The magic three-word defuser

[jwwashburn]

Varsity HS game
Zero outs
Bases Loaded.

The ball was hit and spun back and land on home plate. The catcher grabbed it, I pointed, the catcher touched home and tagged the batter who had not run-double play.

The Offensive Coach came out and said: "It was laying on top of home plate when he grabbed it."
Me: "Yes, that's right."
OC: "But, it was ON THE PLATE!"
Me: Yes, that's right.
Dad from the stands: HOME PLATE IS IN FAIR TERRITORY, LARRY!
Me: Play Ball.

[yo...blue...]

[QUOTE=jwwashburn;614162]Varsity HS game
Zero outs
Bases Loaded.

The ball was hit and spun back and land on home plate. I pointed, the catcher grabbed it, touched home and tagged the batter who had not run-double play.

QUOTE]

You pointed it fair...and then the catcher grabbed it? I think your timing might be a bit fast.

Unless of course the ball actually came to settle on the plate. Which I might find a little hard to believe.

[jwwashburn]

[QUOTE=yo...blue...;614172]

Originally Posted by jwwashburn

Varsity HS game
Zero outs
Bases Loaded.

The ball was hit and spun back and land on home plate. I pointed, the catcher grabbed it, touched home and tagged the batter who had not run-double play.

QUOTE]

You pointed it fair...and then the catcher grabbed it? I think your timing might be a bit fast.

Unless of course the ball actually came to settle on the plate. Which I might find a little hard to believe.

Thank you kind wiseass. I did type that incorrectly. However, I called it correctly.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Round goes to Washburn.

[fine retort]

[SanDiegoSteve]

[QUOTE=jwwashburn;614175]

Originally Posted by yo...blue...

Thank you kind wiseass. I did type that incorrectly. However, I called it correctly.

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

Round goes to Washburn.

[fine retort]

Except for the "kind" and the "wise" parts.

[Kevin Finnerty]

And I can't stand it when you share a story about a really cool play and someone either:

A) Has a more-complex-version-of-that-play story

OR

B) Says something like, "Unless of course [whatever] actually [happened]," followed by something like, "Which I might find a little hard to believe."

[jwwashburn]

Agreed.

[yo...blue...]

Originally Posted by Kevin Finnerty

Round goes to Washburn.

[fine retort]

That's fine, however, when the coach comes out and says, "why is that ball fair?", don't say, "I pointed it fair, and then the catcher grabbed it."

It's not just our job to get it right, we should also say it right. This is how ejections start.

[Rcichon]

Tournament for 12u.
I'm PU with two partners.

U1 make a 'routine' out call at second.
HTM asks for time and gets it from me. He comes out and asks, "if the 'guy at 2 can ask for help', I think the fielder had his foot off the bag".
Me; "I don't think he needs any help with that call Charlie. He was 10 feet from the play".
He; "Well what did you see"?
Me; "The runner down the first base line".
He; "All I'm asking is that you guys get together on it". He turns back to the dugout.

U1 walking towards me at this point. U2 coming over as well. I ask, "You want pizza" after the game?
Both of them stifle laughs and go back.
HTM thanks me for 'conferring' with the others.

Happy Manager, happy Umpires, game ends, pizza (and beer) is consumed. We get paid.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by Rcichon

Happy Manager, happy Umpires, game ends, pizza (and beer) is consumed. We get paid.

Some of us break even buying gear; some of us break even buying pizza and beer ... it's all good.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by yo...blue...

That's fine, however, when the coach comes out and says, "why is that ball fair?", don't say, "I pointed it fair, and then the catcher grabbed it."

It's not just our job to get it right, we should also say it right. This is how ejections start.

Ooooooooohhhhhhhhh, IIIIIII seeeeeee ...

[jwwashburn]

Originally Posted by yo...blue...

That's fine, however, when the coach comes out and says, "why is that ball fair?", don't say, "I pointed it fair, and then the catcher grabbed it."

It's not just our job to get it right, we should also say it right. This is how ejections start.

REALLY? I shouldn't say that? Since I TOLD you what I said in my post, you already know I did not say that.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by yo...blue...

Unless of course the ball actually came to settle on the plate. Which I might find a little hard to believe.

Umpired much? I've had plenty-o-balls that settled to a complete stop right on top of home plate before the catcher had a chance to field them. It's not all that uncommon. Sheesh, make a Federal out of it!

[yo...blue...]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Umpired much? I've had plenty-o-balls that settled to a complete stop right on top of home plate before the catcher had a chance to field them. It's not all that uncommon. Sheesh, make a Federal out of it!

I've umpired 1,000's of games. From LL to Professional (Indy). Many guys on this forum know who I am, but it might take some time for them to figure it out.

I've never seen a baseball completely settle on top of the plate. I guess my catchers are just smarter than your's in my neck-o-the-woods.

Or maybe my plates are sloped...rolling towards the infield perhaps.

Washburn wrote something incorrectly in his post, and I called him on it. My apologies if you find my sarcasm offensive. I didn't think umpires could have their feelings hurt so easily.

If I was in attack mode I would say something about the guy that ejected a batter for not getting in the box. There are prescribed penalties for that. Prescribe that penalty once or twice and he could have gotten mgr and player. That would have been more fun.

Have Fun with this one...

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by yo...blue...

I've umpired 1,000's of games. From LL to Professional (Indy). Many guys on this forum know who I am, but it might take some time for them to figure it out.

So...what am I, some rook? 3,400 enough for you? I think I've been around enough to have seen some balls hit in the dirt and settle on the plate. Especially here where there is so much loose dirt/sand/silt around the plate at some parks, where the ball hits the ground and stops.

Originally Posted by yo...blue...

I've never seen a baseball completely settle on top of the plate. I guess my catchers are just smarter than your's in my neck-o-the-woods.

Yeah, smarter than where the majority of major league ball players come from.

Originally Posted by yo...blue...

Or maybe my plates are sloped...rolling towards the infield perhaps.

Our plates are level.

Originally Posted by yo...blue...

Washburn wrote something incorrectly in his post, and I called him on it. My apologies if you find my sarcasm offensive. I didn't think umpires could have their feelings hurt so easily.

I am a master of sarcasm myself, but you weren't being sarcastic. Perhaps you should mix in a dictionary.

And it wasn't our feelings that were hurt, it was just that it seemed so ridiculous to nitpick about his wording in his own story. He didn't post the story for a grammar lesson. That, and pointing out spelling errors are two very bad things to do on a forum.