After action report

[BuggBob]

What a play, WHAT A GAME! (2-0 final score)R1 @ 2nd, R2 @ 1st, 2 outs, B5 hits single to center field. F8 makes a great glove save, and throw to F2. F2 is in front of the 3rd base line, clearly not in the path of R1 who is steaming around 3rd and headed for home. F2 catches the one bounce throw from F8 (it was a great throw) and moves into the runner’s path. R1 slides, F2 blocks, I’m looking on with the white hot intensity of a 1000 suns, moms swoon, dads shout, coaches are holding the breath, the dust settles …. I give a giant overhand out, “HAAAugh!” In comes the head coach form 3rd, in comes the assistant coach from 1st both nearly in unison, “Whaaa! That’s horrible you called her safe, then you called her out.” I was thinking to myself, I called nothing until I saw the out, then I called her out. Both coaches are in my personal space, pointing at the plate, the catcher, the runner, both are shouting at me. Partner arrives and shoos the assistant coach away, he heads to the dugout, but continues with the standard boilerplate comments.

Now the head coach starts with the questions, “You called her safe and then changed to out!” I did not, but talking to my partner after the game he said when I was looking at the play, my closed hands were at my chest and my elbows were sticking straight out. But at the time I had no idea what the coach was ranting about so I replied with a dry, “No I did not Coach, she never touched the plate she’s out.”

“Well then that’s interference!” he shouts. To which I calmly rely, “There was no obstruction on the play the catcher had the ball.”

“So she was blocking the plate before she got the ball? She has to give my runner clear path to the plate, where was that path? Can you show me that path?” Now I can hold my own in a shouting match, and if it is a battle of wits I think I am pretty sharp, but thanks to my past life with my [still] beloved Corps I usually resort to compound words, which is why when I discuss things with a coach or my wife, I keep my mouth shut and just look them in the eye. I then keep my answers to “Yes sir” or “No ma’am.” I haven’t used the BIG adjective in an argument for years. So when I start to get mad, I usually turn my back and walk to my next or to a safe position. It is my way a saying the argument is over. So the head coach starts to go to my partner, who was still nearby but not involved. I look at the coach and firmly say, “Coach it is time for you to go back to your dugout sir” “What I can’t ask him?” “No sir.”

Game continues, six out later we all go home, some happy, some still complaining about the call at the plate. Me? I went home and mowed the lawn and had vegetable beef soup for dinner. Man I love this time of year.