Game 4

I’m a day late in writing this post. But hey, can’t expect me to rush home from a game and instantly start blogging about it, can ya? 

Anyways, yesterday I worked my 4th game, another middle school game. This game was between Carolina Day School and WCAA (they are a team made up of homeschooled students). I was in the field for this game, only the second time I was scheduled to work the field.

The game was pretty good, through four innings it was tied 2-2. In the top of the 5th inning WCAA opened up a three run lead on a bases loaded double. And again, in the top of the 6th, they added on another three runs with a bases loaded bunt.

Yes, I said a bases loaded bunt…let’s just say, the Carolina Day players learned how to throw the ball around. It started off when the pitcher fielded the ball, was going to throw it to the plate but saw that the catcher was not near it, then he turned to throw to first base for the out. Unfortunately, there was no one there! Once the right fielder got the ball, the throwing around just continued.

There were a couple calls that I made during the 6th inning that I am sure that I blew. But that comes with learning the game and proper mechanics.

In the top of the 6th one of the WCAA players was caught in a “pickle” after being picked off first base. When he was sliding into second base, I must admit, I was blocked by the short stop that was making the tag. Although I SHOULDN’T have called him out without completely seeing the tag, the ball was there in plenty time for the tag to have been made. So, I called him out to end the half inning.

In the bottom of the 6th inning, after a play was completed (I cannot remember exactly what was going on with the play), the Carolina Day runner on first started to “lead off” and the pitcher quickly threw the ball over to the first baseman. The first baseman made the tag and I called the runner out to end the inning. Now, here’s the “funny” part of that play, I am not sure if the plate umpire called “time” before the play or not! I believe that he may have. If he did, he should have made it right by letting everyone know that the ball was “dead.” He didn’t, so the play stood and the inning was over.

Here’s another example of my inexperience in calling games. The starting pitcher for Carolina Day would continuously “go to his mouth” with his pitching hand between pitches. During the first inning, when I first saw it, I didn’t say anything. But, after the second inning, when he was still doing it, I mentioned it to my partner to keep an eye on him, but I still did not call anything on it.

So, why didn’t I call it? I wasn’t 100% sure of what the ruling would be. A pitcher can “go to their mouth” as long as they are NOT on the pitchers plate and as long as they DO wipe it off (or at least makes it look like they are wiping it off). The ruling, according to the NFHS, is that the ball is instantly dead, if no runners are on the batter is awarded a ball, if there are runners on it is considered a “balk” and all runners are awarded the next base, the pitcher is warned, and if it happens again, the pitcher is ejected from the game. I could have called something, but without knowing the rule completely I felt it was better to just let it go.

In other news…

I took my exam for the State and passed with a score of 89. I do not know which 11 questions I missed yet, the full results will be posted on Saturday, but going over the rule number given there were a few that were “no brainers” that I must have misread the question, or something. Either way, for being a rookie, I didn’t do too bad. Even a couple veterans said that is a really good score for a first year official.

Also, tomorrow is Game 5. I was quite surprised to see this assignment…a Varsity game. And guess what?…I’m behind the plate for it! Talk about throwing me to the wolves!

Taking in a game

On Friday night I decided to take in a game between the A.C. Reynolds Rockets and the Erwin Warriors. In a way it was to watch one of the best teams in the Mountain Athletic Conference (MAC), here in Western North Carolina, the A.C. Reynold Rockets (which also happens to be the school my children attend). Since I am ineligible to call any of their games, because my children attend the school it is considered a conflict of interest, and since I did not have a game scheduled, I figured it would be a good time to catch one of their games. And, in a way, it was to watch a couple veterans call a game.

Actually, it was a Junior Varsity/Varsity double-header, but I didn’t get there until the JV game was in the top of the 5th inning. Of the two umpires calling the game, I only knew one of them. He was behind the plate for the first game and I decided that I would mess with him a little bit between the games once he came off the field.

I wasn’t paying too close attention to what was going on between the umpires and coaches when the umpires were coming off the field. In hindsight, I kind of wish that I would have. When the one umpire came off the field I went up to him and asked, “so, how blind do you have to be to work the plate?” He was a little caught off guard, and a little short at first, but then answered “very blind, you know that.”

I guess there was some issues during the JV game that went on before I got there. Had I known, I would have never made the comment. Once I found out, or should I say realized, that there were issues I felt like an ass! I felt that I had majorly crossed a line and totally offended a fellow official. It weighed on my mind the rest of the night.

Anyways…The Varsity game was pretty good. Other than the Erwin fans being very argumentative over almost every call that was being made by the officials, that is. It didn’t matter how the plate umpire was calling the pitches, the fans were constantly getting on him. I even made mention to one of them that was standing next to me (I was standing behind the backstop), “yep, they got a better view over there of those pitches than the umpire does, don’t they?”

The spectator that I mentioned that to replied with, “oh, that’s just how we are at Erwin. It doesn’t matter how good or bad the calls are, we are still going to be like that.” And he continued to razz, and make complaints toward the umpire about the calls he was making. I will get back to that guy later…

As I said, the game was pretty good. The Rockets were taking it to the Warriors all night. The had a 7-2 lead going into the top of the 7th, leading up to an exciting finish to the game. With the Warriors coming to the plate in the top of the 7th, down by five, the Rockets just couldn’t seem to close the door. The Warriors scored a couple runs to close the gap to 7-4. Then managed to get runners on second and third, with two outs, and their best player coming to the plate.

