Worst Call Ever
 

Okay, which one of you guys currently has the “Worst Call Ever” award? Well, I want it back. During my game the other day the batter hit a double, beat the tag at second, the batter moves off the bag to get a better position, dust off, standup, what ever. While she is off the base, the fielder, who still had possession of the ball, quickly moves her foot to a position between the base and the batter’s foot effectively blocking the bag, and then reapplies the tag. BANG! Now she is out. Out comes the coach. First thing he does is tell the retired batter to stay there, like if I did change my mind I would then call her out for being of the base.
“Whoa! Whoa, blue you can’t make that call,” the coach says as he approaches.
“What call is that coach?” innocently I queried.
“How can she be out, she beat the tag,” he said as he got into his arguing stance, feet part, arms held high and crossed in front of his chest.
“Yes sir, but then the fielder tagged her with the ball while she was not in contact with the base,” I reply as I stand in a modified parade rest (for you slackers or sailors that is with my hands behind my back).
“She pushed her off, she can’t do that.” My mind flashed to one of the biggest travesty in World Series play, when that guy pushed that other guy off first. Hey it was nearly twenty years ago, I remember the play, just not the players.
Shaking my head, “No sir, she did not pusher her off.”
“Then she blocked the base, that’s obstruction.”
Again shaking my head, “No sir, that is not obstruction, the fielder had the ball.”
“So you’re telling me that the runner wanted to be out,” say the coach as he gets a little closer
“I can’t exactly say what she wanted," I say with a who knows kind of smirk, finish with a firm, "but she is out.”
“So she wanted to be out,” turning to address the player. “You wanted to be out?”
The batter weakly shakes her head no.
“Okay, come-on coach let’s play,” I interrupt.
Now here is where things get weird, the coach starts to jog off the field, and the retired batter stays at second. I make an out sign again, and tell the batter that she is out. And wait for her to leave the field. The coach who had not quite got off the field comes back
“I thought we agreed that she was not out blue.”
“No sir we agreed that she was out, because she was tagged while off the base.”
“Well she’s not out.”
“Yes coach she is out, let’s play.” I wait just a fraction of a second and turn smartly (yes that Marine training never leaves) to return to my starting position.
Here it comes … wait for it …the punch line to my story…
“That’s just the worst call I ever saw.”

So, who ever has my award give it back.

This reminds me of the coach who, 46 years ago, came out and told me (then age 14) that the runner I had called out at 2B had confided in him (the coach) that he really was safe. I said, "No, he was out." The coach responded, "Are you calling my player a liar?"

As far as making the worst call ever goes, I'm accused of that several times a year.

You may want to review a post I made back in 2006:

Mon Mar 27, 2006, 10:31pm
MichaelVA2000
Registered User Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 697

I'm BU and the home team coach has been chirping about a couple of close call made by my partner and myself that didn't go his way. I'd already heard "that's one Blue!" After the second close call I hear "C'mon Blue, that two that's been missed!" I tell the coach to knock it off and I don't want to hear the word three come out of his mouth. A couple innings later with a runner on first, batter gets a base hit and there is a close play on R1 at third where my partner calls her safe. As the next batter is stepping into the batter's box I hear the coach yelling from the home team dugout, three.....three....three!! I called time, went to the dugout and tossed the coach. Coach had much to say, but I'd moved out to the C position as my partner rodeo clowned him off the field. When I eject someone, they're dead...and I don't talk to dead people.

During our postgame chat my partner shares with me that the coach was actually calling out a set play they have for situations with runners on first and third. F6 (#3) comes into the diamond for a short throw from F2.

All I could say was, I warned him that I didn't want to hear the word three!

1991
Kent Hrbek playing 1B for the Minnesota Twins
Ron Gant, runner at 1B for the Atlanta Braves

IT WAS A GREAT PLAY BY HRBEK!:D;):p

Speaking of liars...

I had once tossed a player for calling me a "jack@$$" during a game. He swore to the coach he didn't do anything wrong, but a couple nights afterward, he was having a brew with his coach, and he said, "well, I might've said something like that."

Coach gave him a one game suspension for lying to him, on top of the one game suspension the league gave him for getting tossed. :D

Thanks, coach!

