|
I've related this story before. Juco game a decade or so ago, with two rivals with coaches who were in place for twenty years+ each. 3-1 count and the pitch is wide. The offensive team is the home team and their team mates are operating a HUGE scoreboard and announcing walk ups. The batter steps out for another sign and the catcher looks back at me. I shake my head. The batter steps in and here comes another pitch for one up and tight. He jumps out and looks for another sign as he adjusts his gloves. The pitcher is laughing, the opposing bench is practically rolling on the stairs. The HC finally figures out that they aren't laughing at the last pitch and yells, "Blue, what's the count?" I look at the pitcher and say, "5 and 1". The HC is on his way towards home, snapping that I have to tell his batter that he has walked. He is livid. I tell him that it's his job to coach and that his player is in college. I look back at the press box and nod their way while saying that his team is controlling the scoreboard and microphone too. He kicks the dirt and tells his guy to go to first. My partners did their best to keep from falling down laughing. (Yes, I know that if he had hit ball 5 for a home run the aftermath would have been pretty awful when the defense complained about the BB. It didn't happen, so I don't want to get into that.)
FWIW, LLWS umpires have to do a bunch of things that some umpires find troublesome. A colleague worked it in the late 90s and said that he was told to dust off the pitching plate and 2B (while working second) and his partners did the same with 1B and 3B. They were told to indicate BB with the point and all were to hold up their hands on foul balls, even when they were on the other side of the field. He did what he was told and enjoyed the trip.
|