Quote:
Originally Posted by wadeintothem
In real life I have had this call discussed with me a million times. I have worked with this partner many times - including me and him went to the same national (with buggbob - and we are going to the same national again this year) - so I have rehashed it a million times in my head and with my superiors, peers, partners, other people. There are two people aside froma few on this board who absolutely know the right call was made - and the was me and my partner. And we both acknowledge we aint doing that again.
I learned that sometimes the "by the book correct call" (I have no doubt my call was correct and the only call that could be made under the rules) is the wrong call.
It would have been preferable to find some way to reset it and let the girls finish it.
I received 0 support from my superiors on this call. In fact usually the conversation ends with "I hope you learned something".
Since that is the case and the reality - I have retrained my mind to hopefully make sure it doesnt happen. When you are thrashed in the news and a million other times by superiors, peers, other coaches (it was talked about to me and it was not even known I was the umpire who made the call).. one of the newspapers has a pretty active message board and i was thrashed for a few months on it.
I came to the conclusion that it was me that needed to reasses and just accept that it was the worst and most disastrous call I have ever seen made on a softball field. I am not the type of umpire who would want to decide something that way - I was forced to.
If it happened right now, I would call time, go talk to my partner, reset them, and play ball. No one would be the wiser, and everyone would be happy. It would probably be only me on the entire planet that would know.
The book does not cover everything - especially not common sense.
The problem was when it happened, it was a riot. So many people where there and it was so loud and really unbelievable. Because of that, I quickly decided I just wanted out of there and there was little time to think about what to do to salvage it. The last thing i was doing was laughing.. it was terrible and honestly - a call that still haunts me. Any time I see peeps from those teams and I have worked that pitcher since - i feel so terrible that I did that.
Common sense is not in the book... and I blew it.
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I understand completely how you feel, but the reality of it all is, as with any seasoned umpire, you reacted almost involuntarily....on reflex. You saw something improper, and as you should, you penalized it. Yes...it was an extreme penalty, (in this case) but the penalty the book called for. IMO, you did "let the girls decide it."
Personally, I still support the call you made. But...I haven't had to live with a year's worth of crap about it, either.