I grew up in Colorado before baseball and cable TV, when I moved out on my own WTBS was one of the first stations that continuously exposed me to the game, so I cut my baseball teeth on NL teams, so I was rooting for Atlanta then. The travesty statement stays.:p

Well, coach, if the player isn't telling the truth........

Did you eject the coach at this point? If you didn't, I applaud your patience! I would have tossed her as soon as he made the remark I've highlighted in red. That would have been enough to me that he was showing me up.

For me, it would've been at this point. Once I say, "let's play," it's done. If the coach or player continues to challenge me after this, I usually interpret this as an attempt to show me up, but we all have our own different limits.

"Coach, goodbye."

Well, coach, wouldn't want to ruin the excitement of witnessing the worst call you ever saw by allowing you the opportunity to see another, so you better leave now!

PFFFFFTT

We umpires will be the judge of that and...

You didnt even rate a "That was horrible" or "Let the girls decide the game"?

Your weak sauce call deserves no award.

Try again next time.

:cool:

What can we say, Wade, making an entire team of girls cry on command and laughing in the face of a coach is a lofty goal to achieve! :D

I believe there was also something about young ladies sprawled on the ground crying.....

Wade= evil bastid

I must say find it hard to believe and dare I say a little offensive he is trying to take my title with this lil ole call. Until you got riots, newspapers, sprawled wailing girls devestated for life literally spontaneously preaborting en masse their first borns right on the field...

Please step aside, the king of the worst call still reigns.

Wade,

Would you mind posting your title situation?

Thanks, Ron

I'd just as soon leave it at lore now.. its better that way... ;)

One of the more creative signs I've seen during a TV broadcast:

"Hey, Hrbek. Buy a vowel!"

Legend has it there were at least three full ride D-I scholarships revoked on the spot after that game. But...that is just what I hear. ;)

So you're telling me that some Community College coach doesn't have the authority to give me the "Worst Call" Award?

Dang, you just broke my heart.

I to think you should re-tell your story of woe (it didn't happen to me, so it's funny).:p

Best sign at that World Series: "Hey HRBEK -- buy a vowel" :cool: (Edited to add this. I remembered it too, Tru in Blu. Should have kept reading before chiming in.)

Now that you have brought up Community College coaches.....

I'm working a Jr College game a few years ago, I'm BU, batter hits a line drive in the gap for an easy double, as BR is rounding second, she bumps into F6 just kind of standing there watching the ball being thrown back into the pitcher. I put the left arm out to signal obstruction. BR returns to second. SInce this was the first year of the "rounding and returning" obstruction rule in NCAA, I call out to my partner that I have an obstruction warning on F6.

Here comes the defensive coach....

What was that call?
Obstruction, coach..on your shortstop. The runner bumped into her after rounding second.
He looks at me like he wants to say something, but can't find the words.
He asks F6 - Where were you? (like this makes a difference)
He looks at me again and starts to say something, then turns to go back to his dugout.
About halfway there, he stops, turns around and yells at me..."Don't abuse the rule!"

Legend also has it that there were at least three full ride drama scholarships offered on the spot after that game. But...that is just what's churning in the rumor mill.:D

:cool:AKA - How to go from UCLA Bruins to Stockton's Detla College Rhino's in one easy call.

I thought it was How to go from UCLA Bruins to Nairobi Prison. :cool:

That player should count herself lucky. Did she know what the penalty would have been in a YSISF game?
:p

Had a Cadette (U13) Tournament game: Bunt down 1st, each and every D goes for it, plus I have the BR running down the Line.
Picked up and throw to 1st, my 1st Base Partner asks me the question "Did 1st pull her foot?"
I replied "No she didn't" my partner at 1st calls the 'Out'
A coach comes rushing out of the dugout "Ump" she says "How did you see that she didn't pull her foot?"
"Because i got was in a Good Position and could see over the 4ft Cadettes as I am 6ft 4""
Coach turns and as she is heading back to the Dugout, in a voice loud enough for the Dugout and possibly the TC & UIC to hear says "Well you have better Eye's than me then"

Without a pause I turned to her in a voice just loud enough for all to hear, and said "Yes I do, and right now I can see you are heading to the wrong Gate" as I calmly point to the Gate leading out of the Ballpark!!

