During the last two weeks:
 

If any of you have followed my "I have never done . . . " threads the following have happened to me:

To Rich Ives:

I had the plate of a game that was 22-1. That spoils my record of never having had a game where a team scored over 20 runs. First time is 3,783 games.

To Carl Childress:

Had the plate with a checked/unchecked swing situation:

Tee: "BALL, no he he did not go, he did not go!"

To All Rats:

I had the opportunity for long time officiating.com writer/poster "CoachJM" to attend a game where I was umpiring and afterwards have a great dinner conversation about baseball, umpiring and coaching.

It a very nice evening.

To All "I'll make my own calls, thank you" umpires:

While working a game last week as BU I was in "C". Squibber pushed up the first base line betwix the foul line, the pitcher's mound, etc.

Pitcher comes over, first baseman comes in and runner enters the picture . . . ball is scooped by the pitcher and flipped to F3 . . . runner kinda sorta slides towards the first base dug out and F3 makes a sweep tag.

During this I had moved over to "B" from my original "C". I have also adjusted twice to increase the angle between F3 and the batter-runner. I set to make my final call and I get straight lined as the F3 steps directly into my line while making the "tag."

Tee: (To my plate guy) "John, do you have a tag?" John gives me the closed fist, belt high in front of his belt buckel for all to see.

Tee: "He's OUT, on the tag, on the tag!"

First time I have asked for help in, well the same 3,783 games.

To All Blue Light Shoppers:

For the first time in my life I entered and purchased a few items at "Wal-Mart". As this decision violated my last great stand in America (I could do a column on my disgust with Mall-Wart and the American dream as we have seen it for decades) I thought it worth reporting.

So there you have my admissions that a few things have happened the last two weeks that surprise even this old hide, hard nosed, umpire from the past.

Regards,

Tee, did JM use a knife and fork? I have heard that some "rats" tend to be socially challenged. HAHAHA!!

( For all those about to come unhinged, this is all entirely "tongue in cheek")

Bob P.

Wow, Tee. What's next, cats sleeping with dogs?

Tee,

So, rumours that you are human after all are true I see.:D

Hell Tee, even MLB teans score 20 once in awhile so don't feel too bad ;-)

Glad you had a good time with JM. People need to realize that coaches are just baseball people who are just coming from a different perspective/job at a game. While it may not appear so at times, it's really nothing personal when stuff happens.

Glad to see that you and your partner worked together to get the call (tag play) correct, there Tee.

Tee,

Did you try the helmet yet?

While Tim may be somewhat "terse" in his posts on this board at times, he couldn't have been a more gracious host to this particular rat during my recent visit to Portland.

In regard to the game, I would say the officiating was of a markedly higher caliber than the play (not to mention the coaching, lah me).

After the game, Tim was pretty self-critical of his strike zone during the later innings. Personally, I saw exactly ONE pitch that I would have had an issue with had I been coaching in the game.

And, on the two plays when the BU went "out" on fly balls to the right/center gap, I've never seen a PU (that would be TEE in this case) exhibit better hustle in getting out to the working area for the possible impending play at 2B.

All in all, a most enjoyable evening; my only regret is that we didn't have more time for conversation after the game (due to my early flight the next morning).

JM

You would find that being self-critical like this is a characteristic of all really good umpires.

I visited with Tee on my last trip to Portland, and he is a most gracious host. We've lost our customer out there, so I haven't had an opportunity for a return visit, but I'll get back.

*waits anxiously for the patent-leather ball bag report* :D

Wow, that makes me feel better. Bet you didn't get any grief from any coaches or players on that call either.

It is amazing the things that happen in baseball sometimes - went to our local NCAA game this weekend and final score 24-7.

Long night for the home team and I felt sorry for the umpires.

Thanks
David

For the first time in my life I entered and purchased a few items at "Wal-Mart".

For what? New umpire pants? :)

Wal-Mart has a great selection of larger sizes in colored T-Shirts. I get my black T-shirts, red T-shirts, and navy T-shirts in 3XL there. Good underwear selection as well.