The Warrior player, after being injured a couple innings earlier, limps up to the plate. He fouls off a couple good pitches. Then he blasts a pitch into left field for a base hit. The runner on second round third, the left fielder fires the ball into the third baseman, who, in turn, turns and fires the ball into the catcher, just in time for a bang-bang play at the plate. The catcher blocked the plate, just in time, with the ball, to make the tag for the final out. Rockets win, 7-5. That was one of the best finishes I have ever seen in a high school baseball game.

Getting back to the Erwin fan I was talking about earlier…and let this be a lesson to all other fans. As I was saying, he was constantly heckling the plate umpire. Making comments about virtually every call he made. Talking about how much he “sucked” and how bad he was calling the game. Then, when the Warriors were making a pitching change, the plate umpire was looking back in our general direction. This guy held his arms out making a “what?” kind of gesture. When the umpire saw that he made a bee line over to us and kicked the guy out telling him that he “had heard enough of his mouth!”

That’s right folks, whether you believe it or not, the officials are in complete control of the game, and all aspects of it, including the fans, once the game begins. If you, as a fan, are being obnoxious and cross a line with an umpire, we are within our rights to send you packing just like the coaches and players.

Now, back to the comment that I had made to the umpire between games. After I had gotten home, and after the family and I watched a movie, that the family was waiting ever so patiently for me to return to watch with them, I sent him a quick email to apologize for the untimely attempt at a humorous joke. The next day I received a reply from him telling me that he was going to email me to apologize for being “short and snippy” with me. He informed me that he was not offended by the comment, and for me to feel free to “come out and watch the old farts” call a game anytime.

In receiving, and reading that email, it put my mind at ease quite a bit. Unless you are in that type of situation yourself, you don’t know how disturbing it is to think that you may have offended, or crossed a line, with a fellow official. Especially when you are a first year official.

As of right now, weather permitting (it is currently raining, and the weather service is calling for snow over the next couple days), I have my first JV game on Tuesday. Honestly, I did not think that I would be assigned to anything other than middle school games until at least the mid-point of the season.

Well, beginning tomorrow I have to take an officiating exam (I have until Friday to complete it). I must have a passing score to continue to be eligible to call games this year. I am sure that I will do fine, and hopefully I can “Ace” the exam, but still, wish me luck on it.

Game 3

Today I was behind the plate again, for the second time in three games called. I was a little nervous, the anxiety was kicking in a little, mainly because I was calling the game at Asheville Christian Academy (ACA) again. If you read about my first game you will understand why.

Although I think I did well in that first game, I thought for sure that ACA’s coach would have thought otherwise. Imagine my surprise when he told my partner for today’s game that he thought I did a great job. I was really surprised when he even remembered my name. But, then again, he did give me my check, so that is probably how he remembered it.

I was really hoping for a good, low scoring game today. Unfortunately it was just the opposite. ACA was playing against Macon. The first inning was pretty good. ACA held Macon scoreless and ended up scoring a run in the bottom of the first. But then, Macon unloaded for NINE runs in the top of the second. ACA’s pitcher was just hit-able today, plus there were multiple fielding and throwing errors that contributed to the outburst of runs.

The game ended after five innings, thanks to the mercy rule, with Macon winning 14-1.

I must say, even though this game was a drubbing, there really wasn’t anything interesting that happened. Unlike my first two games, all the calls were quite easy and uncontroversial. That is, of course, unless you want to consider some of my ball and strike calls controversial (but that’s something you can’t do, you can’t argue balls and strikes with the “Blue”. It will get you tossed).

Anyways…today I was partnered with a member of the review committee for the association that I work through. I guess you could say that knowing I was paired with him kind off added to my anxiety for the game. I mean, this guy has the ability to recommend that I continue only working middle school games, or that I am ready to move up to JV games. All I could think about, before the game, was what if I totally screwed up?

Throughout the game, and after the game when we were talking, my partner continuously said that I was doing really well. He said that my mechanics were good, and as long as I continue working the plate like I did today that I would be a pretty good umpire.

The only things that he really had to critique on me was that I tend to move my body and head with the pitch. Of course this is something that I already know. But even he said that with time I will learn to keep my head and body still and follow the ball with just my eyes. He also said that he noticed that I tend to crouch down too low. That I need to work on keeping my back straight and keep my chin just above the catchers head.

As I told him, I try to take something from every game as a learning experience. Since I am new to calling games, I know that I am going to make minor mistakes. As long as I notice the mistakes I make, and work to eliminate those mistakes, I know that I could become one heck of an umpire. Just like  ball players, at any level of play, I am just working to get better every day.

As of this posting, I have no clue when, or where, my next assignment will be. There are a couple games tomorrow that do not have two committed umpires assigned. I could either be assigned to one of them, or I might not be assigned to another game until next week.

Until then…go out, catch a game or two, and remember, be nice to the “blues”. After all, they are human, they can only call ‘em how they see ‘em.