[jwwashburn]

We were visiting friends in the Chicago area this weekend and took in the Beloit Snappers vs Kane County Cougars game.

We were lucky enough to get great seats about ten rows behind home plate.

I figured I would get to see the professional AMLU guys. The Midwest League must still be using the replacement umps because(according to certain blowhards here) what I saw could not possibly have been professional umpires.

1) Three different bangers, the BU had his fist clenched and partially raised as the fielder was throwing the ball to first.

2) The BU buttonhooked instead of going out on two "trouble balls". One of them was a diving play by the right fielder.

3) Five times that I noticed, the BU ignored the BR's touch of first. He did, however almost put his nose on third base to watch the BR touch on a HR...very odd looking deal there.

4) The PU sent a batter to first on ball three. He did eventually call him back after checking his "clicker" about thirty-seven times, talking to his partner, and checking the scoreboard a few times.

5) The PU's strike zone's uppermost level was the middle of the cup. It is impossible to say how much this zone had to do with the 9-7 score.

Joe