Interesting IFF Call

[Rich]

Originally posted by scyguy
Rich,
I don't work the large parks, most fences our within 20' of the foul line. Sound has a way of traveling that far even if it isn't spoken loudly.

Hey, you have your way of doing things and I have mine. I have no problem with this.

Let's just acknowledge for everyone that yours is the wrong way.

If you are trying to move up the food chain, then act like the umpire you want to be. Top umpires do not have between-inning conversations with fans and generally don't talk with their partners either (there are reasons why you may want to occasionally have a few words with your partner, but even this is rare).

When I work the bases, I head to short right field between innings and stand at reasonable attention until the ball is thrown down, at which point I trot to the A position to start the next inning. This is how most trained umpires work. The closer the fence, the farther away I stand. Why would I ever want to be approachable to someone outside the fence while the game is occurring? I have a job to do and they're not part of it.

Many games I wish my partner well after the plate meeting and we don't talk again until after the game ends and I'm shaking his hand.