The Official Forum  

Go Back   The Official Forum > Softball

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old Sun Mar 22, 2009, 12:43am
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Sierra Nevada Mtns
Posts: 3,220
My balloon protector is going with me tomorrow

The singular worst tournament I can remember in a long time and the cause was simple.

3 games with a horrible catcher. The coach would NOT pull her, at one point I did lose it. I am injured. I got hurt pretty good 3 times where I am in pain even as I type. In two games hit about 25 times. She couldnt catch a ball to save her life. If I get the unlucky draw tomorrow of this attrocious catcher, I'm using the balloon. It was terrible. It ruined the game for me and them. I told them repeatedly they needed a new catcher. "OH shes a good catcher just having a bad day".

Shes not a good catcher. She had no mechanics of a good catcher. Even the pitches she accidentally caught were not caught with any skill or proper technique. She couldnt block the ball. She would set up outside and while I was dumb enough to stay in the slot I would take the inside shot somewhere.. because she couldnt catch it.

Total bull crap and I actually felt disrespected.. that they would leave me to get hurt just to keep their crappy catcher in. After awhile I could hear the parents even laugh a little when I would get hit. "Oh he got hit again." I was seeing red. I did threaten to eject her... but i didnt.

And, I even feel sorry for the catcher. Someone has put it in her head she can catch or she wants to catch and the simple fact of the matter is she cannot play that position. They should move her. She probably feels horrible about herself tonight and thats not fair to her.. and me. I got a M-F job, I cant be devastated by taking 25 shots in 2 games. That coach needs to pull her head out of her rectum.

Just had to vent a little.
__________________
ASA, NCAA, NFHS

Last edited by wadeintothem; Sun Mar 22, 2009 at 12:46am.
Reply With Quote
  #2 (permalink)  
Old Sun Mar 22, 2009, 07:16am
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,158
Nice Rant

Can't say I've ever had one that bad. I know there are some who think you stay in the slot no matter what but I'm not one of them.
Catcher can't catch I do what I have to back there to stay safe. I'm 47 yo and don't heal quite the way I use to.
I got nailed-bad pitcher- in the thigh. 5 days later its only black and blue and not taking as much advil.
Have fun today.
__________________
"I'll take you home" says Geoff Tate
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old Sun Mar 22, 2009, 09:06am
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,340
Yep, had a few of those myself. 16u team, knew I was in trouble when I could see pitcher was throwing at least mid to high 50s without control and catcher couldnt even catch the warm ups. Second pitch of the game the catcher never put a glove on the ball and it caught me square in the elbow. Later the same inning, ball goes between her legs and I dont know what it ricocheted off of, but the ball comes straight up and catches me in the side of the cup and inside of the thigh. There were plenty of others during the game but those were the worst 2. My elbow was turning black before the end of the game and when I finally got to see my thigh it was black all the way down to my knee and had the imprint of the ball and stitch marks in it.

I heard through one of the coaches that this same team about a week later was told by the ump to change catchers. They said they didnt have another and he told them that if that was the case, he was through, the game was over and walked off the field.
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old Sun Mar 22, 2009, 04:13pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: woodville, tx
Posts: 3,156
Quote:
Originally Posted by wadeintothem View Post
The singular worst tournament I can remember in a long time and the cause was simple.

3 games with a horrible catcher. The coach would NOT pull her, at one point I did lose it. I am injured. I got hurt pretty good 3 times where I am in pain even as I type. In two games hit about 25 times. She couldnt catch a ball to save her life. If I get the unlucky draw tomorrow of this attrocious catcher, I'm using the balloon. It was terrible. It ruined the game for me and them. I told them repeatedly they needed a new catcher. "OH shes a good catcher just having a bad day".

Shes not a good catcher. She had no mechanics of a good catcher. Even the pitches she accidentally caught were not caught with any skill or proper technique. She couldnt block the ball. She would set up outside and while I was dumb enough to stay in the slot I would take the inside shot somewhere.. because she couldnt catch it.

Total bull crap and I actually felt disrespected.. that they would leave me to get hurt just to keep their crappy catcher in. After awhile I could hear the parents even laugh a little when I would get hit. "Oh he got hit again." I was seeing red. I did threaten to eject her... but i didnt.

And, I even feel sorry for the catcher. Someone has put it in her head she can catch or she wants to catch and the simple fact of the matter is she cannot play that position. They should move her. She probably feels horrible about herself tonight and thats not fair to her.. and me. I got a M-F job, I cant be devastated by taking 25 shots in 2 games. That coach needs to pull her head out of her rectum.

Just had to vent a little.
Like the gal told me one time when I told her I was going to get a new catcher.

"Blue, you really ain't gonna like the next one."

Did not get to find out, left in the game.
__________________
glen _______________________________
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things
that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover."
--Mark Twain.
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old Sun Mar 22, 2009, 04:21pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 872
Quote:
Originally Posted by wadeintothem View Post
The singular worst tournament I can remember in a long time and the cause was simple.

3 games with a horrible catcher. The coach would NOT pull her, at one point I did lose it. I am injured. I got hurt pretty good 3 times where I am in pain even as I type. In two games hit about 25 times. She couldnt catch a ball to save her life. If I get the unlucky draw tomorrow of this attrocious catcher, I'm using the balloon. It was terrible. It ruined the game for me and them. I told them repeatedly they needed a new catcher. "OH shes a good catcher just having a bad day".

