Worst umpire ever award, Have you got yours yet this year?

[outathm]

Mine was the starter of the only writing I had to do all year. The coach was nice enough to come back onto the field to give it to me though.

I am not sure it counts as I was only the worst they had this year, not actually a global award. It was specific to the school.

Of course, it also gave me a chance to talk to my assigner about how seriously the conference takes ejections, and that I needed to be sure I really needed to think about the consequences to the coach before I ejected anyone.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by outathm

Of course, it also gave me a chance to talk to my assigner about how seriously the conference takes ejections, and that I needed to be sure I really needed to think about the consequences to the coach before I ejected anyone.

I love assigners that stick up for their officials.

[CecilOne]

I wonder if I would get one of these awards if I listened.

There might have been a "out by a mile call" one day.

[DaveASA/FED]

Originally Posted by outathm

Of course, it also gave me a chance to talk to my assigner about how seriously the conference takes ejections, and that I needed to be sure I really needed to think about the consequences to the coach before I ejected anyone.

No the coach needs to understand the seriousness of an ejection and the consequences that come to the coach before they eject themselves. Most ejections come at the coaches request, even begging for it at times. Coaches need to realize the effects of their actions and not cross the line to put themselves in that position. Once again another example of our society not stepping up and putting the "blame" where it lies...had to be a bad umprie to eject that coach, couldn't be that the coach is an a$$ and deserved it! Sorry, rants over!!!!

[Far far away ..]

Got my "worst call ever" award tonight.

Previous two champions of our top co-ed adult slow pitch division.

Tight game all way to 7th, the visitors getting a run in each of two earlier innings, the home side no scores, a bunch of errors and a number of runners left on. Top of 7th the visitors break out and get 6 runs in.

Bottom of 7th, 1 out, batter fouls two pitches, watches two balls and then is called out looking. Can't believe it, tells me the pitch was way high and as he exits the field tells me it was the worst call ever.

Not long after and the game is done - 8 runs to zip.

Their coach then very politely had a dicsussion with me about my high strike zone.

Then their captain politely told me all about my high strike zone, that it was the reason for all their pop-ups and that the game was no fun for either team as a result. Also tells me that they're such classy players that they didn't say anything during the game that he'd rather have a quiet word afterwards.

I just smiled and nodded at the time, not going to take offense or react, but the more I think about it after the fact the more p!$$ed off I get.

But hey, it's only taken me a season and a third of umpiring to get a worst ever award, it can only get better from here!

[celebur]

Originally Posted by Far far away ..

Then their captain politely told me all about my high strike zone, that it was the reason for all their pop-ups and that the game was no fun for either team as a result.

Seems to me that with an 8-0 score, at least one team was having fun!

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by outathm

Of course, it also gave me a chance to talk to my assigner about how seriously the conference takes ejections, and that I needed to be sure I really needed to think about the consequences to the coach before I ejected anyone.

Wow. That's freaking irritating. 90% of the time (or more), coaches eject themselves. We're not out there looking to toss anyone. They know where the line is for the most part, if they choose to cross it then THEY need to talk to someone about how seriously the conference takes ejections.

Unless you're tossing people left and right, game after game, they should not have admonished you at all.

[outathm]

The best part is that I turned back a HS DH for more money because it was a rain date that I was originally scheduled for.

This is actually my job and was not a popular choice around the house.

I am really not the guy that tosses a lot of coaches (3 in 5 years if we include travel ball), and I am definably not a guy that wants to get all of the information necc. for an incident report.

[txump81]

According to one team, I received mine last night.

12U. Neither pitcher can find the zone with a map and GPS. Balls are going over my head, hitting dirt in front of the plate, or so far in and out, the catcher can't get a glove on them. There were about 7 or 8 pitches at the shoulders that the coaches were barking about. Nothing ejectable, just overheard the comments from one pitcher's dad, "This is getting you ready for high school."

Bases loaded 0 outs. Hard bouncer to F5 who makes a great stop. She is about 2ft in front of the bag and comes home instead of taking an out. Defense was up by 4 runs. I slide up just outside the LH batter's box as the catcher gets the ball. She misses the plate by 6 inches then tries a tag and the runner beats the tag. Coach is irate, but controls his anger and stays in the dugout.

1st inning took 1hr 5 minutes. We finished 4 innings due to curfew and home team won 19-18. The longest 2:30 minutes of my life.

[ASA/NYSSOBLUE]

Originally Posted by txump81

According to one team, I received mine last night.

12U. Neither pitcher can find the zone with a map and GPS. Balls are going over my head, hitting dirt in front of the plate, or so far in and out, the catcher can't get a glove on them. There were about 7 or 8 pitches at the shoulders that the coaches were barking about. Nothing ejectable, just overheard the comments from one pitcher's dad, "This is getting you ready for high school."

Bases loaded 0 outs. Hard bouncer to F5 who makes a great stop. She is about 2ft in front of the bag and comes home instead of taking an out. Defense was up by 4 runs. I slide up just outside the LH batter's box as the catcher gets the ball. She misses the plate by 6 inches then tries a tag and the runner beats the tag. Coach is irate, but controls his anger and stays in the dugout.

1st inning took 1hr 5 minutes. We finished 4 innings due to curfew and home team won 19-18. The longest 2:30 minutes of my life.

Gotta LOVE those 1 hour plus innings...NOT...

[greymule]

I have so many of those awards, I've dedicated an entire trophy case to them in the basement.

Once a coach awarded my partner WOE honors in the morning, and then gave them to me in the afternoon. I told my partner, "Hey, you're only number two on her list now." I had to laugh, though, when after she screamed, "You're the worst umpire I ever saw," a fan responded, "Then you ain't seen too many umpires, lady."

Defensive coach thinks runner should only get second, because "he had to go back and touch first."

I'd have responded, "Didn't you read the update this spring? The old one plus one is gone. It's one plus two now."

[BBUMP99]

I got mine today.
14U ASA.
Apparently the "all bases are presumed touched" theory applies to coaches too. This guy genuinely believed that, if he didn't see it, it didn't happen.