Had a bad weekend on the field...

[Daniel]

Scheduled for a two-day tournament this weekend, 7 games. I really only had fun ONE game on Sunday, the rest I just didn't want to be there for.

Saturday we were on a field with a very short backstop, dirt like sand, and a surface that plained upward behind the catcher. It was enough to make me feel like I was setup too high above the catcher. Most of the catchers weren't too great either, and I struggled through the day.

FF to yesterday, Sunday. I have the plate for game two of three. Two excellent teams playing each other. A few innings in, I covered third on a 1st to 3rd deal, and called her out at third. As I am heading back to the plate, 1B coach starts coming down the line, insisting that I need to "get help" on that. I said to him, loud enough for their HC to hear, "Are you the head coach?" He replies, while pointing at 3B coach, "No that's the head coach". I told him "Ok, then you need to go back to your box and remain quiet." He walks away, I walk way, then my dumba$$ of a partner calls TIME and wants to talk. I thought maybe something happened so I go to him "Ok what's up?" He goes "Just try to be more professional. Send him back to his box but leave out all the extras." I told him we will talk after the game. I just walk away thinking WTF. Keep in mind, this is coming from a guy who sits with the fans before the game starts, and has nothing to offer about being "more professional". Between half innings, the AC asked if he was allowed to discuss judgement calls. I told him no and he said thank you blue.

Later we had a banger at HP where I asked to see the ball, and called the runner out. I knew 1B coach wanted to say something but kept his mouth shut and walked back to the dugout. This approach to handling ACs DOES work.

[csabo17]

Wow. Would of been hard to bite my tongue there. I dont think you were unprofessional at all there. Was this guy a new ump?

[mstaylor]

So how ugly was the post game conversation?

[Umpire in Chief]

God bless you for doing 7 games. I use to want as many games as I could squeeze in. Now if any way possible I avoid doing more than 2 in a day, no matter the level. I will do 3 if my assigner is in a pinch, but more than 3 is a guaranteed turn-back.

[JaxRolo]

7 games for 2 days is not to awful bad. Its when I work 6 one day and 5 the next that is bad.

[Daniel]

Well he didn't want to discuss it. He goes, "Its over and its done with." I gave up trying to talk about it.

He's middle-aged guy, been umpiring 20+ years now, but is probably one of the worst guys to work with in our group. He has a very crude personality, or as he told me his told him at work - he is very "coarse". One of the guys in our assoc. works D-I ball and does training for our group has openly given up on trying to help him become a better umpire. The only reason he gets games is because he's in politically speaking and we need umpires.

[bam]

You're doing to many games, brother

[cuban]

I have a hard time doing anymore than 9 innings.

[Called3rdStrike]

I would love working 7 in two days. Just did the USSSA world series in Alabama and have done 18 thurs-Friday.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Well he didn't want to discuss it. He goes, "Its over and its done with." I gave up trying to talk about it.

He's middle-aged guy, been umpiring 20+ years now, but is probably one of the worst guys to work with in our group. He has a very crude personality, or as he told me his told him at work - he is very "coarse". One of the guys in our assoc. works D-I ball and does training for our group has openly given up on trying to help him become a better umpire. The only reason he gets games is because he's in politically speaking and we need umpires.

Oh, see now this is an example of an umpire who has one year of experience 20+ times. I would rather work with a first-game rookie than one of these dipsh*ts.

[Dannytheman]

:wow: I'm pooped after 2- 6 inning games. I have done 4 games in 2 days and hated that! I am happy for those younger guys who can hande more!

[csabo17]

I have 6-7 inn games tomorrow. First time ive attempted more then 4. Good thing its only 100 degrees in Cincinnati!

[umpire_scott]

My two favorite working with dips**t stories:

1. I'm behind the plate and one of the more experienced guys in our association is on the bases. This is a FP game. Runner on first and BR hits a gapper to left-center. I follow the ball and then move up the 3rd base line to get in line for a play there. She is going to be easily safe at third, and my partner is older. It's very unlikey if she tries for home that he's going to be able to get there. Si I only go about 2/3 of the way up the line, and get a good angle. The SS cuts the ball and the 3rd base coach decides to hold the runner. The throw then comes into 3rd behind the runner. My BU is in position to make the call as am I. I hesitate to see if he is going to make it, as I don't want a situation where we make simultaneous, different calls. I see or hear nothing immediate from him so I make the safe call . He looks at me and says something, but I can't completely make it out. The third base coach thought he was talking to him and says "what?". My BU says "Not you. I was just telling my partner he needed to get into better position to make that call". Needless to say between innings I told him to save that for between innings or the post game.

