[Andy]

I don't do this very often, but Friday and Saturday's HS games drove me to it.

Rant on:

Why do coaches feel it is their right to ask an umpire to get "help" on any call they disagree with?

Friday game: R1 on third, R2 on second, no outs. I'm BU in C position. Ball is hit to F4, R1 takes off from third, F4 throws home, R1 sees that she will not make it and turns back for third, R2 has seen R1 head for home so she runs for third. F2 throws to F5 covering third, but R1 dives in before the tag, I have stepped in to a nice 90 degree position to see the play and come up with a big SAFE call. F5 now sees R2 running back to second and throws to second, I bust my butt back toward second and angle toward toward the outfield to try to get some type of look at the play, but the ball is overthrown and heads into the outfield. R1 scores and R2 advances to third. The defensive coach asks me from the dugout, "we have an out at third, right, Blue?" I respond "No, coach, she was safe."

Coach calls time and heads for my partner at the plate. After speaking with him, he starts out for me, I have returned back to my position behind F6 for the next batter. Coach tells me, "I know that you were out here pretty deep and may not have seen that play at third, can you ask your partner for help, he had a better angle". I reply that it was my call, I saw the play, I don't need any help, call stands. I get the usual crap about, I'm asking politely, why won't you at least talk to him, don't be so arrogant, blah, blah, blah.....

I find out later that he told my partner when he went to him first: "I'm going out there to ask him to come to you for help, but I wanted to set it up with you first so you have my back when he comes to you."

Saturday game: I'm BU again. Team A R1 on first, attempts to steal second, dives head first into second, F5 takes throw and gets tag on runner just before her hand hits the base, I sell the out. Some expected grumbling from Team A as it was a close play. Next inning, Team B R1 on first, takes off for second, dives in, but gets hand to base just before the tag. Big sell safe call. Here comes Team A coach - "Blue, can you ask your partner for help on that? Last inning on the same play you called my runner out but this runner was safe" I tell her that I wasn't getting help, call stands. Later in the game on a banger at first that I called a team B runner safe, Team A coach comes out again asking me to get help. I ask her why she wants me to go for help. She says, "Because that runner was out!" I tell her that just because she disagrees with my call is not a valid reason to ask me to go to my partner. Her response, "It's not that I disagree with your call, I just think you missed it!" ARGGGGGGGHHHHH!

I have no problem going to my partner if asked properly and there is a valid reason, but this just drives me crazy!

Rant off.