[Durham]

I read a few weeks ago about guys writing down info on their games. While I have never kept a journal, I wanted to share some things that I had in a series this past weekend.

Fri: worked 3rd and had two chances to go out from the middle and a chance to come inside when U1 went out.

Sat 1st Game: worked 1st and got a few check swings for strikes, but nothing really.

Sat 2nd Game: I did something to upset the baseball Gods because I had every rule under the sun. I had a tag-up appeal at 3rd where I outted the guy for leaving early. The 3rd base coach was upset with the call and this is how he tried to argue it; “why would he leave early, the ball was deep and there was no reason to leave early.” I told him I agreed 100% and maybe he should talk to him about it. Then I had backswing interference on strike three, and with a steal, and they couldn’t understand why the BR was still out and the runner had to return. Then I had a Batter’s interference in the bottom of the 6th where the runner was safe and I outted the batter, then again in the bottom of the 7th where the runner was thrown out and we kept the batter at the plate. I got questioned on in the first time and had the dugout erupt the second time. My partner dumped the third base coach after I warned him not to leave his position to argue, he was an assistant, and after I warned him he turned around so I couldn’t see or hear him and mother ****ed me. The head coach tried to tell me there had to be contact and the batter never left the batter’s box. I told him “Now you’re just making things up. You have a video right behind the plate and I suggest you watch it tonight, because the first guy made it to the other batter’s box and the second guy was standing on the plate.” I then informed him not only does there not have to be contact, but the catcher doesn’t even have to throw the ball. In the bottom of the 8th I had obstruction by the catcher at the plate, the old type A, and was happy I didn’t call time and kill it. Then I had the batter that K’ed looking to end the 8th start crap and a 1st base coach hurry down and kick his *** to the dugout before he said anything stupid. He told the kid “If you’re gonna take cock shots in the 8th with runners at 2nd and 3rd then you might not be on the field much longer.” That made me smile.

Sun: Worked 3rd and had an appeal for a guy not retouching 2nd on his way back to 1st that I safed. When the head coach came out to ask about it, I told him the he kicked the inside of the bag with his right foot, Crixy, thanks for teaching me that one in the SL. I later had a ground ball right back up the middle that was gloved diving behind the bag at second and F6 threw to 2nd from his back on the ground. I heard it gloved by F5 saw his hand coming up and the ball headed to the ground, due to the angle, I couldn’t see a thing even though I never got set and was swinging hard to get a look, so I did what any decent umpire would do, I outted the guy and sold the hell out of the transfer. I ended up getting the crew together and getting help after being asked, and we flipped the call. I did not leave the crew conference and signal safe, I instead went to the dugout of the team that it would be going against and called the HC out to tell him what we had, he didn’t like it, but didn’t charge me, because I took the explanation to him, Denny and Felt, thanks for that tid bit. The rest of the game was a breeze and we finished up at the local pop shop and I bought a round for the guy that dumped the base coach the day before for having my back.

BTW, I did a game yesterday and had batter’s interference once against each team. These guys need to learn how to cover better.