Two Partners

[Daniel]

A couple weekends ago I was working a College softball showcase about an hour from home. I worked with great partners on Friday, but Saturday and Sunday I wanted to myself. Saturday I had been partnered with the same guy for four games, and Sunday, an older gentleman for three more.

My Saturday partner I've worked with before. He wears an off-gray pair of Wal-Mart pants, faded adjustable beanie cap, and GD patent hightops. Oh and don't forget that old elastic ball bag. Not a pretty sight. His pre-game plate meeting also takes 10 minutes. He also enjoyed explaining very basic rules to me between innings for no apparent reason. While I was on bases during the one game, I was in C, slightly behind F6. One of the batters hit a blooper that landed about 15 feet infront of me. F6 didn't even make an attempt to catch it. Then she insists I was in her way. Finally, her manager comes out and talks with PU. He tells PU to tell me I need to move back and let his girls field the ball. He acknowledges his request and calls me in. "Move back into the grass. I don't want any problems with these coaches. The tournament is to show off the girls." I said to him something along the lines of I had noting to do with her lack of effort nor was I in her way. Even though I was where I am supposed to be, apparently that doesn't matter to anyone. I took it with a grain of salt. Game finished without further problems.

Now, onto my Sunday partner. Older gentleman, early 70's. Has to work one on/one off due to the heat. To me, he is weak in game management - and lets too much go to the point it hurts other umpires, particularly the younger guys like myself. He needs to "retire".

He's got the plate, I'm on the bases on game 2 of 3. 2nd inning, banger at first. I call her out. OC at 1B doesn't like it. "Oh she beat it." Nothing spectacular though.

Forth inning, another banger at first base, this time I make the call from C. Another out. Doesn't like that call either. Askes for "Time" from the PU and walks out to me. "Blue we're behind here and you're making calls like that." I said "Coach, she was out. Go back to your box." He had a few more words on his way back to the point I said "That's Enough!" to him. My partner hollers to me (with his mask on standing @ HP) "D, I got it, leave him alone, I'll take care of it."

Then the 3B Coach started chirping about the call. I sternly told him "No more from you either." Partner again shouts the same to me but louder and in a more annoyed voice. The coaches needed addressed IMO.

As we get off the field, he starts a lecture on "Eat it from the coaches when you know you kicked several calls like that." I give him that "look". Then goes on to tell me that on each of the bangers, the runner clearly beat it from his look at it. (Behind HP, looking down the 1B line with his mask on no less.) I didn't even bother responding. Infact, after the game, I went over with a another group of fellow umpires. I wanted to strangle this guy. Thankfully he was tired and I had a new partner for the Championship game.

Edited July 28, 2010 by Daniel