[BuggBob]

Okay, which one of you guys currently has the “Worst Call Ever” award? Well, I want it back. During my game the other day the batter hit a double, beat the tag at second, the batter moves off the bag to get a better position, dust off, standup, what ever. While she is off the base, the fielder, who still had possession of the ball, quickly moves her foot to a position between the base and the batter’s foot effectively blocking the bag, and then reapplies the tag. BANG! Now she is out. Out comes the coach. First thing he does is tell the retired batter to stay there, like if I did change my mind I would then call her out for being of the base.
“Whoa! Whoa, blue you can’t make that call,” the coach says as he approaches.
“What call is that coach?” innocently I queried.
“How can she be out, she beat the tag,” he said as he got into his arguing stance, feet part, arms held high and crossed in front of his chest.
“Yes sir, but then the fielder tagged her with the ball while she was not in contact with the base,” I reply as I stand in a modified parade rest (for you slackers or sailors that is with my hands behind my back).
“She pushed her off, she can’t do that.” My mind flashed to one of the biggest travesty in World Series play, when that guy pushed that other guy off first. Hey it was nearly twenty years ago, I remember the play, just not the players.
Shaking my head, “No sir, she did not pusher her off.”
“Then she blocked the base, that’s obstruction.”
Again shaking my head, “No sir, that is not obstruction, the fielder had the ball.”
“So you’re telling me that the runner wanted to be out,” say the coach as he gets a little closer
“I can’t exactly say what she wanted," I say with a who knows kind of smirk, finish with a firm, "but she is out.”
“So she wanted to be out,” turning to address the player. “You wanted to be out?”
The batter weakly shakes her head no.
“Okay, come-on coach let’s play,” I interrupt.
Now here is where things get weird, the coach starts to jog off the field, and the retired batter stays at second. I make an out sign again, and tell the batter that she is out. And wait for her to leave the field. The coach who had not quite got off the field comes back
“I thought we agreed that she was not out blue.”
“No sir we agreed that she was out, because she was tagged while off the base.”
“Well she’s not out.”
“Yes coach she is out, let’s play.” I wait just a fraction of a second and turn smartly (yes that Marine training never leaves) to return to my starting position.
Here it comes … wait for it …the punch line to my story…
“That’s just the worst call I ever saw.”

So, who ever has my award give it back.