Quote:
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Originally Posted by Tim C
"I refuse to compromise my integrity."
I have worked with Rei several times over the years. I have a great respect for him.
Rei's schedule of games (both high school and college) has grown over the years because he is EXACTLY what he says he is.
I have worked with Rei (he was my BU) when there was an attempted steal of third. From an adjusted "C" Rei called a guy safe that appeared to be out by 10' to 15' . . . as the defensive coach started to approach my fellow crew mate he said: "Coach he has to tag the guy for an out, ask your third baseman if he made the tag?"
Even a quick look at F5 confirmed that there was no tag . . .
Could Rei have called the out . . . sure. But his integrity is so ingrained that would have been totally unlike him.
As I said earlier . . . times and things change . . . can we?
Regards,
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I am right with you. If a fielder pulls the glove up before the runner arrives, I will call the runner safe every time. Yes, the fielder needs to be able to take a throw and put the glove down and let the runner slide into it.
I had a play in a college game this year -- steal of third. I had a great angle and F5 took the throw too far forward and R2 slid into the back of the base. Throw beat R2 by a lot, but the glove never came within 4 inches of R2. Safe. No brainer. Took some heat from the defensive head coach, but like I told him: I'm paid to get that angle and I'm sure that F5 would tell you he never got close to the tag." An inning later, I get a semi-apology from the assistant working first base. Whatever.
I'm consistent and unapologetic and if it costs me games, so be it. I've probably hung up my college schedule (I travel too much for work and I don't need to spend my entire weekends working 18-inning doubleheaders in 2-man crews 150 miles or more from the house with Earl Weaver-wannabes and an ejection every other weekend), but it's the same all the way down the ladder for me, too.