Small Ball Blues

[Umpire in Chief]

I stated in the New Years resolutions thread I was going to try to have a better attitude about Non-Shaving age games.

Well today I had my first 2 NSA games of the season and did not meet my goal.

It was an AAU 12 double header. It started irritating when as were walking to the field there is another umpire on the field. My partner and I didn't recognize him, but both of us thought we must have been getting the second 2 games at the field today. As the umpire approaches us I don't recognize to association logo on his shirt. The umpire comes up to us and tells us "I'm glad you're here we didn't know if you were going to show and I didn't want to have to work this game." I'm just thinking WTF. At the same time my partner and I both said, "Start time is 2:00 right?" He said yes as my partner pulled out his watch and it was 1:35.

So we're not only on time, we're early. And we have this assclown insinuating we weren't going to be there and he took it upon himself to get suited up (minus the plate shoes) to work the games solo and go out on the field dressed out. We moved on past him and I told my partner I'm not going to have any tolerance to listen to this idiot who has gone way out of his way to let the whole world know he is an umpire, tell me the first thing about umpiring.

I refocused and tried to have a good attitude at first. Then I had a play where I had quick timing and initially called a runner out but the fielder didn't keep the ball. I had the bad timing and I own that, and of course I was also saying If the kid kept the routine play routine, I wouldn't have looked bad. Yes I felt bad about it but when the kid didn't come up with the ball I fixed the call. Then the coach comes out and asks but didn't have the ball when he made the tag. So I quickly went from 90% blaming myself, 10% blaming the kid to 90% me, 10% the kid and 50% irritated with the ignorant coach.

Then I found myself getting irritated with the break away bases which it seemed we were constantly calling time to fix the bases it felt like it cost us 15-20 min of game time.

Later we had several situations where w/ 2 outs and a runner on third a ground ball hit in the infield where do they go to make the play??? Home naturally, and not because they are kids but because the coach was yelling "Four, four, four!" So I can't blame the kids.

We switch out and I have the dish for #2.

First inning play at the plate, easy out. The kid slid feet first sitting up and was tagged on the chest and I don't think his slide even got him to the plate. The coach comes out, "Where did he get tagged?" I tell him in the chest. He replies, "Okay good because if you had told me in the back we would have had some words."

WTF??? Where did that come from and why the hell would I have said in the back? I just walked away. After saying something that stupid I don't think I could have said anything that wouldn't have gotten me in trouble.

Later I got asked the count. And I announced 3-1 not having remembered to click the foul that just happened, But nobody said anything. Next pitch comes in A Swinging strike. As my custom I announce the count on the 3rd & 5th pitch. So I say 3-2. The DC yells out that's 3 strikes and goes through the sequence and I'm recollecting he is probably correct. But I haven't said anything yet. Then the offensive coach comes out and says that was the 3rd strike but I can't call him out because I just announced the count as 3-1 and that's a different hitting situation and it wouldn't be fair to call the batter out when I just told him it was 3-1.

I asked the OC you agree that was the 3rd strike? He says yes. I continue that since were in agreement, then the batter is out. The coach goes on about it not being fair. I told him yes I botched the count but that is something I can fix and did. You said you knew I had it wrong when I said it, then you should have said something then and it is always the players and coaches responsibility to know the situation.

Something else happened with my partner where my partner was right and a coach made some ridiculous argument.

Days like this do not bode well for me keeping a good attitude in youth games.

[scrounge]

Look on the bright side - the War Stories forum will have PLENTY of content

I stated in the New Years resolutions thread I was going to try to have a better attitude about Non-Shaving age games.

Well today I had my first 2 NSA games of the season and did not meet my goal.

It was an AAU 12 double header. It started irritating when as were walking to the field there is another umpire on the field. My partner and I didn't recognize him, but both of us thought we must have been getting the second 2 games at the field today. As the umpire approaches us I don't recognize to association logo on his shirt. The umpire comes up to us and tells us "I'm glad you're here we didn't know if you were going to show and I didn't want to have to work this game." I'm just thinking WTF. At the same time my partner and I both said, "Start time is 2:00 right?" He said yes as my partner pulled out his watch and it was 1:35.

