Security escort from the field

[Dash Riprock]

First game of the last league series of the year for two HS Varsity teams - both on the playoff bubble.  Big game, big crowd.

 

1.  Middle of the game, HT down a run and they have a runner on 3rd with 2 outs.  F2 receives the pitch, takes a step backwards and belts me in the mask with his throwing hand as he air-mails it into left field trying to pick R3.  A career first for me.  I am screaming "TIME!" at the top of my lungs, repeatedly killing the ball, but no one hears me over the deafening jubilation over scoring the run that ties the game.  It finally sinks in when I point at the runner who scored and tell him to return to 3rd.  My explanation to the HC is not well-received.  The runner is left stranded as I bang out the batter on a 3-2 pitch that paints the inside corner (the batter tossed his bat away and started trotting to 1st).

 

2.  Visiting team has a lefty starter who has picked 3 runners.  He has a herky-jerky way of pitching (and throwing), but he is stepping directly towards 1st base, and his motion is continuous and uninterrupted.  He is getting them with double head fakes. It is actually a very easy move to pick up (my partner is getting a big step and pivot with each one), but the HT runners and the 1B coach (a former D2 lefty pitcher) aren't learning.  I hear various reasons why he is balking - he's deceiving the runner (no doubt about that!), that's a double-pump, he's not stopping, he's bouncing, etc.  An inning later (after I have ignored all those VT balks), the HT pitcher does a jump turn to 1st with R1 and R2 and fails to throw.  My partner and I grab it at the same time.  Both runners eventually score.

 

3.  Bottom of the 7th.  Despite my (obviously biased) history of removing HT runners from the bases (or moving them backwards) and advancing VT runners, the HT is only down 1.  The leadoff batter walks on a wild pitch that goes through the only hole in the backstop.  The BR winds up on 2nd ("TIME! Batter - 1st base" doesn't register with him) and I have to go out and continue my strategy of counter-clockwise base awards for the HT.  "That's 2 bases blue!"  "He gets one for the walk and one for the wild pitch!"

 

4.  The next batter strikes out swinging with R1 (who of course should be R2) stealing, and he steps out of the box right in front of F2.  I call the INT when it happens and let the play finish.  F2 still gets off a throw but R1 is safe on a very close play.  I mutter "Oh SH*#" to myself, but I have to do it.  "TIME!  That's interference.  You're out on strikes (pointing at the batter) and you're out on the interference" (pointing at the runner).  "He's entitled to swing!"  "Show me his footprint in front of the plate!" (there were about a hundred footprints in front of the plate).  "He's not out, he goes back!"  And so it goes.  I am becoming a real fan favorite around here.

 

5.  There are now 2 outs and no runners, but no batter in the box.  I start calling for a batter and notice he is about 20 feet up the 3rd base line and not advancing towards the plate.  I tell him he needs to get in the box.  I heard several rumblings of "protest" but I ignored them since they weren't directed at me.  I believe the HT coaching staff is trying to look up (or google) the batter interference rule, and that the batter has been instructed to not get in the box since they know they will forfeit their right to protest if a pitch is thrown to him.  More than 20 seconds have now elapsed (by far).  I tell the batter he needs to get in the box NOW or I will start ringing up strikes.  He doesn't even look at me.  "Strike one!"  (the pitcher did not pitch).  Now the fans are telling me of the damage I am inflicting on the youth of America.  The batter then got in the box and ultimately walked.  The pitch was close, but it was up and I had balled the same pitch all day.  After all, I am a man of integrity.  The next batter hit a routine fly ball and it was over.

 

Thankfully, security was right there to get us out safely.  They stayed with us until we left (about 15 seconds later).

 

I hope you never have one of these.

[Thunderheads]

sounds to me Dash, that you have to start doing games where people know the rules!

 

Oh ....

Uhm.....

Wait ......

 

 

[JHSump]

Sounds like a "fun" time!

 

What was the security?  Police?  Had they been there from the beginning?  Or, did they show up later, perhaps called in?

[Dash Riprock]

Sounds like a "fun" time!

 

What was the security?  Police?  Had they been there from the beginning?  Or, did they show up later, perhaps called in?

A "yellow shirt" is supposed to be there at all times, although there was another game (lacrosse) going on that he was also responsible for.  Girls were also playing but they never need security.  He realized the potential situation and had called for backup.  Both the yellow shirt and a security patrol car (not police, but I believe they are armed) stayed with us at our cars until we left.  I am sure they deterred fans from approaching us.

[maven]

Wow. I've had each of those "unpopular" calls, sometimes 2 in a game, but never all together. Congratulations!

 

Last weekend I called BI on a batter who had just struck out, and a fan behind the backstop spent the next inning reporting to me that he had "seen that call on TV, too, blue!" Whatev's, my friend!

[blue23ll]

Don't you just love these calm, relaxing games?  I had a game on Saturday, I knew it was a rivalry game as both teams are in the same town, but I didn't expect to see over 500 people, a military color guard and the press there. It kind of kicks it up a notch or two.

[grayhawk]

Wow Dash - you had a whole season's worth of crap in one game!

It's good that security was there. Was it needed? Meaning, did the crowd have their torches and pitchforks out, or were they behaving?

[Thunderheads]

Wow Dash - you had a whole season's worth of crap in one game!

It's good that security was there. Was it needed? Meaning, did the crowd have their torches and pitchforks out, or were they behaving?

Witch Hunt

[blue23ll]

I have an image of  "The Wicker Man" in my head...

