Parking lots... where the clowns live
 

Only got 2.5 in today due to rain. I'm PU, partner, who does NCAA games as well, is BU. In the first inning, assistant coach from the dugout yells time and tells the RF to tie his shoe. BU is in A. Gives him 15 seconds or so, fielder stands up and is ready to go.

Then the ASSistantcoach starts approaching the RF (partner later said that the shoe was never untied, most likely) to "help him". BU sends him back where he came from, much to his shagrin.

After the game, I'm getting into my car, partner went across the road to check on the restaurant and see if we could get a table. Coach comes up to me and asks if I'll be there for the continuation of this one. I told him "no", he said "what about the other guy", I said "no", to which he replied "good, that guy has no clue out there".

I said "coach, we are not doing this right now. I will not listen to this, he is an NCAA umpire and a damn good one"

He sulked back to his car, saying on the way "they are only 9".

Lord, I got to stop doing this lower level crap. LL district is fine, but these special tournaments just kill me sometimes. Can't wait until they let me do HS games... have to be 21 here :(

Thanks for letting me rant.

one thing i wouldnt do is comment on the level of another umpire. it just leaves the door wide open for the coach/fan. he could easily come back with "oh, he works NCAA but cant do [insert something here]. thats just great." id just say your first sentence of that quote and leave it at that.

i was BU at a game a month ago, and my PU ended the plate conference with "...and hes a good umpire. hes done [insert my years and levels worked] and hes not going to miss anything. if he wasnt good, he wouldnt be here. he might be young, but hes your umpire. good luck managers, lets have a good one." i just thought that was completely unecessary to be brought up at any point.

Yeah thats bullcrap.

Does this same umpire also inform coaches if this is his partners first game?

When I leave the park I leave. I wouldn't even stop for a drink across the street from the park, maybe a couple miles down the road. And I rarely eat where I have to check to see if I can get a table and never after a game.

In this case we had to stay around as we had just done the 1st game of the DH and were awaiting word on the second game, hence us considering just going to hang out at the restaraunt across the street until the field was fixed up and the rain subsided...

You only got in 2.5 of the first game due to rain. If there is a chance that the field can be fixed up for play then the 1st game resumes. I have never declared the 1st game of a DH rained out, and then played the second game of a DH.

I called the first game after consulting with the TD about the possibility of getting the field ready. He said no could do. I said fine.

Told him to make the decision on the second game right there. We don't have say on the second game. I can't cancel it, have to wait for him...

they are 9!
 

I don't do LL, but I see no reason an umpire at this level cannot eat across the street. Sheesh! Just gotta disagree here.

Even Denny's and IHOP take reservations. You must spend most of your time at the local Burger King or Taco Bell.

Something wrong with either of those? :p

A NCAA umpire is doing 9U games? Is work that hard to find?

I think I have been in a Burger King in the last 5 years, but not Dennys, IHOP or Taco Bell. Why in the world would anyone waste their time waiting for a table in fast food joints?

It's "chagrin."

You said that you seldom eat a places where you have to check to see if you can get a table. Almost all restaurants other than fast food restaurants take reservations because people never know if a table will be available when they arrive. If don't eat at those restaurants that means you either: 1) Almost never go out to eat, or 2) Only eat at fast food restaurants.