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I had no plans to work a tournament this weekend, so when a local league rep called me this past week to ask if I could work a field for their fall league of fastpitch, I hastily accepted. It was explained that since that was largely for "developmental" purposes, and that no standings were being kept, this was 1 umpire mechanics with a 75 minute drop dead time limit.
Now...when you hear 1 umpire mechanics, what do you think?!
I naturally thought of the 1 umpire mechanics that we find in the ASA manual. Me, behind the plate, busting my butt to get up the line for calls at first. Cutting through the field to make calls at second...etc. You all know what I am talking about. Well...after the first game of me out there hustling my butt off making all the calls to the best of my ability, I get approached by both coaches and thanked for my job. Now...let me explain. This was not your usual "thanks for a good job blue," this was a "wow, that was the greatest thing since sliced bread" kind of thanks. One coach tells me that this was the first time all season that his kids have had a decent strike zone...etc. Thinking that this was just one of those "kissing up to the ump" kind of deals, I ask innocently enough what it was that I was doing different from the other umpires they have had.
Seems all the other umps they have had this fall have made all calls standing behind the pitcher. That's right. Balls and strikes and safes and outs, all standing stationary behind the pitcher. Though I tried to mask it, I was appalled. Seems like that is a little dishonest. Taking money and not doing the best possible job.
Anybody else ever hear of such a thing? Keep in mind that this was 16U, 14U, 12U and 10U.
Scott
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