Penguin

Didn't chuck him when he took out the local rules - not the OBR or FED book. Umpires have not yet received the updated local rule changes/adaptations. We heard there were a few changes and this was (my) first night with this league. Didn't chuck him when he started reading because ....1.) I was so surprised that a coach could read. 2.) He is really new, and I think he was doing it as much for his benefit as anything. He really was not trying to show us up - he really didn't know the rule one way or another - which is why the other coach was standing off a ways and not getting into it. If we thought for a second he was trying to show us up or was deliberately being an a$$ - then he'd have gotten the and the:violin:

Yup - that's what I always said. Going to have mine repaired but have to wait for swelling to go down all the way to have it sized. I will be taking it off from now on. Just needed to learn the hard way. You could probrably go an entire career and never have it happen, but, sometimes once you get hit in a spot - it seems the ball somehow targets the same spot over and over. It's the DARK SIDE of the "force" or something.

agree, game last night coach is behind until bottom of 6th when his team goes up by 1. He looks at watch and calls for time. He pulls out the packet of league rules and says we can't start the 7th inning because it wouldn't end before time limit. (rule says you cannot start a new inning if 1st batter would not be pitched to by the time limit) Anway he starts slowly reading each rule out loud. We are 5 minutes under time at that point. I smiled and told the coach we'd be happy to listen to every word, but as of now, the time clock has stopped and when he finished we would still be 5 minutes under the time limit. Opposing coach heard, smiled and walked to his players. Home team lost in the 7th. Who would really want to win a game that way? What's it teaching the kids?

I learned that the hard way. I don't wear any other jewelry at all but have never taken off the wedding band before. I will from now on. On top of having to have it cut off - I found out that it really hurts when they do that.

we give 1 ball inside, 1 ball outside, nipples to knees (not just top of knee)

That's the way it is with me too BUT this week I was informed by a RAT - that the F bomb is not really swearing. Hmmmmmm?? I smiled and said it is here and it is today. :clap:

fortunately, yes. Just need to find a good goldsmith to do it ........... then work a bunch of games to pay for it. :clap:

Legion DH Saturday. Pitcher for home team is real ace. Went 8-0 in his college season. Kid has great stuff and great velocity. I've never seen that kind of action on a ball before. 3rd inning. I'm in stance with hands behind catcher. F1 fires a nasty pitch. Batter, bunting, caught like deer in headlights. Ball glances slightly off bat. Catcher tries to adjust and make catch but twists, exposing my left hand. Ball smacks the back of my hand, right on the knuckles so hard, that my indicator literally breaks. PAIN!! I'm on one knee watching hand swell and wedding band nearly disappear. Catcher is picking up pieces of indicator. After a few minutes the pulsating throbbing ceased and I had constant pain without the throbbing unless I tried to move it. Finished my half of the DH with spare indicator in other hand. Couldn't hold anything in left hand. Had xray - NOTHING BROKEN! except indicator. Doc couldn't believe it. You can still see the seams and every stitch across the knuckles of last 3 fingers. Had to cut off wedding band. Swelling just a bit better. I know I've been told NOT to put hands behind back - but am thinking about it. I will tonight for sure. I've got plate JV game.

you forgot the exception 1e to that rule which explicitly states: "Unless blue is red!"

Monday night, JV BB. It was windy, but the wind was steady the whole game. No problems with fly balls in the field etc. Late in game VT behind by 5 with 1 out and bases loaded. We signal IFF. 2nd pitch batter hits huge pop fly between F5 and F1. I point and call IFF- batter out if fair. PU concentrating on runner at 3rd. Sure enough, ball gets "dropped" and runner on 3rd takes bait and takes off. Gets tagged out. We look up and BR is standing on first. I pointed and called him out again as result of IFF. Coach miffed big time. Complaining not IFF because of wind - not a routine play. Then as he yanks bat from PU's hand made comment under breath about he knew it was dusty cause of the WIND, but blues had to keep their eyes open and actually see a play. Partner was winding up ready to toss but looked at me and I shook my head. The tag was out 3 of the 7th. We made tracks to car.

Amen! got to a game two weeks ago. I was supposed to do the plate for a JV SB game. When I got to the field and was getting into my gear, the commissioner came to me and told me he had to make a late change. The BU for the varsity baseball game had been in an accident earlier that afternoon and was in the hospital. The only person he could find that was available was only certified in SB and was first year. So, he understood I would look funny in my plate shoes and light blue shirt but he wanted me to be the BU for the baseball game. I didn't look funny at all. Went back to car, pulled out the baseball navy and base shoes and exchanged the beanie for a regular hat. Made an extra $30 bucks too. I always keep extra shirts (one of each) and both pairs of shoes in my bag.

I believe that younger kids develop part of their attitude and mouth towards umpires when they have to watch and experience shoddy umpires. Rat coaches don't help either - but if they experience quality umpires when younger - they will respect them more as they get older.

