Just when you thought you’ve heard it all….

[Richvee]

Good varsity baseball today. Well played, walk off bottom seven for a 4-3 game. Partner and I had a good game. He had some bangers, I had a decent zone, plays at the plate, 3 tough catch/ trap calls in the OF. We nailed them all. 
walking back to the car, parent  approached us. 
parent: “ Let me ask you guys something. I thought this game was supposed to start at 4:00. “

us: “ It did” 

patent “ Well I got here at 3:58 and you were already in the top of the first” 

Us : “ yeah???”

parent “ Well who do I complain to?”

Us: “ I don’t know sir, call your AD “

you just can’t make this stuff up  😂

 

[Jimurray]

21 minutes ago, Richvee said:

Good varsity baseball today. Well played, walk off bottom seven for a 4-3 game. Partner and I had a good game. He had some bangers, I had a decent zone, plays at the plate, 3 tough catch/ trap calls in the OF. We nailed them all. 
walking back to the car, parent  approached us. 
parent: “ Let me ask you guys something. I thought this game was supposed to start at 4:00. “

us: “ It did” 

patent “ Well I got here at 3:58 and you were already in the top of the first” 

Us : “ yeah???”

parent “ Well who do I complain to?”

Us: “ I don’t know sir, call your AD “

you just can’t make this stuff up  😂

 

That is an obscure requirement somewhere in Texas UIL procedures. I have never seen it become an issue and have probably started 1 or 2 minutes earlier a few times when our show up 5 minute meeting took my 1 minute pregame and the HTC took 30 secs to ground rule and they took the field that day without the lineups or an anthem. I actually have asked coaches on one occasion if we were ok to start early and they said yes when for some reason we somehow ended up at the plate 5 minutes early. But I'm aware of the Texas rule and ask the coaches if they want to start early but it would actually be a Texas UIL violation.

[Richvee]

3 minutes ago, Jimurray said:

That is an obscure requirement somewhere in Texas UIL procedures. I have never seen it become an issue and have probably started 1 or 2 minutes earlier a few times when our 5 minute took my 1 minute pregame and the HTC took 30 secs to ground rule and they took the field that day without the lineups or an anthem. I actually have asked coaches on one occasion if we were ok to start early and they said yes when for some reason we somehow ended up at the plate 5 minutes early. But I'm aware of the Texas rule and ask the coaches if they want to start early.

To my knowledge there’s no such rule in NJ. If we start 10- 15 minutes early it’s usually because the coaches or a representative came to us in the parking lot and asked if we’re ready we can start early. I never gave this one a second thought. Second team was finishing up I/O, walked to the field, chatted with HT coach, read our sportsmanship statements to each team, did our plate meeting and started the game. At the earliest it was 3:55-3:56. I don’t bring a watch to the field. I just found it funny. Must have been the parent of the leadoff hitter for the visitor’s. 🤭

[Richvee]

It was the “ Who do I complain to” line that really made me just shake my head. 

[wolfe_man]

8 hours ago, Richvee said:

It was the “ Who do I complain to” line that really made me just shake my head. 

Our local assignor drills us every year about not starting until 5pm exactly, because he gets calls from angry parents if we start early. 

But that's sad that they'd rather complain about you starting 2-3 minutes early, than to acknowledge how proficient you and your partner were instead.  Unfortunately, these former (complaining) interactions seem to be more typical than the latter (thankful) anymore. 

[boyinr]

Always be on time. If you can’t be on time, be early. 

[LRZ]

Us: "The game did start on time. Your phone is two minutes slow. Complain to Apple."

[mark38090]

My boss always says if you're early you're on time, if you're on time you're late, if you're late don't bother showing up. Sounds like you were on time to me. 

I actually had a parent complain this year because home plate wouldn't come clean, in the rain. Now she actually said this to the park director, "why don't you get a bucket of clean water or a house so it can be rinsed off between batters." Complaining is what they do best. 

[BLWizzRanger]

1 hour ago, mark38090 said:

My boss always says if you're early you're on time, if you're on time you're late, if you're late don't bother showing up. Sounds like you were on time to me. 

I actually had a parent complain this year because home plate wouldn't come clean, in the rain. Now she actually said this to the park director, "why don't you get a bucket of clean water or a house so it can be rinsed off between batters." Complaining is what they do best. 

I propose wearing a third ball bag to keep the paint can in.  Then, between innings, you can give the plate a fresh coat of paint, and while you are at it, redraw the boxes....

[LRZ]

1 hour ago, mark38090 said:

I actually had a parent complain this year because home plate wouldn't come clean, in the rain.

She must have had trouble tracking the low outside pitch from where she was sitting.

[Richvee]

3 hours ago, wolfe_man said:

Our local assignor drills us every year about not starting until 5pm exactly, because he gets calls from angry parents if we start early. 

But that's sad that they'd rather complain about you starting 2-3 minutes early, than to acknowledge how proficient you and your partner were instead.  Unfortunately, these former (complaining) interactions seem to be more typical than the latter (thankful) anymore. 

I proposed we give him back his admission fee… oh wait… there was none. 

