Andrew's Umpire Blog

I wasn't expecting any more games at SLAA this year, but I received a call an hour before a game was to begin. One of the teams was trying to make up an earlier rain-out, and umpires were needed. I only live a few minutes away, so I grabbed my gear and went. I wish I hadn't.

The game was Midget 2 level (13- and 14-year-olds), so I wasn't expecting much (Honestly, I don't expect much from any level at this park). My partner was a regular from another field; I'd never worked with him. Like the teams, though, I don't expect much from my partners here.

I started the game a bit early due to some ominous clouds in the distance. After ground rules, we breezed through a 1-2-3 top of the first. In the bottom, there were a few low pitches that I called balls. I could hear some grumbling in the away team dugout, but I ignore it. After another pitch, however, I hear "Oh, come on! Those are strikes!" loud enough for the other dugout to hear it. I call time, look to the dugout, yell "Coach, that's your warning for arguing balls and strikes," and write it down on my [homemade] scorecard. Amazingly, I hear nothing else from him.

After the inning and during the pitcher's warm-up, lightning strikes nearby. I clear the field. During the delay, it rains for a few minutes, which usually doesn't turn out good for this field. After 30 minutes of no lightning, I bring the players back on the field to continue. We finish the game with no delays but several periods of rain.

In the top of the 3rd, runners on second (R2) and third (R3) with two out. A grounder to the right side ends up a close play at first. The other umpire calls the runner out. The away team coach asks me if he can appeal the call (at this point, every player is off the field). I inform him that he can talk to the other umpire about the call. A minute or so later, the coach is asking me if the runner was safe or out. It appears the other umpire has allowed him to "appeal" the call -- to me (I told you I didn't expect much!). I inform the coach that at the time I was watching R3 coming home as well as the touch of third by R2. He didn't say anything else.

The umpire also has a bad habit of coming to stand next to me between innings. I mention to him that safe/out calls are not allowed to be appealed. He seemed surprised about the statement. I also informed him that even if I had seen a different call, I wouldn't have thrown him under the bus and changed his call. He again seemed surprised.

In the top of the 4th, the pitcher throws a ball about 2 feet short of the plate. It somehow bounces through the catcher and hits me on the right thigh, about an inch from my cup. It's times like these that I wish it had gone that extra inch. I'm sure a bruise will come over night.

The away team wins in 4: 17-4. Game was called due to time limit. There's a possibility of one more game at SLAA -- we'll see.