| I umpired an extremely competitive and closely | | | | I'm now in foul territory and Coach Joe yells to |
| fought high school baseball game a couple of days | | | | me, "That's two calls you blew." (He was referring |
| ago. My assignment was to be the field umpire | | | | to the other "banger" I had at second base where |
| and my partner was assigned to home plate. We | | | | I called the runner safe.) I decided to ignore his |
| had our pregame conference with both head | | | | last "parting shot" and simply walk to my car. I |
| coaches and they both seemed like terrific guys. | | | | was thinking how every close call an umpire |
| We shake hands and we all wish each other good | | | | makes is going to please half the people and the |
| luck. Boy, things can really change in a hurry and | | | | other half are going to be let's say, annoyed. |
| so can personalities. | | | | I have a thirty minute drive home and obviously |
| About the fourth inning, a player on one of the | | | | my thoughts are about my game ending "out call." |
| teams is taking a very HUGE lead off second | | | | I had very mixed feelings and have two thoughts |
| base. After about three pitches, the catcher | | | | going through my mind. One is that I got the call |
| throws behind him to second base. Everything | | | | right and that's every objective for an umpire so |
| looked like the runner was going to be picked off. | | | | who cares what Coach Joe thinks. The other |
| The throw from the catcher arrived at second | | | | thought is that I'm slightly bothered because as an |
| base and beat the runner there. But the throw | | | | umpire, a good game is usually when you are not |
| was high and the runner had very good speed | | | | noticed at all. I want the game to be about the |
| and got back to second base a split second | | | | players and decided by the players and not to be |
| before being tagged. So I correctly made the | | | | about the the coaches or umpires. But in this |
| "safe" call. This is when I heard the first of two | | | | case, I was very much in the limelight. |
| grumblings from, let's call him Coach Joe. Come on | | | | And then something occurred to me about Coach |
| blue...that throw beat him, etc. He whined for | | | | Joe. He broke a cardinal rule of the game...You |
| about ten seconds so I let it go and didn't say a | | | | NEVER make the third out of an inning at third |
| word. If he continued longer than that or if he said | | | | base. So either he thought the runner was safe |
| something inappropriate, I would have not | | | | or possibly he was trying to get the "heat" off |
| hesitated to have a "chat" with him. | | | | him and his poor decision and trying to blame me |
| OK, so things settle down and we get back to | | | | for HIS huge mistake. |
| playing baseball. That is until the seventh and final | | | | I've had two days to digest this and I'm at peace |
| inning. Coach Joe's team is at bat in the seventh | | | | with this situation. I truly believe that I got both |
| and final inning and are trailing by a run. They have | | | | those very close calls (bangers) right. And you |
| a runner on second base, in scoring position, | | | | know what, I too have growled at a few umpires |
| representing the tying run. There are two outs | | | | in my many years of coaching. And Coach Joe did |
| and they are a base hit away from tying up the | | | | not "step over the line." Like I said, for the most |
| game. Like I said, very close and very | | | | part I totally ignored him because his griping did |
| competitive ball game! | | | | not go on for very long or we would have had |
| The pitch to the batter is in the dirt and bounces | | | | quite a conversation. |
| away from the catcher, but only about three feet | | | | Hey, I might get to umpire Coach Joe's game |
| away. Coach Joe is coaching third base and yells | | | | again in a couple of weeks. Would I look forward |
| for his runner to break for third base. The runner | | | | to it? My honest answer is, "No, I would not." I |
| sprints for third base. The catcher makes a very | | | | have no idea if he holds a grudge or how long he |
| quick and good throw that is slightly high. I knew | | | | holds one for. |
| it was quick, not because I was watching the | | | | I'll tell you what I am certain of though. I would go |
| catcher but by how quickly it arrived at third | | | | into the game with an open mind and make |
| base. | | | | every call to the absolute best of my ability. I |
| The third baseman makes a very quick tag and | | | | could care less what uniform a player is wearing |
| tags the runner up high, around the chest area. | | | | or if Coach Joe is their coach or not. My main |
| Yours truly makes the right call..."He's OUT!" Coach | | | | responsibility is to the kids that are playing these |
| Joe is very upset. Like I said, personalities can | | | | games. |
| change in a hurry on the ball field. I'm walking off | | | | Hopefully, Coach Joe and I will do just fine when |
| the field and Coach Joe hollers to me, "He got him | | | | and if we meet again. |
| in the head." I asked Coach Joe what he meant | | | | I have a responsibility to the kids on the field to |
| by that. He said that he tagged him up high, the | | | | get the call right. My personal opinion is that the |
| runner should be safe. I told Coach Joe I could | | | | game should be about the players and NOT about |
| care less where he tagged him. | | | | coaches or umpires. |