When umpires fall

[REFANDUMP]

I'm thinking about trying this mechanic. It appears my brothers in blue are getting lots of outs with it !!!

[DG]

Yes, I am in A, deep ground ball RCF. I start in to make pivot, trip and fall face down. BR rounds 1b and heads to 2b, throw from F9 comes into 2b and my partner, having seen me fall is on it to make the call at 2b. That is the only fall I remember.

[pob14]

I have a bad ankle. I had the plate in slowpitch softball once, and came out from behind the plate; the ankle went, and I went with it. I managed to get up in time to make the call. Well, A call. Finished the game, too.

That was the last season I ever took the field without an ankle brace.

[paustin]

I went to a College baseball camp. 3 man, lead by D1 umpires. I've always worn cleats in the field. Grass can be slick when wet, and mud even slicker. I don't like the idea of falling, getting hurt, or missing the play. One of the leads was giving me grief about it, telling me that I *had* to wear black sneakers.

A couple days later were were talking injuries, and one of the other leads was telling us about how, in the rain one day he lost it between first and second, slipping in the grass, going down hard, at an angle, and breaking his back.

The only time I've ever gone down is a stumble-footed pivot my first year. I'll keep my cleats, thanks.