2. I'm working with a guy I've never worked with before in a semi competitive private FP league. We are doing 14-16 year olds. After the top of the first inning, I'm going around making sure the bases are clean and brushing them off. After brushing off second I look at the pitching plate and determine that it is clean. It was a raised up plate as they need to change it depending on the age groups. It had maybe to specks of dirt on it. Looked almost brand new. So I don't clean it. The PU comes out and brushes it off, which I found odd, but whatever. After the next half inning I make sure, even though it once again is almost completely clean that I brush the pitching plate off. Next half inning it's once again clean so I leave it alone. He comes out to brush it then looks at me and snidely says "You know this is supposed to be your job". I've never done this before, but I was so pissed I walked over to him and said "If you disrespect me like that again then we are going to have a problem. The pitching plate does not need to be cleaned every single half inning, but if you want me to do that then you need to simply and politely ask me, not call me out like that".

[umpire_scott]

I have 5 games Saturday and 6 on Sunday. Not that I prefer to do that many, but that seems to be how they schedule here. So I guess I need to get used to it to an extent.

[JaxRolo]

I do not work a lot of softball. Mostly just post season tournaments.

I refuse to carry a brush on the bases. I will not do it. No how no way.

I have nothing against others doing it. Not me!

[umpire_scott]

I do not work a lot of softball. Mostly just post season tournaments.

I refuse to carry a brush on the bases. I will not do it. No how no way.

I have nothing against others doing it. Not me!

So you carry it for baseball but not softball? Or you won't carry it on the bases no matter the sport? I presume you just kick clean the bags and pitching plate then?

To each his own, but I always thought it made me look unprofessional or unprepared to not have an indicator and brush on the bases.

[UMP45]

:shakehead:

[JaxRolo]

I'm not talking about an indicator.

I do not ever touch the bases or pitchers plate!

No, not me!

[umpire_scott]

I'm not talking about an indicator.

I do not ever touch the bases or pitchers plate!

No, not me!

I can't tell if you are being serious or not. I always was told that it was our responsibility to brush them off.

[UmpTTS43]

I'm not talking about an indicator.

I do not ever touch the bases or pitchers plate!

No, not me!

I can't tell if you are being serious or not. I always was told that it was our responsibility to brush them off.

It is. If you work softball.

[umpire_scott]

But not baseball? Learned something else today. Is it forbidden or just optional?

[JaxRolo]

But not baseball? Learned something else today. Is it forbidden or just optional?

It is not optional.

I am totally fine if an Umpire wants to do it during a softball game. I won't do it. I do not see the purpose of it. I am sure there is one.

In a baseball game if I am PU I will not allow it. If I am BU I will not let PU come brush off the Pitcher's plate.

[umpire_scott]

But not baseball? Learned something else today. Is it forbidden or just optional?

It is not optional.

I am totally fine if an Umpire wants to do it during a softball game. I won't do it. I do not see the purpose of it. I am sure there is one.

In a baseball game if I am PU I will not allow it. If I am BU I will not let PU come brush off the Pitcher's plate.

Are we talking about the same thing here? You are saying that in baseball BU is prohibited from carrying a brush and cleaning the bases and pitchers plate? When you say ". . .if I am PU I will not allow it.", are you saying you won't allow a BU to clean the bases?

I get that you don't see a purpose, but why exactly are you making such a strong stand on this? This seems so strange I almost think you are just messing with me.

[JaxRolo]

Didn't say it was prohibited.

I do have a strong stance on this because i think it looks ridiculous..

It's called a Plate Brush for a reason. Not a base brush or a pitchers plate brush.

[Replacematt]

No serious umpire does it, and if you do it, you won't be taken seriously.