Catchers say the funniest things...

[stl_ump]

I've got the plate on an 11u Fall ball game (they are still 10) and these guys are on the lower level of the skill chart but they are having fun.

Dropped 3rd strike and the catcher scoops it up and throws it straight down the line, barely clearing the runner, and gets the out.

I mention it might be easier if he took a step to his right and make the throw so the runner won't be in the way.

He says that way would make it more difficult (huh?) and besides, "I've been playing baseball my whole life and that's the way I've always done it."

All this was said matter of factly, without any attitude.

Pretty funny guy.

[Pete Peterson Sr]

In a 12U tournament, F1 asked for a new ball three times in one half-inning. I jokingly told F2 "that's the last one he gets this inning". He said, in all seriousness "He's funny about his balls"....I smiled and replied "aren't we all....aren't we all".

[stl_ump]

And for some reason, kids never get it when you are joking with them. I guess they don't think umpires have a sense of humor.

[Dragon29]

Was doing the plate in a LL Big League (17-18) game a couple of seasons ago. Had a nice repartee going w/the F2 from one team; very conversational.

Along about the 3rd inning, a batter comes to the plate with the most astonishing baseball cleats I've ever seen. Multiple colors, stripes, splotches, etc... Very bizarre looking, but not modified; they came from the mfg like that.

Anyway, this F2 gets on this batter about his shoes. Good natured ribbing; the batter gives as good as he gets and his AB ends (I don't remember how) So, for the rest of the game, every time this guy came up, F2 after his shoes again - you could tell he was thinking of funny things to say between innings because his comments just kept getting more and more derisive, and funnier and funnier as he went on.

During this kids' 4th AB of the game, I had to stop F1 from throwing a pitch - Why? Because all three of us, hitter, F2 & I, were cracking up at F2's last comment. I said something like, "Come on, guys. The show's over. We have a baseball game to finish!"

Found out after the game those two players had kind of grown up in baseball together; this was the first time they'd been on opposing teams.

Pretty entertaining for me.