[Al]

A couple weeks ago I got a call from the new administrator telling me he needs to use my partner (Jacob, a highschool kid) to work a baseball game at one of the local highschool fields. He then said there's a lady who wants to take his place but if you prefer you could work the two games by yourself . This "lady" is the mother of a girl I trained last year and from what I knew of her I was not too thrilled about having her as a partner. For example ...Just the week before she came over to me after calling my last game of the evening and very loudly said "Do me a BIG FAVOR AL....don't ever let your partner leave the field early!!!" I said: what are you talking about the game was over by the mercy run-rule. Then she says: "NO IT WASN'T"...

Now, I had it with this nutcase and I said: "Don't tell me if the game is over or not. The game ended on the 12 run rule and one of the coaches asked if I would mind staying to let the kids play another inning even though the game was officially over."

I further explained that Jacob (my partner) asked me if it's okay that he leave cause he was freezing. Since I had no authority to make him stay and he was visibly cold I thought it best anyway that he get home and warm up. So what does she say to this? "DON"T ever let your partner leave the field early."

So I ended the conversation with: "You do me a BIG FAVOR...mind your field and I'll mind mine! With that she headed towards the park exit. I was wrong in thinking I had heard all there was from her because she was waiting for me in the parking lot. Only this time she spoke with a normal tone and said: "I heard they are considering removing one umpire from coach-pitch and that would mean she would probably lose some of her fill-in work. To this I responded back with "Don't you think it would have been better to speak to me like an adult the first time around? She went on to say she needs the money to go to Florida with her daughter for some big tournaments later this summer.

Now for the nightmare on field # 6...

She arrives at 5:25 for a game that is to start at 5:30. I asked her if she knows coach-pitch rules and the changes we have from last year. She said "I have been around the game for a long time".

Well, there was no time to discuss anything so I start the pregame talk and she thinks it's a great idea to finish my sentences for me. I make the pregame a short one and get the game on the way. The very first play results in a single with the coach holding runner on the bag while 1st base girl is holding the ball in front of her. After a few seconds I call time and then the kid throws the ball to the circle. So what happens? This partner yells out "what are you doing Al, the ball is not in the circle"!!! I reply in a normal tone we have a 3 second rule and all the coaches and players know this. The very next batter hits a single in which R1 made it past the halfway line between 2nd and 3rd before the ball was controled in the circle. I pointed to 3rd and headed back to the plate. So what does my partner do? She loudly yells out "CHILL AL, I'll handle the infield." I turn my head to her and say okay from now on you watch the batter-runner with one eye and with the other eye watch R1 running between 2nd and 3rd base and I'll just stay behind the plate and make sure it is clean.

Now the next inning comes and I let her make the call between 2nd and 3rd while we have the batter runner being almost tagged out trying to get back to 1st. She missed the play between 2nd and 3rd and told the girl to go back to 2nd who clearly passed the line before the ball was controlled in the circle. I got a lot of feedback from fans and told them she made the call not me. No coach asked me to go talk to her. Fans are also starting to complain about the way she is yelling at me in front of all the kids. She heard all the fan noise about sending the girl back to 2nd so what does this nightmare on field # 6 say... "Al, if you saw I made the wrong call you need to overrule me, I was watching the play at 1st. At that time I had a little talk with her about umpire machanics and told her she was way out of line and she will not be working with me the next game. She was steaming and said you can't make that decision. I said I just did. She said she will get me. Many fans heard her threaten me with those words. "I will get you". And before the game was over there was a ball hit that settled in the fair part of the batters box and I gave the fair ball sign. What does my partner do? She yells out "TIME" ...Al what are you doing? You can't call a ball fair if it's in the batters box! I put the girl on 1st and tell her she is the worst umpire I have ever seen. After the game she starts yelling to all the fans. "This guy is an idiot."

Now as it nears the start time of game 2 here comes the administrator and asked me what is going on. I tell him what she was doing and tell him I will never let that lady work with me again. He said he already heard a lot from several parents and understands. Then I notice she is in the field by 1st base. He starts to go to tell her to get off the field and I stopped him and told him I don't trust this lady and maybe it would be better just let her work this game. He went and spoke to her then came back to me and said he told her she is not to make any loud public comments toward other umpires if she expects to ever work in this park.

This post is too long already but it gets worse and maybe I'll post the rest at another time. ....Al

Nothin' like fun at the ole' ball park!