When do you stop ignoring fans?

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by JefferMC

I was the problem fan about 5 games earlier on that field.

Fairly early in that game, we have a swing-and-a-miss strike 3 with one out and 1B empty. (The ball bounces on the dirt just before reaching F2's glove, which batter didn't see.) Batter heads for dugout, but OC stops her half way to the 3B dugout and tells her calmly to get on 1B. When the player reaches 1B, PU says she has to leave the base, she's out. OC asks why. PU says she didn't head straight for first. OC says that's not the rule, she never entered the team area. PU says she doesn't have to. OC says you're wrong. PU says, you're gone. OC then says you're the worst umpire he's seen in years and leaves.

I send my son for my rulebook in the car so I can, and eventually do between innings, yell the appropriate rule number for the PU to check out after the game. I'm sure he did

Later in that same game, we have another D3K with no outs, but runners on 1B and 2B. BR in this case heads for 1B at a run and R1 and R2 make for 3B and 2B. DC gets time and complains that the new R3 is out because 1B was occupied with less than 2 outs. PU agrees, and says that R1 and R2 have to return to their original bases. Me (and a bunch of other OT fans) start getting rowdy, but in this case the BU comes down and has a conference with PU and corrects him, returning the runners to 3B and 2B. Since I already have the book in my hands, I yell out that rule reference for the PU's benefit, too.

You do realize you may, in fact, have incited the idiot fan...

[tcblue13]

Originally Posted by Dakota

You do realize you may, in fact, have incited the idiot fan...

Dakota,
That is probably true. I was just thinking of the fans who yell nonsense about rules they don't know "C'mon Blue, it's foul; it's sitting in the batters box." "C'mon Blue, It's foul. The hands are part of the bat."

Just to imagine someone citing rule numbers is hilarious.

Hey JefferMC,
Are you in the same association as the guys calling the game??

[JefferMC]

Originally Posted by Dakota

You do realize you may, in fact, have incited the idiot fan...

I guess that's possible. However, this guy knows more about softball rules than any 10 umpires put together and I really don't think he needed me for inspiration.

For example, he was sitting next to me the game before this one and was telling me that it mattered where the runner stops between bases (i.e. if she had passed the half-way point) for how the LBR is enforced. I tried to explain to him that location (other than being on the base) had nothing to do with it (the book was back in the car at that point so I couldn't show him) but it was obvious he knew a lot more than me, so I shut up.

Besides, his daughter was the lead-off batter for the home team and put the fifth pitch over the left field fence, so he was pretty pumped. This incident happened about 4 batters later and torpedoed a pretty good rally that was about to erase the visiting team's 4 run lead. [Note I say this only in regards to his state of mind. The PU did his job correctly WRT the call and, eventually, the result, and it was R2's fault she didn't manage to avoid the ball.]

Normally, I'm not an obnoxious fan. I think that was the first time I've ever volunteered rule references like that, and it may well be the last (unless asked, of course). Yeah, I've been guilty of the rare chirp on what appears to be a horrible call (strike above the eyes or hitting the plate) because I know I've never made a bad judgement call in my whole life.

[NCASAUmp]

Ask anyone who knows me: Draw a line from shoulder to shoulder, extend it out to infinity, I'm pretty much "deaf" for the 180 degree area behind that line - even to other umpires who happen to watch my game.

Only time I ever address a situation WRT rowdy fans is if I hear a threat towards me or other players. Otherwise, hell, I've heard it all, and couldn't care less. Most of them are pretty clueless, so I simply take pity on them. But hey, ignorance is bliss, I guess.