Check Swing Story

[jkumpire]

Instead of doing serious work, I am making the error of reading the board!

I saw the check swing thread, and if I may be allowed a short story....

A friend of mine who works the Frontier League was coaching a small HS team in the tournament. They are in a District final (which is a big game in the state) in a good town, which shall remain nameless. Close game, 2-1 in the 5th, I believe. I think there were two strikes on the hitter.

R1 is stealing, there is a check, PU calls it a ball. My friend immediately asks for an appeal. PU goes to his partner, "_____ did he swing?" Partner is very highly rated umpire in his area of the state.

The answer comes back, "I don't know."

"WHAT???????????????????", my friend yells.

"I said 'I don't know'", I had a kid stealing and I didn't see the swing."

Needless to say, the rest of the conversation, and the game was not a jolly one for my friend or the BU.

[briancurtin]

hopefully it doesnt take that BU getting drilled in the back of the head with a throw or a hit ball to understand that there is no play without the ball. eyes on the ball, let it take you to the play at second if you have a guy stealing.

[jkumpire]

Brian,

I'd rather get drilled than answer a yes or no question with I don't know, as any 1st year ump would do.

[briancurtin]

id rather just get it right, along with leaving "i dont know" in the parking lot before i step on the field.

Wow. He actually took his eyes off the ball because a runner was stealing?

Probably not "highly rated" anymore!

Originally Posted by PWL

Must be one of those "weak pardners" of whom you speaketh.

Yeah, pretty much sounds like it!

[canadaump6]

Originally Posted by PWL

Must be one of those "weak pardners" of whom you speaketh.

Not as bad as turning completely towards the runner at first when he leads off.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by canadaump6

Not as bad as turning completely towards the runner at first when he leads off.

Or being closer to third with R2 (working C+ / D-) in case there's a steal.

[3appleshigh]

On a very separate note, had you been caught cheating toward the steal, and didn't get a good look or what ever 3rd world play you want to come up with that made it so you missed the play at the plate, would anyone else simply say "NO, He Didn't", and get on with things.

Please I know "Don't miss the play", I'm not talking about that blunder, just he response you would give had said blunder occured, and yes you can retire after the game out of shame that you missed it.

One thing for sure is that I am not going to say "Yes he did!" if I didn't see it!

[mcrowder]

Heck yeah - if for some reason I missed the play, "No he didn't" is most definitely my response.

[David B]

Originally Posted by jkumpire

Instead of doing serious work, I am making the error of reading the board!

I saw the check swing thread, and if I may be allowed a short story....

A friend of mine who works the Frontier League was coaching a small HS team in the tournament. They are in a District final (which is a big game in the state) in a good town, which shall remain nameless. Close game, 2-1 in the 5th, I believe. I think there were two strikes on the hitter.

R1 is stealing, there is a check, PU calls it a ball. My friend immediately asks for an appeal. PU goes to his partner, "_____ did he swing?" Partner is very highly rated umpire in his area of the state.

The answer comes back, "I don't know."

"WHAT???????????????????", my friend yells.

"I said 'I don't know'", I had a kid stealing and I didn't see the swing."

Needless to say, the rest of the conversation, and the game was not a jolly one for my friend or the BU.

All it takes is a simple, "No he didn't go" and its over.

So highly rated???? Probably not ...

As we do say on the board Smitty lives


Thansk
David

[jkumpire]

Yes, someone fouled up, but laugh about it, don't over-analyze it!

[David B]

Originally Posted by jkumpire

Yes, someone fouled up, but laugh about it, don't over-analyze it!

From your first post, Needless to say, the rest of the conversation, and the game was not a jolly one for my friend or the BU.

I don't think the umpire involved was laughing at all.

thanks
David