HP form tackles F1

[Jocko]

Lengthy. Bear with me.

As many of you know, I call Mexican Men's League and work solo. Always behind the plate. The strike zone is better and I can judge fair/foul more accurately. Plus, everything is in front of me. So I'm on the dish and Speedy Gonzalez hits a liner to the LF alley. I bounce out and am about 1/2 way between the mound and the dish watching him touch 1B. He pulls up, apparently not going to try to stretch it into a 2 bagger. I pull up and find the ball. I guess F7 bobbled it or booted it because I see BR in my peripheral take off for 2B. The ball is in the air, gonna be a whacker. I break into full sprint, busting ass to get into position in the working area for the call. 3 or 4 strides into my sprint, F1 decides it's a good idea to back up the throw from F8 (wtf???). I never saw him. In full stride, he steps in front of me, and KABLAM! I trucked him and we both hit the ground. I'm uninjured, but he's writhing in pain (I'm 6', 235-240lbs, he's 5'7" or so and weighs maybe 170lbs). Of course I never saw the play. Other than a grass stain on the left leg of my GD plates (dammit!), I'm no worse for the wear. F1 had the wind knocked out of him, but no real injury. I decided to remove my gear and call the last 2 innings behind F1, and will do just that every solo game from here on in.

[guyinaredhat]

Bad idea , I work solo games every so often and I worked a few seasons umping in the mexican men's league (solo) and I would NEVER call from Behind the mound unless I absolutely had to .

When it comes to 1 man games keep your head on a swivel, and angle over distance .

[grayhawk]

Bad idea , I work solo games every so often and I worked a few seasons umping in the mexican men's league (solo) and I would NEVER call from Behind the mound unless I absolutely had to .

When it comes to 1 man games keep your head on a swivel, and angle over distance .

Agreed. I think the negatives of working solo behind F1 far outweigh the positives. I work solo quite often and always behind the plate. The only call I have to make where I get pretty much no angle at all is the back pick to third base. Some of the steal attempts at second can be tough, but everyone knows that. From behind F1, you are pretty well screwed on any bounding balls near the 1B and 3B bags.

[Jocko]

I absolutely agree, HP is better. However, the Pres. of the league emailed requesting call behind mound for "safety" resaons. I can't argue, and if I tank a foul call, oh well.

[BRUMP]

I absolutely agree, HP is better. However, the Pres. of the league emailed requesting call behind mound for "safety" resaons. I can't argue, and if I tank a foul call, oh well.

That sucks. I would never want to work solo from behind the mound

[grayhawk]

I absolutely agree, HP is better. However, the Pres. of the league emailed requesting call behind mound for "safety" resaons. I can't argue, and if I tank a foul call, oh well.

Certainly no reason to fight city hall.

[Jocko]

I absolutely agree, HP is better. However, the Pres. of the league emailed requesting call behind mound for "safety" resaons. I can't argue, and if I tank a foul call, oh well.

Certainly no reason to fight city hall.

especially when city hall pays $14.44 @ inning

[mstaylor]

So one collision in how many years, how many games? For this they are sacrificing 75% of your calls?

[spiritump]

one man sucks

[BRUMP]

So one collision in how many years, how many games? For this they are sacrificing 75% of your calls?

Everything leagues do is reactionary and over the top.

[mstaylor]

First it is crap that they only use one guy, then to dictate that he stands in the worse spot to make at least 75% of his calls. Personally I think that is a low number. It sacrifices ball/strikes, fair/foul and calls at first. Also OOP balls on overthrows. I assure you if they were playing soccer they would insist on three refs. I have worked two man and they cry like babies.

[Pete Peterson Sr]

I absolutely agree, HP is better. However, the Pres. of the league emailed requesting call behind mound for "safety" resaons. I can't argue, and if I tank a foul call, oh well.

Certainly no reason to fight city hall.

especially when city hall pays $14.44 @ inning

Yeah, but it's a shame your assigner doesn't know the rules worth a flip. He only calls me every weekend to ask about things I think he should already know, lol.