Just a funny tale...

Last night I was sitting at the first game of the Texas League playoffs, the Frisco Rough Riders playing the Wichita Wranglers, with my 17 year old son. Great game ensued, with the underdog Riders winning 3-1. But that's not the funny part...

At one point there was an overthrow by the Wranglers SS to their firstbaseman, with the throw ending up in their dugout. Before I realized it, my hands shot straight up in the air and I yelled out, "dead ball!" I looked to my right to see my 17 year old trying to crawl under his seat. Hey! What can I say...I was caught up in the moment....and some actions are just instinctual!

Okay. Gotta go see if the Riders win game two!

[Edited by Skahtboi on Sep 3rd, 2003 at 08:10 PM]

That's funny! http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung...smiley-003.gif I can easily picture that happening to me!

I've been calling balls and strikes on MLB games from the couch for years (fortunately they haven't installed QuesTec yet in my living room). My wife tends to go to the basement when she sees that I'm watching a game.

For the last 3-4 years, our umpire association goes to a local minor league ball game as a group. This includes food, beverage and a seat to the game.

A few years ago, a BU had a different angle then our section did on a play at 2B. A few of us stood up simultaneously made a safe call while the BU was standing there with a hammer.

We were a little on the loud side. This umpire (A ball, many rooks) was probably thinking it was about time the concessions stopped serving beer for that game.

A couple of years ago, I was catching in a slow pitch game, and one of my partners was behind the plate.

A long line drive went foul down the left side, and without even thinking I was up, moving down the line, throwing my arms to foul territory and yelling Foul, Foul!

When I returned to my position, my partner asked if I'd let him call the rest of the game, please.

Pure repetition training!

I think I mentioned this when it happen last year. In a one umpire game, I was "coaching" first base and we were losing badly. The PU was lazy, making calls from the right handed batters box. (Someone I've seen around the fields in the area.) Most everyone on both teams knew me as an umpire, too.

I decided that on the next call, I was going to move from the coaches box, button hook into position and make a safe call, no matter how badly the throw beat the runner. I moved into position, the short stop bobbled the ball a couple of times and then fired a bullet. It was a bang-bang play at first and instincts kicked in. I gave yell and a big overhand out.

The other team laughed and my team got on my case.