New Umpire Blues

[BuggBob]

Okay, what do you do? I was working with a new partner, A 16-year old girl doing only her third game, she had participated in our training earlier in the year (3-hours every Tuesday and Thursday for four weeks). Like most new umpires she is a little timid and very quiet. The play, runners at third and second, two outs. Batter hits a ball to the short stop, R1 heads home, R2 to third, throw to third. Partner makes a very confusing out-safe-out call (all with her hands, there was no vocalization at all). Fans and offence coach go nuts. Play is over head coach is screaming at her, which makes things worse (thanks coach), I give the fans the "look" and they calm down. Everyone, including me, wants to know what is the call.

I go out and talk with my partner, "Okay what did you see?"

"I saw her tagged on the shoulder."

Now I had a very good look at the play and there was no tag on the shoulder, or any where else. "I need you to be sure on this call."

"Yes the ball got there and the third base player tagged her on the shoulder with the ball."

"Okay then that is what you saw that is what we're going to call."

I turn to the coach and make the Out signal, "Runner is out, that is three, run does not score."

Now the coach is really upset, I don't blame him as he is most likely right, his girl was not out. "You got to change that call blue"

Shaking my head, "No sir, I will not change her call."

"Your the head umpire, you can change that call. What did you see?"

"Coach it does not matter what I saw, it is not my call to change. She saw an out and an out is what we have."

"Well my dad has been an umpire for 55 years, and I know that the head umpire can change the call."

"No umpire, not even your dad, will change their partner's call."

He goes on for a few more minutes about how I can change the call ... blagh, blagh, blagh standard boilerplate coach ranting.

"Okay coach, the call is the call, that is it, now lets get back to the game."

He shut up and we finished the game without further incident.