So we're not only on time, we're early. And we have this assclown insinuating we weren't going to be there and he took it upon himself to get suited up (minus the plate shoes) to work the games solo and go out on the field dressed out. We moved on past him and I told my partner I'm not going to have any tolerance to listen to this idiot who has gone way out of his way to let the whole world know he is an umpire, tell me the first thing about umpiring.

I refocused and tried to have a good attitude at first. Then I had a play where I had quick timing and initially called a runner out but the fielder didn't keep the ball. I had the bad timing and I own that, and of course I was also saying If the kid kept the routine play routine, I wouldn't have looked bad. Yes I felt bad about it but when the kid didn't come up with the ball I fixed the call. Then the coach comes out and asks but didn't have the ball when he made the tag. So I quickly went from 90% blaming myself, 10% blaming the kid to 90% me, 10% the kid and 50% irritated with the ignorant coach.

Then I found myself getting irritated with the break away bases which it seemed we were constantly calling time to fix the bases it felt like it cost us 15-20 min of game time.

Later we had several situations where w/ 2 outs and a runner on third a ground ball hit in the infield where do they go to make the play??? Home naturally, and not because they are kids but because the coach was yelling "Four, four, four!" So I can't blame the kids.

We switch out and I have the dish for #2.

First inning play at the plate, easy out. The kid slid feet first sitting up and was tagged on the chest and I don't think his slide even got him to the plate. The coach comes out, "Where did he get tagged?" I tell him in the chest. He replies, "Okay good because if you had told me in the back we would have had some words."

WTF??? Where did that come from and why the hell would I have said in the back? I just walked away. After saying something that stupid I don't think I could have said anything that wouldn't have gotten me in trouble.

Later I got asked the count. And I announced 3-1 not having remembered to click the foul that just happened, But nobody said anything. Next pitch comes in A Swinging strike. As my custom I announce the count on the 3rd &amp; 5th pitch. So I say 3-2. The <acronym title='Defensive coach'>DC</acronym> yells out that's 3 strikes and goes through the sequence and I'm recollecting he is probably correct. But I haven't said anything yet. Then the offensive coach comes out and says that was the 3rd strike but I can't call him out because I just announced the count as 3-1 and that's a different hitting situation and it wouldn't be fair to call the batter out when I just told him it was 3-1.

I asked the <acronym title='Offensive coach'>OC</acronym> you agree that was the 3rd strike? He says yes. I continue that since were in agreement, then the batter is out. The coach goes on about it not being fair. I told him yes I botched the count but that is something I can fix and did. You said you knew I had it wrong when I said it, then you should have said something then and it is always the players and coaches responsibility to know the situation.

Something else happened with my partner where my partner was right and a coach made some ridiculous argument.

Days like this do not bode well for me keeping a good attitude in youth games.

[sdix00]

Glad I am not the only one.

LL 12U game went great all night long. 1 man.

R1. routine grounder to F4, who for some reason lobs the ball to F3, in time. Dunno why, but I watched the lob in to the glove instead of shifting my eyes to the bag. Maybe I knew I wouldn't hear a POP of the glove. Anyway, throw beats the runner by 2 steps. Wait for F3 to pull the ball from his glove.

Me: "He's out"

the world: "WWHHHAATTTTT!!!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOO!!"

1bc: "He's off the bag!!!!!!!"

Me to myself: "F*&amp;#$ idiot"

Me to the park: "He's out"

1bc: "OK, fine"

[grayhawk]

Had a couple of interesting ones yesterday. 14U Pony game - 2 man - I am on the plate.

R1 and ground ball to F6, who flips to F4. My partner is too quick and calls him out as the ball is coming out of F4's glove. Changes the call immediately and the DC is yelling "on the transfer!" Partner yells back across the diamond (yikes!), "No! It came out before he reached for it!"

