Ok here is a story for the vets to laugh at and the young maybe to learn something happen to me last year early in the season.
SIT: Runners on 1st and 2nd I am the BU in this game 1 out B4 hits fly ball to center I move to the inside as F8 moves under the ball I watch for the touch and turn my eyes to the runners for proper tag ups look back to F8 to see F8 picking the ball up from the ground runners move up and B4 standing at 1st time is called and PU is calling B4 out saying he had a catch and drop on transition B4 and coach start yelling at PU so he does the dreaded appeal call down to me I go to PU knowing he is a rookie and move away from the players and ask him what he saw he tells me catch and drop on transition I say then we got a out B4 make the call. In going back to my position the coach comes after me with several players around him I try to explain the call to the coach he gets madder and starts yelling at me this was my call not the
PU's I'm thinking I'll explain the call but not going to discuss with a coach the umpires responibilities walk away and go back to my position. Couple of batters later B6 hits a grounder out to left and when coming around the bases starts trash talking to me about the earlier call (no excuse but this is my 4th game of the night it is 30% with a stiff breeze) I lose my cool and get into the runners face after time has been called and ask him WHAT YOUR PROBLEM which he replies GET OUT OF MY FACE luckily the pitcher standing by us says cant we just play ball come on guys which bring be back to my senses and I back off and say Play Ball I understand now I should have just kept by position and ejected B6 but once I went in his face it was only going to make matters worse of I would had ejected him at that time.
We made it through the rest of the night with no problems just a few nasty stares.
Here's the kickers to the story PU last about 2 more weeks and decide umpiring wasnt for him and I get a call from the UIC next week he is needing a umpire to fill in for that same field the next week I accept no problems just a few more nasty stares early but everything went smooth.
LESSON 1-10 on this always keep your composer no matter what.
LESSON 11 dont put your partner on the spot for your call unless it is absolutly needed dont just appeal to get a coach or player off your butt!!
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