Shes not a good catcher. She had no mechanics of a good catcher. Even the pitches she accidentally caught were not caught with any skill or proper technique. She couldnt block the ball. She would set up outside and while I was dumb enough to stay in the slot I would take the inside shot somewhere.. because she couldnt catch it.

Total bull crap and I actually felt disrespected.. that they would leave me to get hurt just to keep their crappy catcher in. After awhile I could hear the parents even laugh a little when I would get hit. "Oh he got hit again." I was seeing red. I did threaten to eject her... but i didnt.

And, I even feel sorry for the catcher. Someone has put it in her head she can catch or she wants to catch and the simple fact of the matter is she cannot play that position. They should move her. She probably feels horrible about herself tonight and thats not fair to her.. and me. I got a M-F job, I cant be devastated by taking 25 shots in 2 games. That coach needs to pull her head out of her rectum.

Just had to vent a little.
I've gone as far as 8 ft back to call. Stay down long enough to know where the pitch is, then get the hell out.

Rita
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old Sun Mar 22, 2009, 06:09pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: woodville, tx
Posts: 3,156
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rita C View Post
I've gone as far as 8 ft back to call. Stay down long enough to know where the pitch is, then get the hell out.

Rita
I don't see a smiley, but I know your joking.
__________________
glen _______________________________
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things
that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines.
Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.
Explore. Dream. Discover."
--Mark Twain.
Reply With Quote
  #7 (permalink)  
Old Sun Mar 22, 2009, 06:38pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 161
Send a message via Skype™ to 7in60
Quote:
Originally Posted by whiskers_ump View Post
I don't see a smiley, but I hope you're joking.
Fixed.
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old Sun Mar 22, 2009, 06:47pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: north central Pa
Posts: 2,360
2 years ago, I went far enough that I told the catcher's coach, in the 3rd inning, that if I was hit by another untouched pitch, I was going to eject F2 for unsportsmanlike conduct. When the coach started to argue, I told her that I was not there to discuss - only to give her the courtesy of informing her. This was after several untouched pitches got me.
As a result of that catcher, I went & got the Mcavid hex pad shorts. And I have worn those at every game at every level ever since.
If I still had a balloon, I'd have probably delayed that game while I walked to the car and got it - AND had the clock continue to run.
__________________
Steve M
Reply With Quote
  #9 (permalink)  
Old Sun Mar 22, 2009, 11:15pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: In the Desert....
Posts: 826
It amazes me that people would leave the game or force the coach to put in another catcher..... maybe when that game is over..you should officiate another sport....
Reply With Quote
  #10 (permalink)  
Old Sun Mar 22, 2009, 11:30pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Vacaville, CA
Posts: 304
I'd love to pull out the old balloon, just to see the looks from people. Maybe even for slow pitch!
__________________
NFHS softball, ASA FP & SP
Reply With Quote
  #11 (permalink)  
Old Sun Mar 22, 2009, 11:38pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Vacaville, CA
Posts: 304
Oh, Wade, out of curiosity, where was the tourney?
__________________
NFHS softball, ASA FP & SP
Reply With Quote
  #12 (permalink)  
Old Sun Mar 22, 2009, 11:41pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Sierra Nevada Mtns
Posts: 3,220
I didnt pull out the balloon... I wore my west vest. Has her straight out of the gate at 8 am and she did fine. Then a few games another umpire went to the coach about her.

Its just reality she should not be catching.

I would not agree with any umpire who thinks its an umpires job to be a personal back stop for a crappy catcher. I think we all expect to take our dings.. this is beyond that. If you want to sit there and get hit over and over with a 50 mph softball, golf clap for ya tough guy.
__________________
ASA, NCAA, NFHS
Reply With Quote
  #13 (permalink)  
Old Sun Mar 22, 2009, 11:43pm
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Sierra Nevada Mtns
Posts: 3,220
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stu Clary View Post
Oh, Wade, out of curiosity, where was the tourney?
Stockton
__________________
ASA, NCAA, NFHS
Reply With Quote
  #14 (permalink)  
Old Mon Mar 23, 2009, 01:00am
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 872
Quote:
Originally Posted by whiskers_ump View Post
I don't see a smiley, but I know your joking.
Joking about what?

I wasn't kidding. It's better than calling from the mound. If you are back (Maybe I was exaggerating some) you can call it from a more normal position and still have time to react when the catcher misses it.

It's better than losing your focus because you fear getting hit.

Rita
Reply With Quote
  #15 (permalink)  
Old Mon Mar 23, 2009, 07:02am
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: USA
Posts: 14,565
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rita C View Post
Joking about what?

I wasn't kidding. It's better than calling from the mound.

Rita
Well, see, there's your problem!!!

If there was a mound, you were on the wrong field
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Balloon Protector Keefj200 Baseball 30 Thu Jul 17, 2008 11:15pm
Should the MLB return to the balloon?? Bassman Baseball 29 Sun Aug 19, 2007 02:28am
Used the balloon today Bassman Baseball 33 Tue Aug 14, 2007 05:46pm
Balloon-Style Chest Protector for FP? Bluefoot Softball 5 Sat Mar 04, 2006 10:28am
Gerry Davis Balloon Protector LDUB Baseball 9 Tue Jun 01, 2004 11:55am


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:05am.



Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.3.0 RC1