She smiled / grinned at me, and simply turned in the direction of Exit!

3rd base 'Big Cheif' Coach rushes up to me and he said "Was that ejection necessary?"

I Calmly said to him "You sent her to me!"

Coach smirks and walks back to his 3rd base position.

Little did I know that as this was my 1st Tournament with them coaching it was a Test.

I had no other issues for the week, so I guess I passed!!

I doubt I would have ejected the coach unless there had been issues with her earlier in the game.

Your post said she was walking to the dugout when she stated your eyes were better than hers. A simple thank you may have been sufficient.

I agree. Unless there was more to the story, I don't think I would have ejected in this case. Dave

Hey, he said it was a crappy call, so he knows that!

Must worse than bugbobs weak sauce call IMO. ;)

I got the worst call comment from a coach today during a PONY tournament.

Tie game and bottom of the seventh inning. R1 is at second base with two outs. DC yells to her catcher form the dugout to request time. F2 asks for time and I grant it. DC comes out of the dugout and yells to the outfielders to move in a couple of steps.

As the DC heads back towards the dugout I let her know that she was being charged with a conference. Here's how the conversation continued:

DC: What do you mean I'm being charged with a conference? You can't do that, my catcher was granted the timeout not me!

Me: It became a charged conference when you came onto the field and gave instructions to your players

Coach: That's the worst call ever. Don't think you've heard the last of this; I'll be talking to the UIC when this game is over

Me: That's fine coach but for now I need to know who you will be replacing your pitcher. That was your fourth conference.

B2 smacks a gapper to right-center field on the first pitch from the new F1 bringing in the winning run.

My partner and I leave the field hearing comments of how I had won the game for the other team. Yada Yada Yada.

What is pony? Glorified rec? This is all preseason stuff right now around here until Memorial Day.

I might get flamed but I probably would have let that go. Let the girls play - I'm not big on the large and in charge stuff. Stuff like that I just let the coach know what I would normally do.

Championship play - Whole different ball game. Some BS preseason Pony .. what ? 12U? tourney... nah. Sorry.

But not the worst call ever... ;)

Michael, this is where you missed a great opportunity :D If he wanted to talk to the UIC, you should have located the UIC and told the coach to go ahead and talk to him, NOW!

God, I loved that one the first time I heard it!

PONY Baseball/Softball • Protect Our Nation's Youths
:rolleyes:

It wasn't a BS preseason game. This was a Sanctioned PONY Qualifier Tournament. My enforcing the rule wasn't about being large and in charge.

I worked a couple of games of the 14u national champs. They could flat out play. Thought for a moment I was back in Texas doing FP. Next game I woke up and realilzed it was just a dream.:eek:

I disagree - It was definately large and in charge and a gotcha.. or at least the way you described it. Thats obvious you pulled a gotcha.

I'll give you that it wasnt a bs tourney - pony league world tourney or whatever - It still would have taken a small amount of preventative umpiring to keep that from happening. Even if it was a big tourney and you were strickly enforcing - "coach are you sure, that will be a charged conference".

Wade, as I read what happened, you are being unfair to Michael. F2 requested TIME, not the coach. Once the coach came out shouting instructions to his players, it became a charged conference. The coach did not ask for the TIME or give the PU an opportunity to prevent anything. It seems clear from the coach's response, s/he went through F2 intentionally under the belief that this would not be a charged conference.

Well maybe the coach deserved that gotcha then. I'm not sure of the whole situation at the time. Seems like a little bragging about a gotcha call to me.. sometimes in the heat of battle the gotcha gets gotten... :D

I guess it was my worst call ever, but I called a foul ball when the player's feet were inside the line. :D :D :rolleyes:

Or maybe it was the illegal pitch when the leap was high enough to be seen by the PU and carried the stride foot to the circle line. :eek:

Thanks Dakota, that’s why I enforced the charged conference.
I don’t see in my OP where I appeared to brag about a “gotcha” call. It seemed pretty straight forward to me. The coach was charged with a conference. It was conference number four. By rule, on the fourth conference a different pitcher is required.