I do both like so many people appear to do. I haven't really developed a serious preference of one over the other. I try to look and do my best with both. What bothers me the most are the umps that don't dress properly or hustle for softball because "it's just a bunch of girl's". I literally want to reach out and slap them. They talk like everything is less important for girls, not just their umping, but that the games for the players are less important as well. The other comments I've heard that get my dander up are the ones that imply a u12 game is less important than a HS varsity game is. Trust me, it's just as important for those younger kids! And should be for any ump. If you can't be on your best game with 10 and 12 year olds - you will never have a "best" game with anything above.

I found this post on "Thoughts from the other side" interesting and have nominated it accordingly for "Post Of The Month April, 2010"

Sorry, I guess I misread or took what you were trying to say wrong at first. I will speak with the coaches at the plate meeting but that's partly because I don't do the "good ole boy buddy" routine prior to that. Most of the conversations I've had will be a coach asking if I ever get any time off. I officiate 4 sports and he has sees me all year round either because he is coaching or is in the stands watching his own kids play. So it's really only a "how's it going" type of thing - not the back slapping routine.

I try not to let the little things get to me before a game even starts. If that's the worst thing that happens you've had a great night as you stated. I myself have actually spoken at the plate when not UIC - especially if one of coaches knows me from this or another sport or says something to me. I don't wait for a "look" or "nod" from UIC giving permission. I understand it's a pet peeve for you - but I gotta be honest - the evil look you gave would have had no chilling effect on me what-so-ever. Might have even drawn a smile and head shake. That said, I've never had a plate meeting go any longer than a minute or two and that's if there are several ground rules to go over whether I'm UIC or BU.

I've always used the throat guard - but never been hit in that area. Soooooo, yesterday I read this thread. Last night I'm behind plate and batter fouls one off smack dead center into my throat guard. First time ever. Yes - it hurt and startled me but after about 20 - 30 seconds I was ready to go again. Thank heavens I wear one. BTW - my day job is that of a choral/vocal teacher.

Agree - last night 20+ run lead. HC home team walks by and says, "opening it up, right?" I nodded. (He is also a long time ump) I heard him tell kids if anyone struck out looking they were going to be running fences the next day for the entire practice. They didn't have to run!

per coaches request as teaching tool

Similar to our game last night. VT down 21-1. They can't seem to make an out. Bases loaded again and HT not aggressively running bases at all. New pitcher comes in. Windup position. Brings hands together and stops - then raises both hands, brings them back down and stops again, then completes pitch. It sailed over everyones head into backstop. I call ball as I see partner speaking with pitcher. Same thing next 3 pitches and another run walked in. Finally batter bunts, beautiful as ball stops just outside batters box and catcher only has to grab ball and step on plate for final out. Had discussion with coach but just was not going to call the balk and continue walking runners home at 21-1. Home coach just smiled and nodded knowingly. The following inning (final) we did call two balks for this on first batter. Pitcher went to stretch and no problems. He has to work out a bad habit.

Last May, a parent was a problem, standing behind backstop harassing my partner on every call. Stands are on the baselines, not behind backstop. Finally, UC tells HC he has to have fan in stands. Still complains loudly but is in stands. Finally home team scores 1-0 as it begins to rain - a good gusher for about 10 minutes. BTW - teams tied for conference title. We suspended game and when rain stopped began working on field. About 20 minutes after that we called coaches to mound with pitcher and had each of them take a couple throws to make sure footing was ok with all. No problems. Teams take field again and we hear from Dad again about how we were "trying to injure his daughter" - the pitcher. UC stops game looks at coach and says game suspended until the fan was removed. Daughter embarassed beyond belief. Fan leaves. Following game we are going to car and fan shows up and pushed partner in chest. We turned around and walked back to coach - who called 911. By the time we got back to parking lot state troopers are their. He asked which fan and started getting out cuffs. We were asked if we wanted to press charges for assault. He told us he was going to get arrested for disorderly conduct regardless. We declined to press charges. Received a letter from AD two days later stating parent was banned from attending any further games where that school was participating - including away games as part of an agreement with DA. Neither the school or law enforcement was fooling around with this type of behavior. It kind of gives you a warm fuzzy knowing that they have your back.

The question I received was that the coach wanted 3rd base awarded. However, at the time the ball rolled into dugout, BR was a step away from the bag. He touched base, overran, and then came back and stood on bag. I had time called and waved him to second base which was 2 base from time of pitch, but 1 from where he was standing. Had he already touched 1st base when ball rolled OOP I would have awarded 3rd.

Thanks - that was not an issue - definately came back and made sure he touched base.

Similar situation last night. Fed rules. On fairly routine play F6 overthrows 1st baseman. Ball rolls into dugout as BR overruns 1st. 1 base awarded BR. Correct?

My only experience with CI this year was really EASY! No one upset. Before I could even make a call the catcher stands up as says, "Crap, I interefered with her" Subsequently, it was an easy call for me to make. Both coaches LTAO! Catch looks at me and says, "Oops!"