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.

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.

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.

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.":D

Did not get to find out, left in the game.

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.

Fixed.

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.

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....

I'd love to pull out the old balloon, just to see the looks from people. Maybe even for slow pitch!

Oh, Wade, out of curiosity, where was the tourney?

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.

Stockton

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

Well, see, there's your problem!!! :rolleyes:

If there was a mound, you were on the wrong field :D