Would you ever send an idiot partner home in the middle of a game?

[outathm]

Many moons ago when I first started working ball I was excited to get assigned an all-star tourney. I was 16 years old and this was my first shot at 'the big time'. During the pre-game my partner said to the coaches "If you have a problem with anything the 'Kid' calls just come to me and I will get it right."

I replied, "There will be no problems with the 'kid's' calls, because you are working this game by yourself, and walked off the field.

I got in my car, (paid for with umpiring money) and went to the nearest pay phone(This was before cell phones) When I got the assigner on the phone he told me to go back to the park and wait for him. When the assigner arrived he took my partner aside, after the first game, read him the riot act, very professionally, and then sent him home.

The assigner and I worked the second game of the night together, without incident, and I continued to work the rest of the tournament; filling in for an umpire who had become 'unavailable'.