dugout opening and says it again. This time I respond calmly, "Sure he can." His response is "You need to read the rulebook. I know it is just a JV game, but you can't do that." I have the stop sign up and am heading to the VT HC who is coaching 3B to tell him to rein in his AC or they will both be restricted. I never got to have that conversation as AC from the dugout entrance says "Anything you have to say, you can say to me." I respond, "I will talk with the HC." AC continues that he won't stop talking unless I want to talk to him directly. I look at him and "You are gone." He then comes out of the dugout to tell me that I am wrong, I need to read the rulebook and we can exchange emails regarding this after the game. My response was "Coach, you need to leave the field." #3. Huge rivalry game, same partner, I am U1(I am sensing a pattern!). Altercation at the plate that my partner is dealing with while I stand back to see who else enters the fray. On deck batter drops his bat and heads for the plate. No other players get involved, PU has no EJ's, but issues warnings to both dugouts. I dump the kid for leaving his position at the on deck circle. Heavy snow 3 pitches later cause us to suspend game with new date of 4/3 for resumption. My self critique is that I may have given the JV Coach too much rope. The other 2 are by the book. Sorry for the long post.

Had the stick for a gem on Tuesday night. Pitcher for local HS had a perfecto going into the top of the 7th. Lost it on a lead-off double. R1 moved up to 3rd on a ground out and then scored on the second hit as my partner Jim Joyce'd a call at first that would have been the third out. After the game he said he just kicked it. Didn't effect the outcome, but the partner is also the Area Director...didn't look great. Karma got us back as we partnered last night for a 3 hour JV game. He had the stick and had a bad game all the way around. His strike zone was smaller than a postage stamp and bad catching didn't help widen it up at all. 17-5 visitors after 4 1/2. Visitors change pitchers and home team came back and scored 12 to tie it in the bottom half. Thankfully no lights and we called it at 17-17.

I have Achilles tendonitis in my right leg and have issues with mid's as well. I cannot wear NB plate shoes as I can't walk after the game. I have no problems with my old Spot Bilt's, however. I am waiting for another game check or two and Reebok Zigs here I come!

HS Varsity game on Saturday. 2 outs, several runs scored, runners on base and F1'a Mom yells, "Come on David! Three up, three down!" That ship had sunk about a half hour ago...

We simply don't have enough umpires so we will probably be working some JV and C games solo this year. Not my first choice, but we had a couple guys not come back for various reasons and it is putting a hurtin' on the rest of us. Last night was the first HS game so we will see how it plays out.

Have a day off of work before my first games tomorrow. I am getting all of my gear re-organized and decided it is time to build my FSB. Some of the newbies could benefit from this past gem. Thanks again KFinn!!!

I just logged on and saw the header on the site and am saddened to hear of Michael's death. I can't claim to have known him except through his posts, but his contributions to this site and advice to all of us will be missed. RIP!!!

Still have them and love them...

Joe's conversation with the pitcher when giving him a new ball, "I know that was intentional. You know that was intentional. Everyone knows that was intentional. You made your point, but don't let it happen again."

Tim, I agree that it should not be done regularly, but there are times when it is necessary. Early in the HS season my partner showed up to a dh and I asked him how many games he had done this year. This was to be his first set. I asked him how long he had been umpiring and he said this was his first year. UGH!!! I gave him the bases for the first game...You can't pregame everything, so at the end of each full inning we met and talked about positioning, timing, and some other little things based on plays that had happened. We got through it...it was a little rough around the edges, but...The point is this guy had been to 3 meetings and that was it. We were short guys on a Saturday full of doubleheaders so he got assigned. I made him better with a little coaching and kept us from looking inept as a team of umpires by trying to stay on top of things so at least if he did something wrong once, I could head him off at the pass and not let it become glaringly obvious that he had no clue. He did at least have a crisp new uniform and pulled his plate gear out of the plastic before the second game. I love getting to work with a guy that I have worked with a lot and you just know he is going to be where he is supposed to be, but I live in a rural area and we don't have the luxury of numbers. Not everyone has that luxury on a regular basis. You get what you get and you don't throw a fit...You are both out there for the afternoon, so instead of being pissed you have to make the best of it.

My shoes fit great and I love them...just disappointed that they are literally coming apart at the seams! I have noticed the wrinkle in the toe as well.