Umpire Obstruction

[jicecone]

My second year of umpiring I was doing a one man system summer game. (We were always told to work from behind the plate). With a runner at third for some reason I tripped the runner coming from 3rd to home while observing the play at 1B.

Why, I have no idea, maybe my one man mechanics were still not perfected???.

Needless to say my vast experience never kicked in and my sympathy for tripping little Johnny, resulting in him being put out at the plate took over. So as any fair minded umpire would do, I awarded little Johnny home plate and felt good about myself......... Until the other coach came out and tried to ruin my great call. (Well at least I thought it was spectacular.)

At the next association meeting I was so proud of myself that I asked about my umpire interference because I could not find any reference to back up my great call. It was then, that my bubble was busted and I learned that in those situations the must important thing you can do, is keep your butt out of the way.

I have never been "Incompetent" since. (Just my opinion, of course)