[Rick Vietti]

Time to summer vent. Here are some of the Moronic on field questions and situations I have seen so far this summer. Please feel free to add your own.

Pet Peeves:
* Coaches who come to the pre-game without a lineup card
when it is their first game of the day and they have
been sitting around for an hour.
* Coaches who tell me what the other umpires allowed the
last game. (buckets on the field, courtesy runners for
anyone, etc...) My response, No, No, and No.
* Parents and fans who do not have a clue on some of the
simple rules of the game. I feel like I have to give
an on field clinic to explain infield fly or caught
foul tip by the catcher, etc.... just to get them to
shut up.
Moronic Questions
* This one from last weekend. Coach - "Blue you called
a strike on my batter that she swung, can you ask your
partner for some help."
* Runner on 3rd, bunt ball. Play goes to first and then
back to home. First baseman pulls foot. Partner calls
BR out at first. Coach asks my partner for appeal. I
discuss with him and he changes call to safe. Defensive
coach comes unglued on me. "Blue how can you see that
play when you are supposed to be watching the play at
home." Response - "Coach, I thought I was supposed to
be watching the ball to make the right call at home.
I did that, and your first baseman was off the bag."