How do you not at LEAST admit that this is a gotcha call? You could have prevented it.. "Coach get back in your hole or this is a charged conference" would have done it.. that would have taken what? a half second and everyone gets to play their game happily without some ruling like that.

Maybe the coach was a jerk? Doubtless he probably was having problems with you all game or even in the past.. and you got him on this one? hmmm? Why else would he even try this that way unless there is some level of history here?

Confess and ye shall be set free.

At least admit you were getting this coach for whatever reason. Because IMO, this is very preventable and this type of call exactly falls under a "preventative umpiring" issue IMO.

In any case, at least its in the right thread. :D

Worst call? Heck, today my partner and I were the worst umpires ever. I mean, I didn't even know:

(1) The hands ARE part of the bat. Even though the batter didn't swing it should have been a foul ball instead of HBP.

(2) If I ring up a strike on a check swing it can still be appealed to my partner if the offense asks.

(3) I'm the plate umpire, so I'm supposed to overrule my BU's call if it's "blatantly" wrong (this one happened about three times and I still didn't get it right).

I set a new personal record for most sh*thouses in a single game, but having both coaches ticked off at you for getting everything right feels pretty good. Funny thing is, after the game our evaluator wanted to talk some minor mechanics adjustments instead of all the rules we missed and calls we blew...

(If you were about to dig through your rulebooks to correct me you can put them away now.;))

So my call last weekend wasn't a worst call ever. I wasn't a worst umpire ever.

I just had the improper angle and distance.

Runner at 2nd, off with the pitch. Sharp one hopper hit to SS who throws to 3B. Throw handcuffs 3B, runner easily there, slides feet first, tag way up on shoulder, I am right there somewhere between 45 and 90 and have a great look. Call her safe.

Here comes DC running across field, how can I make that call, you missed it, I could see it clearly from my bucket 80 feet away, you gotta get help yada yada yada. No, coach, not getting help blah blah coach has his say and walks back across field from dugout.

Fat b*atch in front row, first base line:
"Blue you need to pull your head out of your @$$." Not butt, @$$.

All this fun because I'm covering for Mizz Lou to change into her base duds.

(Secret just between us: when I got back to the car I tried to pull my head out, still didn't work.)

Did you go through the unfortunate episode called "break-up" with your partner? In case you did then what was the reason(s) for break up? Did you find out something bad in your partner or did some external event brought about that?

Gosh, I'm glad you asked. It was a dark and stormy night one December afternoon when my partner called me over to the sofa. As we slept in the dining room, she broke the bad news. It was something bad in my partner's external event that we just could not fix no matter how we bounced the ball in the pool.

Night of the Living Thread! :cool:

I called a couple games tonight and made the “worst call ever”. First batter hits and reaches 1st safely. As the pitcher begins her windmill motion, the runner leaves first early. I called dead ball and signaled an out. A coach (one of five standing by the dugout) runs up to me, while yelling at the runner to stay on second (made it al the way there in short order) and says "she is not out", in which I replied "coach she left early, she is out". The coach then said the infamous phrase of “that is the worst call ever”. I then replied, "Coach let it go, she is out". The coach couldn’t let it go and eventually talked me into tossing him after I asked him several times to let it go. So, am I the leader this week or did someone out do me?

The last Ronald McDonald tournament I did, i called 2 runners out for leaving early. My partner, in an Ronald McDonald tournament called one runner out for leaving early. They were all "the worst call ever."
Good luck today.

I've been umpiring softball since '89 and then started football about 5 years back. In football, I'm in the umpire position in the middle of the field, so rarely hear the coaches.

Last Thursday, we had a JV game with a wonderfully executed 'hook and ladder' play, where the receiver hooks in, catches the ball and then laterials to a waiting team mate. Unfortunately, another player chose to block someone in the back and I threw a flag for, you guessed it, the worst call ever.

Now, do I get a separate award for football or do we have to share between sports.

This really has turned into "Night of the Living Thread," as it has now been exhumed and reanimated twice! :eek:

The Never-ending Thread
 

Perhaps we could rename it as "The Never-ending Thread".