[Dash Riprock]

Wow Dash - you had a whole season's worth of crap in one game!

It's good that security was there. Was it needed? Meaning, did the crowd have their torches and pitchforks out, or were they behaving?

Oh they wanted us - no doubt about that.  Security was most definitely needed.

 

I give credit to the HT HC.  I had dumped him from a game last year, and my partner had gotten rid of him this year (I had the bases for that game).  I did not eject him from this game (or even warn him).  Although he protested each of the above calls vehemently, his protests were neither personal ("That's a brutal call" is ok, "You are brutal" would have been an immediate EJ), profane, nor prolonged.  Furthermore, at one point in the game I barked at his bench for starting a loud orchestrated chant as the VT pitcher was about to pitch.  He came down from the 3rd base coaches box and wanted to know why I had approached his bench.  I told him they were trying to distract the pitcher with the chant (can't do that thanks to FED interp #12) and he immediately went to his bench and shut it down.  Maybe he knew I had the rules right (highly unlikely) or maybe he wanted to be HC for the next game (highly likely).

[Majordave]

Man you were (are?) a magnet for difficult calls.

Glad you made it through okay.

I recently had a game with RLI, FPSR Violations(plural), OBS, INT and CI (multiple) along with bench warnings. AND I had gangbanger fans calling me very bad names and making threats from behind home plate. The nicest thing they called me was an "over-umpiring motherF*#Ker". I seriously laughed out loud at that one.

Was I scared? Sorta, but I've been to Afghanistan and these KC gangbangers didn't look near as menacing to me as some of the Kandahari and Helmandi villagers I "met" there. And no, didn't see any game management or police at the site. Did not take my phone on the field nor did my partner.

Wound up being no violence and nobody followed us out. I at least had my mask but doubtful that would have worked against a crowd or a gun.

Gotta love high school umpiring. Sometimes it's as thrilling as being in a combat zone.

[grayhawk]

 

Wow Dash - you had a whole season's worth of crap in one game!

It's good that security was there. Was it needed? Meaning, did the crowd have their torches and pitchforks out, or were they behaving?

 

Oh they wanted us - no doubt about that.  Security was most definitely needed.

 

 

I figured that was the case since it sounds like you got in your cars and left immediately.  Sounds like you did an excellent job of "taking the game away from the kids" since every fan is certain that we start every game with this goal.  

[Dash Riprock]

 

 

Wow Dash - you had a whole season's worth of crap in one game!

It's good that security was there. Was it needed? Meaning, did the crowd have their torches and pitchforks out, or were they behaving?

 

Oh they wanted us - no doubt about that.  Security was most definitely needed.

 

 

I figured that was the case since it sounds like you got in your cars and left immediately.  Sounds like you did an excellent job of "taking the game away from the kids" since every fan is certain that we start every game with this goal.  

 

The last thing I say to my partner as we bump fists and head to the field:  "Let's go crush some dreams."

[Thunderheads]

 

 

 

Wow Dash - you had a whole season's worth of crap in one game!

It's good that security was there. Was it needed? Meaning, did the crowd have their torches and pitchforks out, or were they behaving?

 

Oh they wanted us - no doubt about that.  Security was most definitely needed.

 

 

I figured that was the case since it sounds like you got in your cars and left immediately.  Sounds like you did an excellent job of "taking the game away from the kids" since every fan is certain that we start every game with this goal.  

 

The last thing I say to my partner as we bump fists and head to the field:  "Let's go crush some dreams."

 

LOL!

Mine is .......

"lets' go call 'em as if we see 'em!"

[ALStripes17]

Wow Dash - you had a whole season's worth of crap in one game!

It's good that security was there. Was it needed? Meaning, did the crowd have their torches and pitchforks out, or were they behaving?

Oh they wanted us - no doubt about that. Security was most definitely needed.

I figured that was the case since it sounds like you got in your cars and left immediately. Sounds like you did an excellent job of "taking the game away from the kids" since every fan is certain that we start every game with this goal.

The last thing I say to my partner as we bump fists and head to the field: "Let's go crush some dreams."

I have the exact same routine!!

With "hopes and" added bw 'some' and 'dreams'

[Majordave]

@Dash Riprock

@ALStripes17

You are some Sick Effers. Hahaha!

[Dash Riprock]

@Dash Riprock

@ALStripes17

You are some Sick Effers. Hahaha!

It serves to remind me that it's just a baseball game regardless of the level of play or the circumstances.

[noumpere]

The most important rule is the first four words of the (actual) rule book.

[ALStripes17]

The most important rule is the first four words of the (actual) rule book.

Guessing without looking:

Baseball is a game...?

[maven]

 

The most important rule is the first four words of the (actual) rule book.

Guessing without looking:

Baseball is a game...?

 

 

But aren't the next words equally important?

...in which your kids stand to make millions and millions of dollars!

[ALStripes17]

The most important rule is the first four words of the (actual) rule book.

Guessing without looking:

Baseball is a game...?

But aren't the next words equally important?

...in which your kids stand to make millions and millions of dollars!

I had three 2014 draft picks in my 9-10 year old doubleheader last week.

[SoCal Lurker]

 

 

The most important rule is the first four words of the (actual) rule book.

Guessing without looking:

Baseball is a game...?

 

 

But aren't the next words equally important?

...in which your kids stand to make millions and millions of dollars!

 

 

Well, he would if you guys didn't keep ruining his life, week after week! 

[elares]

Every kid that plays at our local league has had their Guaranteed Major League Baseball Career ruined by only one thing....bad umpires.