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Old Thu Jun 12, 2003, 04:31pm
IRISHMAFIA IRISHMAFIA is offline
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Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: USA
Posts: 14,565
Well, I have now had more people eject themselves this year than in the past two.

ASA SP

Bases juiced, pitcher begins delivery and I notice the runner on 3B is standing off the base in foul territory.

I call "no pitch" and rule the runner out. He thought it was a joke up until the time I told him to go to the dugout. The runner admits he was off the base, but not far enough for me to make that call. He told the coordinator to whom he was crying after I made the call that it was only an inch or so, but I'm standing 70' away and it looks closer to a foot.

Of course, I heard the "lousy, terrible, etc. crap from the dugout for a few minutes. The manager was a runner on 2B at the time of the call and had no problem with my call. When he scored after the next batter hit a double, I told him I've heard enough from the dugout and I'm doing everything I can to keep them in the game.

Huh? Oh, did I forget to note that the whining team was playing shorthanded?

Well, game ended with further incident, I exited the field away from the team still crying about the call. Walked over to the stands at another field AWAY from the teams path out of the complex because I just knew if I was within sight of this guy, he would say something.

Well, as I'm talking to another blue who was between games, this player comes up from behind and starts telling me how terrible that call was and how terrible I was and shouldn't be allowed to umpire their games 'cause I stink. Surprisingly (to me), I calmly turn around and informed him that he is now ejected and should leave the area immediately.

Nope, that would be too simple. He kept going on until I requested the complex coordinator (who also happens to be my boss, the state commissioner) and request that she please have the ejected player leave the area. I thought that would get the message across that he needs to go.

Wrong again! Now I became the no good "balless" and "gutless" umpire who will never become a decent umpire, yada, yada, yada! So, I now ask the coordinator to remove the ejected player away from the balless, gutless umpire. Think that worked?

Nope, this guy wouldn't move until she took him by the arm and led him away.

I actually feel bad for some of his teammates with whom I am acquainted socially and on the field. They didn't have a problem with the call. However, the suspension which this player will incur may cost them a couple of games do to a lack of players.

Even Ed would have been proud of my AAs.
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