Umpire HIT BY PITCH

[Atl Blue]

I have broken my left wrist twice while umpiring, once on an inside pitch where the catcher has yet to move to try to catch it (and I was so locked in I realized too late he was going to miss it), and the other on a foul ball that got back to my wrist in a hurry. It isn't fun, but it's part of the risk.

As for, I let the catcher's coach (know) that if the catcher did not start doing his job, that coach would have to find a new catcher. By what rule? You can certainly "suggest" it, but I would contend that even "suggesting" it is not part of your job.

You don't get to choose who they put in front of you. You get to choose what levels of ball you want or can work, but once you accept the job, shut up and do it. It's why they are paying you. We tell coaches that we don't want them umpiring. Well guess what, they don't want you coaching either. That's a deal I have with all coaches, either stated or implied: you don't umpire, I won't coach.

If umpiring were easy, even the coaches could do it. Either accept the risk that goes with the job, or get off the field.