Partner helps a little too much

[BretMan]

I had a partner last summer (two-man game) who, after assuring me he had umpired for "many years", would routinely set-up down the third base line with a runner at second or third.

Some of his other positioning seemed just kind of random- wherever he happened to be standing when the last play ended would be where he planted himself for the next one.

It's funny, but I was just thinking about this the other day. These boards are populated with umpires that strive to do things "by the book" and actively seek to improve their game. Still, I continue to observe or work with a select few that don't seem to have a clue, with respect to mechanics, rules or basic signals. Some are rookies, and you expect a learning curve. Others have been at it a long time and are convinced, in their own minds, that they are doing things just fine and have no desire to change.