First time ever

[HokieUmp]

I work in the same association as UIC (aka "The Rain Man" - I'm beginning to think he's the harbinger of rain during the main baseball season. It'll stop raining around the end of June). And yet I managed to get games in Mon-Wed of this week.

Anyway, according to my logs, I've done a touch over 400 games, between here in Hampton Roads and Australia. And I had something - given some of the skill levels and all I've seen - that I thought was like seeing a yeti or a unicorn...

I finally had my first ever 3-pitch half inning.

JV game, 3- or 4-0 to the home team, and getting a little dark out (no lights at this place). Even though the score was close, there was a sense of inevitability to the game, since the road team hadn't shown any real offense. So we needed some quick innings to get done. It's the bottom of the fifth.

First pitch: fly ball to right center. Can o' corn. I think "good start."

Second pitch: fly ball to right center. Can o corn - almost the same spot. I think "Holy crap!"

Third pitch: fly ball to LEFT center, caught by F7, and it was also a fairly easy catch. I could almost hear a chorus of

Given what I'd seen during pre-game warmups, and some of the defensive play of the visiting team, I really didn't think I'd see three fly ball catches in the game, never mind in the same inning, NEVER MIND on three straight pitches.

Did it help speed us to a conclusion? Not really. The home team got 4 more in the sixth, to just keep the game going. But still: 400 games, seven seasons, two continents, and about 13 different levels (or named divisions) of play, and I had a 3-pitch inning.

Sweet.

[Umpire in Chief]

Congrats if you were behind the plate your BU owes you a steak dinner.

I've had a number of 4 pitch innings but never a 3 pitch.

I had a NABA game with ump81 2 pitches 2 outs. I told the catcher to put it right down the middle for him to put in play for me and explained the steak dinner. Here comes the pitch right sown the pipe and the batter swings and misses. AAAgh

[widac]

I finally had my first ever 3-pitch half inning.

I had one once in 200 + games. Every time we get the 1st out on 1 pitch I think about it. I had a guy tell me once about a 2 pitch inning he had.

[Ump29]

I have been umpiring 20 plus years and have had several 3 pitch half innings.

The first took about 5 years to arrive. Now I love them. Had most as PU but a couple as BU.

I have often thought of how there can be less than 3 pitches and came up with only one situation - a batter coming up with an illegal bat and being ej/out without a pitch.

Widac - how was your 2 pitch half inning done ?

[widac]

I have been umpiring 20 plus years and have had several 3 pitch half innings.

The first took about 5 years to arrive. Now I love them. Had most as PU but a couple as BU.

I have often thought of how there can be less than 3 pitches and came up with only one situation - a batter coming up with an illegal bat and being ej/out without a pitch.

Widac - how was your 2 pitch half inning done ?

Team down to 8 players...9th spot automatic out...

[Ump29]

Would not have thought of this (8 players) as in my area (OBR only) the game would have ended when any team was down to 8.

[BigBird]

I participated in a 2 pitch inning once (as a player). First batter fly out, second batter, no-pitch IBB, second pitch, 6-4-3 DP... inning over...

[widac]

I participated in a 2 pitch inning once (as a player). First batter fly out, second batter, no-pitch IBB, second pitch, 6-4-3 DP... inning over...

Nice, I hadn't thought of that one. The guy must have been some hitter to get a free pass with 1 out, nobody on. This also leads to the theoretical 1 pitch inning.

[Ump29]

I participated in a 2 pitch inning once (as a player). First batter fly out, second batter, no-pitch IBB, second pitch, 6-4-3 DP... inning over...

Also not possible in OBR !!