No runners, 2 outs. Ball is hit to deep short and with the throw in time, F3 cannot glove it and it gets past him. BR turns left (no problem), and makes a quick motion to 2nd, IMO, (big problem) and then tries to return to first. F3 gets the ball and tags BR as he is hurriedly trying to get back. Partner calls him safe saying he never made an attempt to 2nd. Crowd goes crazy. DC calls time and walks out to talk. Partner explains his call and as DC is walking back he asks me if I got a good look at it. I simply told him that only my partner can ask me for information on his calls. He turns around and walks back to my partner to see if he will get help, which he won't. I agree that he shouldn't have gotten help there. He was right on it and it's his call. He felt that the BR didn't do enough for him to consider it a move to 2nd and while I disagree, it was his judgement to make.

R2 and base hit to RF. F9 comes up throwing and the throw is well up the 3B line. F2 moves to catch it giving R2 enough room to get by and tries to tag R2 in the back as he is running by. I try to get a good angle but it was so far up the line, R2's body is between F2 glove and me. I cannot see a tag, nor can I hear one. F2's glove motion was continuous so I call R2 safe, "no tag!" F2 gives me a very quick look (you know the one) and there is some grumbling from the crowd, but I never heard from DC, so I think I got it right. Sometimes you just have to umpire, right?

[mstaylor]

The problem with trying to keep a good attitude on younger games is many don't focus enough. Because it is 60 ft it seems like it should be a cakewalk, that is far from the truth. Kids do unexpected things, don't make routine plays that you assume they will make and the coaches tend to be less knowledgeable. My best suggestion is to approach these games with the same focus on mechanics that you do for 90ft but also look to have fun. I work a certain amount of 60ft and I never charge for it. I do get paid for all 90ft except LL allstars. I just have fun and correct the coaches when they spout myths that abound at that level.

[KLAH316]

I was going to post this elsewhere but it seems to fit here....

USSSA Tournament yesterday, Championship Game.

I'm BU in C position, R2 stealing. I move into position, got a great angle, R2 clearly gets in under a high throw and late tag. SAFE!

Home Manager calls time from the 3B dugout and comes out to me and asks "Do I ask you to appeal to him on that or do I just go straight to him?" as he's pointing to my partner. All I said in response was "It's my call". He says ok and walks back calmly.

Some coaches.... :smachhead:

[Umpire in Chief]

Last night had 2 Pony games at 6 & 8. I actually and honestly went into the game with a good attitude and looking forward to the games and working with my partner.

I had the first plate. Got hit at least 5 times and those only count the times it hit where I didn't have protection. I probably dodged another dozen, and had another dozen off my equipment. I came so close to stepping out from behind the kid in front of me wearing the catcher's equipment but having no concept of what he is there to do and calling it from the off side of the batter like we do in coach pitch. First half inning took half an hour. The playing ability was horrid. We had a bases loaded bunt for a grand slam in the park home run. Despite my best prompting the kids only walked on and off the field, the catchers were never ready, even when they used a courtesy runner. Then they'd get upset when as soon as a catcher came to the plate I wouldn't let him take any pitches or throw it down. Somehow we did get 5 complete in the 2 hour time limit I think the score was like 17-21. Grrrrr.

Second game we start at 8:15. My partner and I hustled more in getting changed out than any of the kids did the entire first game. At the plate conference the visiting coach was on his phone at the plate meeting. When I told him he needed to get off the phone he gave me a look and didn't end his call but told the other person to hold on and held the phone open while my partner conducted the plate conference. Had I known what an ass he was going to be in the game I would have tossed him then, but I try to have as much restraint as possible in these NSA games. I have the bases but have zero plays to call all game long. Two different teams. Once again the first half inning took half an hour. The game got out of control quickly. With the visitors crushing the home team. I had several discussions with the visiting team. One on a ball I called foul from the A position as it went 2-3 feet foul of first, and the discussion wasn't with the 1st base coach right there, it was with the 3rd base coach all the way over on the other side. And the moron at first didn't have the balls to tell him to pipe down because it was well foul.

