BellevueUmp

I had a similar situation in a 2006 Legion game. I'm in B (R1) and about three or so pitches into the count for the current batter the PU suddenly steps around and cleans the plate. R1 immediately breaks for 2nd, defense is caught completely by surprise. As soon as the runner stops at 2B, I'm immediately asked if I'd called time (I didn't), I ask PU if he called time, he replies that he didn't. Defense obviously didn't like the answer they got, but nothing more was said. I posted a question on another board about this & the majority of replies were that they do not halt play or kill the ball to clean the plate. Is that no longer the case or do you still keep the ball live to keep the game from dragging? I'm getting ready to step back onto the field for fall ball (I'm going to concentrate on Legion starting next spring), so any inputs are appreciated. Thanks!

I'm guessing you identified the helmet after seeing all the marks on your partner's neck:HD: If somebody's already done this, I'll apologize in advance for repeating, but I just can't resist!:WTF

I'll add an "Amen" to that one! I was doing a fall rec league game last year after taking a hiatus from umpiring. Caliber of ball not exactly spectacular, but I'm on top of the calls and have shaken nearly all of the "rust" off, so I'm not having any confidence issues on the field. Cut to the bottom of the 6th: this half of the inning started with the home team down by a couple of runs. Visitors put in a left-handed catcher and move a kid to pitch who looked like he belonged in the next higher age group (and he could definitely bring the heat). Long story short, if the pitch wasn't going directly into the mitt, the catcher wouldn't reach or otherwise try to move so he could catch the pitch. This kid had all the mobility of a department store mannequin. In fairness to him, he looked a couple of age groups younger than the pitcher, and I can't say I blamed him for being anxious about having to catch the bigger kid. Over the next couple of batters, if the pitch wasn't in the dirt or way overhead/outside, it found me. :clap: I took a fastball off each thigh (thank goodness for the padded shorts) and one off each forearm. After the last shot to the arm, as the catcher steps back behind the plate, I tell him, "You need to be stopping those, dude. You gotta help me a little bit back here." I'd decided that if I got hit again, I was going to tell the manager to get a different catcher (not an EJ, just get someone else behind the plate & put this kid in the OF or something). Thankfully, the next pitch was a passed ball with R3 scoring to break the tie & end the game. :HD:

I got started umpiring with Little League when I was stationed at Langley AFB in Hampton VA (2002 - 2005, when I retired from the AF). At the time, I was an inspector on the Air Combat Command Inspector General team, we went all over the country & inspected the different ACC units/bases. I'd say that being an IG inspector helped me a great deal with umpiring. The main reason is that as an inspector, all you do is look at the same programs/operations at all the different units, apply the grading criteria and assign the grade. Since nobody wants to be known for getting an "Unsat" on an inspection, sometimes the unit members can be very defensive and confrontational (any of this sounding familiar out there? ). My time on the IG Team got me more accustomed to dealing with different personalities, able to recall / cite some lesser-known but important references, as well as defend a particular grade in order to get it into the inspection report. I'd be lying if I claimed it made me infallible, I've still had my share of missed calls, etc. But, I'm very certain that I would not have been as good as I could be. Thanks for the chance to contribute to the discussion. As an aside, the guy who got me started was one of our aircraft maintenance inspectors.

UIC- I found the different ways to raise money at the tourney pretty interesting. One of the associations here in the Omaha area has arranged for services to be donated at a charity tournament in honor of a local boy who was killed in a car accident some years back. Last time I worked the tournament, they were selling souvenir t-shirts as one of the fundraisers, with tournament umpires being given a t-shirt as a gesture of thanks. When I finished my games, I was informed that they didn't have any t-shirts left in my size. I told them that I'd only have turned it back so they could sell it anyway. I found out later that all the umpires did that, too (nice coincidence). I'm going to email the other fundraising ideas to the guy who is typically UIC for the tournament, maybe that will help them raise more money in future events. Where in Hampton VA did they have the tournament? I started umpiring with a local LL when I was stationed there. Best of luck with any future work you do with these folks. pkv

I did one NABA game a couple of seasons back and haven't done one since. Didn't run anybody, but I got such a headache from the 'ping' of the aluminum bats I was miserable for most of the game and all the way home. As far as the near-EJ goes, that was with a batter who I'd rung up twice on a low (knee-high) strike. The second time, he stood at the plate for a couple of seconds just looking down. About the time I get ready to prompt him to move, he walks back to the dugout mumbling. No lines drawn, no wisecracks, etc. Made up my mind that day that if I did any more 'adult' (using the term very liberally) ball, it would be a wood bat league. There's at least something pleasant about the sound of a wood bat contacting the ball. Just my two dinari.

I'm with the rest of you, I watched the umpires as much as the rest of the game, primarily trying to learn something from the observation. Although I'm not on the field this year, I'll still watch the crews to try and 'keep up' (at least as much as that will allow) with rotations, mechanics, etc.

I made the mistake of letting a coach come running down from the 3B box yelling that his runner should have been safe (it was the 3rd out and the kid was easily out by 2 strides). It was a travel ball tournament right after we'd finished all the pre-season clinics and the emphasis to "keep 'em in the game." I was so shocked I just stared at the guy. There was no chest-bumping or anything else, but about 5 minutes later I realized that I should have run him. During plate meetings, I've always made the point about keeping discussions calm when there's a question/dispute on a call, but I made a mental note afterwards that if another coach (especially an assistant) ever approached me like that, he'd get the mechanic and my advice not to even break stride as he heads to the gate. Short answer: I would have had a two-fer on that one. pkv

Started to post this on the "Worst Mis-match" thread, but I thought this one was different enough (although on the same basic theme) to rate its own thread. So, here goes: I had a rec league game in a nearby town that went 16 - 0 and only took 50 minutes. I checked with both coaches about the mercy rule during the plate meeting (I was doing the game solo, which was a surprise because they were HS age kids and the game would typically be worked by a 2-man crew), both replied that it was 15 runs in 4 innings, 10 in 5 and 8 in 6. I noted the game start time as 6 pm when I wrapped up the meeting. First inning went pretty well, both teams were getting hits, but after that, the home team's offense just imploded (inning ended at something like 2-0 or 3-0, visitors). Visitors weren't really putting on anything spectacular, either, which puzzled me when I realized how lopsided the game was. Next time I looked at a timepiece is after I've changed out of my plate gear and have started my truck to go home. My clock radio reads 6:55 pm. Subtract 5 minutes for changing clothes, etc. and that has the game ending at 6:50 pm. I made a claim on the local association's discussion board for the quickest game not decided by forfeit or weather. Never heard of anyone challenging it, but wouldn't be surprised if it's been beaten by now. Anybody out there have a similar experience you'd care to share? pkv

Just did the initial registration (haven't completely set up my profile yet) and wanted to say 'hi' to fellow board users. I'm not actively umpiring now because I am working on my Master's Degree. However, I do miss being on the field and may seriously try to get back onto the diamond after my classes are all done. I'd like to keep up with developments in the game, but will confess to mostly not wanting to miss any good EJ stories. Thanks. / / / / / / pkv / / / / / / Philip VanDyke