First game for the new guy.

[tmielke]

After a false start.

Advice for the new guy

I had my first game last night. I would say I was competent, I only blew one call. It just happened to be my first one!

It was a JV hometown game. First game the home team was mercied. Second game was 11-5. I was the BU for the first game. First play at first I did not hesitate and called the runner (visitors) safe. She should have been called out. I was watching the runner/focusing on the base instead of tracking the ball on the throw. Lesson Learned.

I also had an out/safe call that I thought I hesitated on long enough. R1 attempts to steal second, doesn't slide, beats the throw, I hesitate, her momentum causes her to pull her foot off the bag, short stop tags her foot, I make the call OUT! The force of the tag knocks the ball out of the glove. SAFE! Lesson learned.

I warned the visiting team for throwing the bat. It hit me. No problems from the coach.

Home team at bat R1 on third, dropped third strike, home dug out is on the first base line, BR kind of splits the difference between the dug out and first base. I just stand there watching after calling strike three. The catcher is a bit confused, the BR breaks for first after a few seconds. Now runners at 1st and 3rd. Visiting coach complains that BR should have been out as she didn't immediately attempt to go to first. I explained how the rule is applied, he said other umpires have called the out for not attempting, I told him that was incorrect. Second game, dropped third strike by the home catcher, visiting Batter head towards dugout, realizes the error of her ways turns around to head to first, I called her out when the catcher tagged her on the way by.

I did call strike three on the the fourth pitch when the count was 3/0. Oops the catcher thought it was funny. The kids I knew in the stands heckled me. I was a bit embarrassed.

Now a question about what I should have done. The visiting team puts in a new pitcher for the last 2 innings of the second game. I looks to me like she is pitching illegally. It looks like her hand and the glove come together a second time during her windup. I am not sure the ball ever touched the glove a second time, the ball was definitely partially obscured from view by her glove after her hands came a part. On some pitches the ball was completely obscured from view. I did not call an illegal pitch. Should I have? When I didn't call it, should I have said something to the coach between innings?

I took two balls to the right shoulder. My chest protector was borrowed from the local rec league supplies. I need to get better protection! It didn't really hurt but with a hard throwing pitcher.......

Overall I think I did a good job and had a lot fun.

Tom

[NCASAUmp]

Welcome to our world, buddy. Stick with it, and you will do fine.

I was terrible my first year behind the plate, but I stuck with it and learned/improved a lot.

[mcrowder]

Good job recognizing your errors and learning from them - a sure sign that you'll be good at this in short order.

Regarding the IP - don't EVER call one unless you are sure. And on one like you describe, where the motion is consistently borderline, but your angle makes you unsure, ask BU to watch it the next time he is in A. Generally, PU has hands, BU has feet, PU has landing (24" lane) - but BU can help you out on this one if he's watching for it.

That said ... it was PROBABLY legal.