Worst Partner I've Had

[fallschum04]

I worked a 10U travel game the other day. I could tell just by the time we started the game that he was a rookie umpire who has a lot to learn on a baseball field. First of all, I can't get a hold of him the day before or the day of the game so I'm trying to find him in the parking lot. Ten minutes before the game is supposed to start, I walk to the field to see if my partner is there. Nothing. One of the coaches informs me that he was at his car on the complete other side of the parking lot from where the umpires get ready. I go to the his car to meet with him and he's got all his gear on and insists on doing the plate. Nevermind the fact that he was wearing his high school shirt (which in Ohio is a $100 fine if someone reports you) and it was the only shirt he brought so I had to follow his lead and wear the high school shirt.

 

We get to the field to do the pregame with the coaches and I had to lead the entire conference without him so much as saying a word. Once the game started, I could not believe how much he wasn't paying attention to the action of the game. During the TOP half of the first inning alone, he had to ask me for the correct count four times. When a player had fouled the ball out of play, he would stand there waiting for the pitcher to throw the ball not realizing he had to put a new ball in. This continued for the rest of the game. (Thank God for a mercy rule that ended this game at an hour and a half.) I'm surprised that there wasn't more chirping from either bench during the game. The only complaint that I heard was from the scorekeeper in the pressbox (who I've known for a long time) who came up to me between innings and basically told me that the home plate umpire was horrible and shouldn't be umpiring.

 

Nothing was wrong with any of the calls he made throughout the game. His strike zone was right on and he missed maybe one call, but his mechanics and the way he conducted himself throughout the game were straight up abysmal. After the game was over, he told me he went up to the coach of the team that had a call go against them and said "I'm sorry" and "I owe you one" to the coach. I just kind of glared at him and told him that he shouldn't say that to any coach ever.

 

It was an easy game to do barring all of the mechanics errors (not to say that I'm perfect. I missed a couple mechanics out there too.) Some people just need a lot of work to get onto a baseball field and do a good job.

[JaxRolo]

You must have worked with @Jocko

[grayhawk]

You must have worked with @Jocko

@Jocko has worked his way up to 10U?

[wingman3110]

I worked a 10U travel game the other day. I could tell just by the time we started the game that he was a rookie umpire who has a lot to learn on a baseball field. First of all, I can't get a hold of him the day before or the day of the game so I'm trying to find him in the parking lot. Ten minutes before the game is supposed to start, I walk to the field to see if my partner is there. Nothing. One of the coaches informs me that he was at his car on the complete other side of the parking lot from where the umpires get ready. I go to the his car to meet with him and he's got all his gear on and insists on doing the plate. Nevermind the fact that he was wearing his high school shirt (which in Ohio is a $100 fine if someone reports you) and it was the only shirt he brought so I had to follow his lead and wear the high school shirt.

We get to the field to do the pregame with the coaches and I had to lead the entire conference without him so much as saying a word. Once the game started, I could not believe how much he wasn't paying attention to the action of the game. During the TOP half of the first inning alone, he had to ask me for the correct count four times. When a player had fouled the ball out of play, he would stand there waiting for the pitcher to throw the ball not realizing he had to put a new ball in. This continued for the rest of the game. (Thank God for a mercy rule that ended this game at an hour and a half.) I'm surprised that there wasn't more chirping from either bench during the game. The only complaint that I heard was from the scorekeeper in the pressbox (who I've known for a long time) who came up to me between innings and basically told me that the home plate umpire was horrible and shouldn't be umpiring.

Nothing was wrong with any of the calls he made throughout the game. His strike zone was right on and he missed maybe one call, but his mechanics and the way he conducted himself throughout the game were straight up abysmal. After the game was over, he told me he went up to the coach of the team that had a call go against them and said "I'm sorry" and "I owe you one" to the coach. I just kind of glared at him and told him that he shouldn't say that to any coach ever.

