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Had the ultimate "straight from the case book" play last night. I know something similar to this is on the test every single year.
Two out, bases loaded. B1 hits double to right field. R2 and R3 score, but R2 misses third base on his way to the plate. Def. coach tells the pitcher to appeal, he does so properly, and I call R2 out for missing the base for the third out. Neither run counts because it was a force play; i.e., the runner was forced from second to third and never touched the base, therefore the force was never removed.
I fully expected an argument, and I got one, and the coach was giving the absolute lamest reasons why it was not a force play, such as "The run already scored" and "The ball was hit to the outfield." I laughed at the guy.
As if that wasn't enough -- later in the game, a kid from the same team gets to the plate, gets a 2-0 count on him, calls time to talk to his coach and then runs off the field. We're all standing there confused, and my partner (who is PU, but has no experience whatsoever calling baseball at any level) asks what the deal is. The coach said that the player had to go to the bathroom. I get a little ticked, because I've never in my life seen a game delayed for close to 5 minutes so a kid can go pee.
Our league has no dignity left. It makes me wonder why I even go to the trouble to put on a uniform to umpire. I used to think that wearing a full uniform got me some respect; now I realize that it just makes them resent me because the coaches know that I know more than they do, and they can't talk me into making a call that benefits them. Might as well go with the wife-beater, blue jeans and mullet look of all the other idiots that call ballgames in this league.
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