Working Alone.. one of those plays

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by snorman75

So working alone modified game. Bases loaded, no outs. Girl hits s sharp single up the middle. Runner from second is coming home to score. So I am holding up the third baseline waiting for a throw to home. Well the girl going to second is not the swiftest runner. The center fielder throws to second to get he force.

OK, my problem.... The short stop, then the second baseman, standing on second, and the center fielder are in PERFECT alignment. I can not even see the second baseman take the throw. Never mind when the throw got there.

Since I had no knowledge of the ball beating the runner, I had to call her safe. Of course place goes nuts, unless u were behind me..lol

I know not it sucks..my question???

Would anyone call the runner out just going on fielders reaction? be the way the runner stayed on base.

P.S. I know I am not leaving the runners coming home, so I am never going to get any closer to second.

I don't think distance from the play is your issue.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

I don't think distance from the play is your issue.

Agreed. Whoever is sending just one umpire to cover a modified game is n-v-t-s, NUTS!

Look, you do the best you can. While I don't normally advocate "guessing an out," sometimes, you have to use timing to kind of fill in the blanks when, at the last moment, you get blocked.

And hey, who's to say it was a bad call? Sure, the place went nuts, but there have been PLENTY of times when I KNOW I made the right call, only to have the entire crowd go nuts. They have their angle, you have yours. Are they right? Sometimes, but not always.

[charliej47]

When I worked alone on slow-pitch or modified, at the plate meeting I would inform the coaches that certain "umpire" rules were in effect.
1) I always cover home first
2) I call what I see
3) I will eject anyone who charges me
4) I will discuss any call with the Head Coach only
5) The Head Coach is responsible for removing anyone ejected
6) the game is suspended until the ejected person is out of sight

Almost all of my solo games were on time limits.

It was surprising how both teams would "help" the ejected person leave!

I was getting so many ejections that I finally stopped doing solo games.

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by charliej47

When I worked alone on slow-pitch or modified, at the plate meeting I would inform the coaches that certain "umpire" rules were in effect.
1) I always cover home first
2) I call what I see
3) I will eject anyone who charges me
4) I will discuss any call with the Head Coach only
5) The Head Coach is responsible for removing anyone ejected
6) the game is suspended until the ejected person is out of sight

Almost all of my solo games were on time limits.

It was surprising how both teams would "help" the ejected person leave!

I was getting so many ejections that I finally stopped doing solo games.

Yeah, single-umpire games are just setting you up for failure. Doesn't matter the level, doesn't matter the umpire, failure is ALWAYS an option if given enough time.

I agree with moving up closer to the PP. You'll have an easier time getting to the angles on the field at the different bases. The book wants us outside and halfway up 3BL when covering tag-up plays on a runner at 3B, but that's about it. Get inside as best you can (without getting in the way), and try to work the angles from inside the diamond.

Regardless, in your sitch, you had to make a call. No different from any other call you'll make on the field: some will love it, some will hate it, and they can just get over it. Single umpire games will inevitably have some plays like this, and the players and fans just need to suck it up and accept it...


...or stop being so damn cheap and pay for a second umpire.

[CecilOne]

Originally Posted by charliej47

When I worked alone on slow-pitch or modified, at the plate meeting I would inform the coaches that certain "umpire" rules were in effect.
1) I always cover home first
2) I call what I see
3) I will eject anyone who charges me
4) I will discuss any call with the Head Coach only
5) The Head Coach is responsible for removing anyone ejected
6) the game is suspended until the ejected person is out of sight

Almost all of my solo games were on time limits.

It was surprising how both teams would "help" the ejected person leave!

I was getting so many ejections that I finally stopped doing solo games.

Don't forget "any call you don't like was my partner's".

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by charliej47

When I worked alone on slow-pitch or modified, at the plate meeting I would inform the coaches that certain "umpire" rules were in effect.
1) I always cover home first
2) I call what I see
3) I will eject anyone who charges me
4) I will discuss any call with the Head Coach only
5) The Head Coach is responsible for removing anyone ejected
6) the game is suspended until the ejected person is out of sight

Almost all of my solo games were on time limits.

It was surprising how both teams would "help" the ejected person leave!

I was getting so many ejections that I finally stopped doing solo games.

I know it seems like I'm picking on you ... trust me, that's not my intent...

But I strongly believe even saying the word ejection at the plate conference is extremely confrontational. I cringe when I have a partner do this. You can get your point across without talking about ejections.

One other thing I was taught early on - coaches are not responsible for the number of umpires / officials at their games. Bringing up the fact that they are going to get subpar officiating because we (the officials) are shorthanded is not really fair to them.

Also - if you're getting that many ejections - perhaps there's something else wrong here. Just 1 or 2 a year is a lot.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

...One other thing I was taught early on - coaches are not responsible for the number of umpires / officials at their games. Bringing up the fact that they are going to get subpar officiating because we (the officials) are shorthanded is not really fair to them....

Around here, the vast, vast majority of our fastpitch games are single umpire, even men's fastpitch. We'll get the occasional tournament championship that uses 2, and we are just starting to see some tournaments advertising 2 umpire crews as a benefit for their tournament. Point being, this is a decision made by the leagues, local clubs and associations to save money. It has nothing to do with umpire shortages. While not all coaches are involved in this decision, some (or even most) probably are. Even so, I never bring this up at the plate meeting (what's the point?), but I will if I start to catch grief about a missed call at 2B, etc.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by charliej47

When I worked alone on slow-pitch or modified, at the plate meeting I would inform the coaches that certain "umpire" rules were in effect.
1) I always cover home first
2) I call what I see
3) I will eject anyone who charges me
4) I will discuss any call with the Head Coach only
5) The Head Coach is responsible for removing anyone ejected
6) the game is suspended until the ejected person is out of sight

Almost all of my solo games were on time limits.

It was surprising how both teams would "help" the ejected person leave!

I was getting so many ejections that I finally stopped doing solo games.

There is no way I would mention any of this at a pre-game meeting. I'm not giving a clinic. For one reason is that it is common sense and applies even if you have six umpires on the field.

Not to mention that it sounds like you are making excuses for being alone before the teams are even on the field

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

There is no way I would mention any of this at a pre-game meeting. I'm not giving a clinic. For one reason is that it is common sense and applies even if you have six umpires on the field.

Not to mention that it sounds like you are making excuses for being alone before the teams are even on the field

Apparently there's new slang here that I'm going to attempt to use correctly for the first time...

1+

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Apparently there's new slang here that I'm going to attempt to use correctly for the first time...

1+

"Common sense?"

[BlitzkriegBob]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

Apparently there's new slang here that I'm going to attempt to use correctly for the first time...

1+

Hey Mike, you blew it. I believe the correct term is...

+1

[MD Longhorn]

All this jargon you young'uns come up with ... I can't keep up. SNAP!

[SethPDX]

Originally Posted by IRISHMAFIA

There is no way I would mention any of this at a pre-game meeting. I'm not giving a clinic. For one reason is that it is common sense and applies even if you have six umpires on the field.

Not to mention that it sounds like you are making excuses for being alone before the teams are even on the field

Not bad for your 10,000th post.