Even while leading by 20 or more the visitors continued to steal and be completely unsportsmanlike, but not outside the rules. The visitors running made the home pitcher do his best to keep the runners on which at one point led to 8-10 throws to first in a row. I was looking for anything which would allow me to manufacture an out. But couldn't get that window of opportunity. My second discussion with the visiting manager was over a dead ball pick off attempt. Home team had a runner at first they're trying a hit and run, the batter fouls the pitch off. My partner immediately fired a new ball to the pitcher who throws to first who tags the runner. Would you believe they wanted an out on this??? My ability to explain this was incredibly hampered by my attitude. I only told the coach, "the ball was dead, you can't get an out." he tried to rebut and I cut him off, "go back, there is no discussion here." So now, I'm cold, pissed off and am getting a headache and was praying for some miracle to put this game out of my misery. A while later a visitors runner slides into third and the coach is telling him to ask for time. The kid raises his hand and I reply, "No time, walk it up" My friend then informs me I have to give time when they ask. Before I jumped in his ass I just walked back to C position not even acknowledging him.

4th inning, Visitors batter fouls a pitch off his wrist and has to be replaced. New batter comes up and my partner announces the count is 1-2. "But he's a new batter blue." I honestly don't remember how right now but My partner confirmed with me his ruling was correct and I told him he was. Now I've got the visitors coach on me yet again. I told him, "we're not discussing this, go back to your box." and he gave me a look that I wanted to toss him for, but I din't have the ability based on a look. The new batter struck out on one pitch and from somewhere over on the visitors side we hear that's on you blue. The TOP of the fourth ended at 10:20, but because we started the inning we had to finish. The score is now probably 30-2, but were in the bottom of the 4th and can not start another inning so we're just 3 and a handshake away. First batter gets hit in the thigh and goes down like a sack of potatoes and decides to lie on the ground crying like a little girl, costing us another 5 minutes. Come on kid it was 40 mph at best and you're in middle school. They piece together a few hits and we don't get done until 10:45. Way too late on a school night for these kids IMHO. And now I've got to drive an hour home.

I've had 5 NSA games this year and they seem to be getting progressively worse and so does my attitude. I'm not sure how much more of these games I can do. I need a decent game, as much in terms of ability, but in terms of good attitudes coaches who try to manage their teams and not the umpires , to restore my faith in small ball games.

[ukce1861]

Wow, Warren - that sounds terrible... I'll try and remember this next time I'm doing a bad game, and just count how lucky I am...

The bunt grand slam is awesome! I've never had that, although I have seen a behind the back pitch that hit the bat that ended up a home run.

[NCAAump2]

I'm working a youth tournament this weekend...13u and 14u...hopefully my games will be tolerable.

[johnnyg08]

Kiddie ball is always a deep, deep breath.

[mstaylor]

I've done two U12 USSSA tournaments so far. I have really enjoyed doing them. Do you get some stupid questions and a hodgepodge of myths, sure but I have a had fun. I was talking to one of the managers who I had umpired when he was in school. I was talking about a pick move from the windup. He was amazed it was legal. I told him to look it up, you can do three things and one was step to a base. During his second game the pitcher comes set and just stepped to first and picked his runner. Of course Chris looks at me with his hands out to the side and says,"Mike, that has to be a balk!" I just looked at him and said three things Chris. Bad thing was he did it again later in the inning. After the inning I asked him if the rulebook mentions right and left hand pitchers? No. Can a LH pitcher step to first without stepping off? Yes. well,then so can a RH pitcher. The look was priceless. He said it made sense but it still didn't seem right. He wrote the rule cites down and said he would look them up when he got home.

[johnnyg08]

He wrote the rule cites down and said he would look them up when he got home.

I love those moments. Good for you!

[mstaylor]

When I was changing out, his boss stopped to ask a question. His boss was hosting the tournament. I told him about what happened, right as I was the coach pulled up. His boss asked if he was just having a brain cramp? The funny thing is he knows the ruling because I got him with kit 25 yrs ago. But that's another story.