Quote:
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Originally Posted by BuggBob
I call, "Ball, ball, ball, ball." Coach is going nuts. New batter, same situation, "Ball." The coach is beside himself, "Five times in a row blue? That is impossible." Now the parents are getting into the act as well. Next pitch same old thing, "Ball." The coach calls time and goes out to talk to his visibly upset pitcher. At their conference the all are whispering and looking at me. I think they were waiting for me to break their meeting up to get a dig or two.
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I had a similar situation behind the plate during a Milb game last year. Pitches are coming in well below the knees and I'm not giving him the strike call. Manager's chirping about how that's a major league pitch and it should be a strike all night. After two walks in a row the manager takes his stroll to the mound and stops just at the dirt at the bottom of the mound. Without saying a word to F1 the manager turns towards me and crosses his arms to his chest.
I'm thinking Oh boy the SOB wants to chat. I remove my mask and get about half way to the mound and pull out my lineup cards. Here's the chat:
Me: Skip, you have any changes?
Skip: He!! no I don't have any changes. My a$$ wouldn't have to be out here if you'd do your job back there and call strikes!
Me: Skip, I'm taking that as a no on the changes.
Skip: You're going to make him throw over two hundred pitches in a game where he shouldn't have to throw more than a hundred!
Me: Skip, I'm going back to the plate and put the ball in play. Your a$$ better be in the dugout when that happens.
One batter later there was a pitching change.