Annoyed...

[Tru_in_Blu]

I worked a recent slow pitch game w/ a partner on the bases.

Runners on 1st & 2nd. Batter hits a slow ground ball up the middle that the pitcher missed. F4 & F6 begin to converge on the ball. I started up the 3rd base line and not expecting a throw to third, drifted to the holding zone.

Base umpire who was playing off F4's left shoulder to being with ended up calling the runner safe @ second. When I was looking at it from 100' away, it appeared that F6 had actually fielded the ball and managed to step on the base before the runner did. But there was a tangle of legs with 3 players around the base.

Defense came to me (of course) to ask for "an appeal" so I told them the BU made the call and they should ask him if he would/could check w/ his partner. The player, while walking back towards me, said "Yeah, he said we could check w/ you."

At this point I motioned for him to approach me and we discussed. I asked what he saw. During the live ball, it appeared that the runner had come off the base (I assume he thought he was out, despite a safe call). So I asked my partner if he saw the runner off the base after the call. He said yes. I asked if the defender was still standing on the base in possession of the ball. He said he thought so. Incandescent bulbs turn on instantly, while the flourescent bulbs take a bit longer.

A couple of innings later between innings, he tried to ask be about fielders having "dual possession" of the ball. I had no idea where this was going, and simply told him that only 1 fielder could possess the ball. Maybe in football or basketball there can be dual possession, but we weren't going to have a jump ball @ second base.

Second game, I'm on the bases. Two runners on and the batter hits a line drive to left field. As I'm coming inside, my runner @ first is already a third of the way to second base, so I take a peek at the ball. Visually, it appeared to hit the crossbar of the top of th fence, which is covered with that yellow plastic drainage pipe stuff. But to me, the deciding factor was the CONK! and the ball bouncing directly back onto the field. Partner calls it a home run. Our league decided that they like to run out their HRs, so I follow BR around towards third.

Of course, the defense is now asking for him to check w/ his partner again. At least this time, he approached me properly. He asks what I saw, and I told him. He claims he saw the netting over the fence move first and decides to stay w/ the HR call.

This umpire is in his 4th or 5th year now. Yup, I'm annoyed.