[wolfe_man]

5 minutes ago, Richvee said:

I proposed we give him back his admission fee… oh wait… there was none. 

Oh no, it was a HIM!?!?!??!?  Even worse.

[boyinr]

1 hour ago, wolfe_man said:

Oh no, it was a HIM!?!?!??!?  Even worse.

SHE (Karen) probably sent him over to ask. 

[The Man in Blue]

15 hours ago, Richvee said:

Good varsity baseball today. Well played, walk off bottom seven for a 4-3 game. Partner and I had a good game. He had some bangers, I had a decent zone, plays at the plate, 3 tough catch/ trap calls in the OF. We nailed them all. 
walking back to the car, parent  approached us. 
parent: “ Let me ask you guys something. I thought this game was supposed to start at 4:00. “

us: “ It did” 

parent “ Well I got here at 3:58 and you were already in the top of the first” 

 

Us: It's five o'clock somewhere.

[Richvee]

2 hours ago, boyinr said:

SHE (Karen) probably sent him over to ask. 

Nope.  A solo dad. I’m sure there’s a male Karen term  I’m not up to speed on.  

[Tborze]

14 minutes ago, Richvee said:

Nope.  A solo dad. I’m sure there’s a male Karen term  I’m not up to speed on.  

Darren

[Velho]

3 minutes ago, Tborze said:

Darren

which one?

 

[HokieUmp]

On 5/18/2022 at 9:28 PM, Jimurray said:

That is an obscure requirement somewhere in Texas UIL procedures. I have never seen it become an issue and have probably started 1 or 2 minutes earlier a few times when our show up 5 minute meeting took my 1 minute pregame and the HTC took 30 secs to ground rule and they took the field that day without the lineups or an anthem. I actually have asked coaches on one occasion if we were ok to start early and they said yes when for some reason we somehow ended up at the plate 5 minutes early. But I'm aware of the Texas rule and ask the coaches if they want to start early but it would actually be a Texas UIL violation.

I've worked four complete (well, *I'm* done for '22, even if the state isn't) seasons in Texas, and literally had not heard of that until your post.  If we got done the plate meeting and ground rules early, we just went - not least of which because no one looked at a clock.  I mean, I wear a Fitbit, and I never look to see the time.

Although..... if I were gonna run afoul of the UIL in my time here, I think THIS violation is one I could live with.  Chicks dig the bad boys, anyway.

[Jimurray]

31 minutes ago, HokieUmp said:

I've worked four complete (well, *I'm* done for '22, even if the state isn't) seasons in Texas, and literally had not heard of that until your post.  If we got done the plate meeting and ground rules early, we just went - not least of which because no one looked at a clock.  I mean, I wear a Fitbit, and I never look to see the time.

Although..... if I were gonna run afoul of the UIL in my time here, I think THIS violation is one I could live with.  Chicks dig the bad boys, anyway.

Like I said, obscure. 

[Richvee]

7 hours ago, HokieUmp said:

If we got done the plate meeting and ground rules early, we just went - not least of which because no one looked at a clock.  I mean, I wear a Fitbit, and I never look to see the time.

I'm picturing the looks on the faces of the two coaches and my partner if I pulled out a watch at the plate meeting and said " Well, gentleman, it looks like were a little early. It's 3:54. Anything you want to discuss while we stand here waiting for our 4PM start time?"

[LRZ]

I've actually had a couple of games where ADs and/or coaches have asked us not to start early because of parental expectations. Not often, but 2-3 times over the years, and it was never a problem. Besides, what can you do but honor such requests? 

[BLWizzRanger]

45 minutes ago, LRZ said:

I've actually had a couple of games where ADs and/or coaches have asked us not to start early because of parental expectations. Not often, but 2-3 times over the years, and it was never a problem. Besides, what can you do but honor such requests? 

Well, someone has to tell Johnny to raise his elbow, squat more, keep his head still, up in the box, squash the bug, choke up, go with the pitch, pitch wasn't him, throw to the glove, bend your back, keep him close, snap it off, .... it wasn't for the parent, how will they succeed?

[Catch18]

I'm picturing the looks on the faces of the two coaches and my partner if I pulled out a watch at the plate meeting and said " Well, gentleman, it looks like were a little early. It's 3:54. Anything you want to discuss while we stand here waiting for our 4PM start time?"

Well done sir, applying that common sense, and all…..

[Velho]

3 hours ago, Richvee said:

It's 3:54. Anything you want to discuss while we stand here waiting for our 4PM start time?"

Imagine what coaches would come up with to fill the time. That's one way to get the ejections out of the way early.

[Richvee]

3 hours ago, LRZ said:

I've actually had a couple of games where ADs and/or coaches have asked us not to start early because of parental expectations. Not often, but 2-3 times over the years, and it was never a problem. Besides, what can you do but honor such requests? 

And does the AD take attendance at 4pm?  If Karen and Darren are running late do we wait for them so they don’t miss an AB from little Johnny?  I understand if we’re trying to get them going 30 minutes early. We’re talking 4-5 minutes here.