WORST THINGS YOU'VE SEEN AN UMPIRE DO

[ctblu40]

Originally Posted by Strike3UROUT

Worse thing I've ever had a partner do is NOT SHOW UP!!!!!!

Nothing worse than having your partner NOT show up and NOT call the school to let them know.

I've never had it happen in baseball before but it has happened 3 times so far in softball. Since softball has the shorter 60 foot bases and the teams didn't want to go to the hassle of re-scheduling they agreed to play with just one ump.

I made it very clear that I would do it ONLY if I got both checks and ONLY if I didn't hear any crap from either side on close calls.

All 3 times the games went fine (2 were actually 10 run rule blowouts). Actually if you clear the catcher and head toward 1st base you get a heck of a good angle on "bangers" on first. One time I had a good tag and an out on a steal at second but since I had just cleared the plate I ask them to "show me the ball". When the 2nd baseman showed the ball I called the runner out with no arguments.

I agree, it's bad to just be a no-show... but it's worse to arrive after the halfway point of a game and want the pay anyway... which will be explained below.
Last season, mid-July, I showed up for an American Legion double header- two 7's. About 10 min 'til gametime, still no partner. I call my assignor... no answer. I proceed to the field and talk to both coaches and they agree to use a single umpire and they "will be nice."
In the fifth inning of the SECOND game, my partner arrives and tries to sneek into the A position. I hear the coach at 1B emphatically request time.
My "partner" approaches and says, "sorry, I had the wrong start time."
I assured him that I had things handled and he went to the parking lot. After the game, he asked me if I picked up his check... I just left in amazement!

[OzUmp]

As someone else has stated "this is easy for me." The Gregg fiasco in the 1996 NLCS (Atl v Fla). This was by far the worst example of umpiring I have ever seen. I am sure the Gregg fiasco has been beaten to death on these forums over the years, but it was shocking.

[JRutledge]

And the other umpires got there because they were the most talented around? Yeah right. I guess that is why when they turned in their resignations from the Ritchie Phillips fiasco hit no one was crying when the door hit them in the ***. Eric Gregg was just as bad as the rest of them. That is why most of those guys are gone now and the ones that wanted to play ball stayed. Do not give me that "he was Black" line when one of the white guys gets passed up. The whole system was flawed and that is why it was changed.

Peace

[nickrego]

I once saw an umpire innocently post a genuinely honest question on a discussion forum, and expect a professional, non-biased answer, without a personal attack on their intelligence, ability, or race.

[LMan]

Hehehe, one guy chums the water and watch 'em take the bait.....

[stmaryrams]

I haven't seen too many really bad calls but this was one of the more botched up calls. Good thing was he eventually got it right

Bases loaded, one out, batter hits a two bouncer to first who steps on the bag and fires home. Catcher steps on home and walks off as PU calls the out.

I "as LL coach" ask PU calmly if when F3 steped on first if it did not take off the force at home. He agrees and changed the call as my player slid in without any attempt for a tag at home.

It's amazing what some civil speech can do for you. It unfortunately didn't make up for the guy's strike zone which may have been the lowest (for both teams) that I've ever seen.