It was an easy game to do barring all of the mechanics errors (not to say that I'm perfect. I missed a couple mechanics out there too.) Some people just need a lot of work to get onto a baseball field and do a good job.

Can you explain this fine in Ohio for wearing your high school shirt? You lost me there

[scrounge]

at least here in Central OH, the school shirt is authorized for travel ball until the end of the school regular season....but by the strict letter of the book, OHSAA-logo shirts are only to be worn in OHSAA (school) games

[JaxRolo]

Florida also has a fine for wearing FHSAA uniforms in non FHSAA games.

[Rulekeep]

 

You must have worked with @Jocko

@Jocko has worked his way up to 10U?

 

That was fast.

[maven]

 

 

You must have worked with @Jocko

@Jocko has worked his way up to 10U?

 

That was fast.

 

 

Do you mean in general, of for @Jocko specifically?

[grayhawk]

Florida also has a fine for wearing FHSAA uniforms in non FHSAA games.

 

In our association, wearing your HS patch on non-HS games is an ethics violation.

[fallschum04]

I'm not sure where its an OHSAA fine or just my umpiring association's fine, but we are not allowed to wear our OHSAA uniforms for any non OHSAA sanctioned ball. If someone reports us, we face a $100 fine.

[Rulekeep]

You must have worked with @Jocko

@Jocko has worked his way up to 10U?

That was fast.

Do you mean in general, of for @Jocko specifically? Just Jocko.

[Richvee]

Certainly not the best of partners, but if that's the worst partner you've ever had, you're doing OK. I've had plenty I've had to search for in the parking lot(s), had no knowledge of mechanics or signals, AND every ball/strike call seemed like he was flipping a coin. Pitches in the dirt for strikes, pitches belt high, MAYBE an inch off the plate balls. Flinching, jumping up out of his stance before the pitch hit F2's glove....Consider yourself lucky. 

[bam]

You must have worked with @Jocko

@Jocko has worked his way up to 10U?

That was fast.

Do you mean in general, of for @Jocko specifically? I heard he did a really good job in last years t-ball World Series.

[DVA7130]

 

 

 

 

You must have worked with @Jocko

@Jocko has worked his way up to 10U?

 

That was fast.

 

Do you mean in general, of for @Jocko specifically?

 

I heard he did a really good job in last years t-ball World Series.

:spit:

[Kevin_K]

Certainly not the best of partners, but if that's the worst partner you've ever had, you're doing OK. I've had plenty I've had to search for in the parking lot(s), had no knowledge of mechanics or signals, AND every ball/strike call seemed like he was flipping a coin. Pitches in the dirt for strikes, pitches belt high, MAYBE an inch off the plate balls. Flinching, jumping up out of his stance before the pitch hit F2's glove....Consider yourself lucky. 

 

@Richvee.... how many times are you going to call me out on that?  Geeze!

[wingman3110]

I don't get the OHSAA logo thing. Who cares? And who's actually going to report you?

[Jocko]

While you chumps were typing, I was calling a double header :D

[Jocko]

@bam

@Rulekeep

@maven

@JaxRolo

@grayhawk

[Rulekeep]

@Jocko, I didn't know 6U leagues had doubleheaders.

[Jocko]

@Rulekeep - it was really just one veeeeeery long one. Just seemed like a DH

[Rulekeep]

@Jocko, excuses, excuses...

[OHUMP]

I am in Ohio and when my partner shows up with his navy OHSAA shirt I still wear my navy but without my logo to me this still fits as matching your partner same shirt just one has logo one does not.

[sdix00]

I work wreck ball with a couple guys who USED to be in the HS association and they insist on wearing their old HS shirts in our wreck ball games.    Drives me nuts.. 

[KenBAZ]

Falls:

How about post game? Was he at all receptive to your constructive evaluation and encouragement?

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[Pete Peterson Sr]

Florida also has a fine for wearing FHSAA uniforms in non FHSAA games.

 

 In Alabama, you face a two-week suspension for working non-sanctioned games wearing either the state hat or shirt, but failing to wear both.