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Sports officiating is not an easy thing. If officials were fined for a botched call once in a while they would quit officiating. Besides, who is going to sit in judgement of the official? Sure the MLB has camera's and evaluations can be made but most games are played without that benefit.
I did a district playoff Cal Ripkin game the other day. Home team had just clawed its way back and taken a one run lead. Two outs man on first when the visiting batter hit an easy one to the shortstop. The second baseman was slow to get to the bag and the shortstop hesitated and then went for the bag himself. Close play but the runner beat the shortstop. However, the fans and the coaches of the home team didn't see it that way. They freaked. The visiting team ended up with a one run lead.
Bottom of six, two outs, runner on third, visitors still up by one. Batter chops the ball straight down. The ball bounces up an inch from his arm but does not touch him. The ball ends up going a few feet into fair territory. I signal fair, pitcher fields the ball, and gets the out while the batter is wondering what to do. The fans and coaches go absolutely balistic claiming that the ball hit the batter. I tracked the ball the whole time and know it did not. However, I could see how it would have appeared to them that the batter was struck.
The home team lost and they literally wanted to lynch me after the game. To them I'd made two obviouslyl bad calls. It got to the point were the fans were trying to chase me down and the tourney director threatened to throw them out of the tournement.
Fortunately three Babe Ruth commissioners, (including the state commissioner watched the game) and felt all my calls were right. I have a good rep and was selected to ump the regionals so they already know I do a decent job.
Anyway, if you left it up to the home teams fans or coaches they would have fined, castrated, and suspended me. However, they would have be wrong. Again I ask, who is going to be the judge?
This is why I don't do little league during the reg season.
Eric
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