Dale Scott stories

[alex7]

Dale Scott (where's the title edit button ) was one of the speakers at our Officiate Oregon Day a few weekends ago. I was amazed at his height - about 5'7" and umpiring pro ball. Cool. Question came up about how often, if ever, MLB umpires use humor during a game. Dale shared two stories:

When he first broke into the majors, he was working a game with catcher Rick Cerrone. Cerrone wanted to feel out the rookie umpire. With Cerrone catching, Dale balls a close, low pitch.

Cerrone: Come on, we gotta have that pitch.

Dale: No, that's down."

Another borderline pitch, "ball."

Cerrone: That's right there, come on.

Dale: No, that's down.

A few innings later, Cerrone comes up to bat. Sure enough there's a similar borderline low pitch."

"Strike!"

Cerrone: "Oh come on, that pitch is low!"

Dale: "That's what I've been trying to tell you!"

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Another umpire was working an MLB game where the starting pitcher gave up FOUR consecutive home runs to the home team. They're at a stadium where a ship cannon is "fired" after a home-team HR.

First HR - boom! cannon shot.

Next batter, HR, boom! cannon shot. And so on.

After the fourth HR, the home plate umpire decides to walk the ball out to the pitcher. He gets to the mound and the pitcher asks him what he's doing out there.

"Well, with the crap you're throwing today, I figured I'd give them time to re-load the cannon."

[mstaylor]

Funny stuff Alex. Title's fixed.