Umpires blog 2

The game: 9AA tournament For world series berth
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Ejections=0
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After many rain delays we get our game started.
No instructions from the table when we pick up our cards
We get to the plate I call for coaches.
One coach (blue) arrives right away
The other coach (red) takes his time getting to the plate

I call a second time and a third. He states in a rude tone that he is trying to get there.
He drags his feet to the plate
I tell him I have given him plenty of time and with all the rain I am getting this game started ASAP.
He states that he just finished a game. I said that is fine but 10 minutes should be enough
I ask if he needs more time for the boys to have a "bio break".
He says no and that he is sorry the last game was chicken crap and he is just upset.
I tell him I am sorry but we are here to discuss the game starting now.
9 double a right?
Yes and yes
Ok Then an hour and 40 or 6 innings which come first. We do not need a winner so a tie will be allowed
Any questions??
No and no
Have you flipped?
No and no
We flip red is home
Are your players properly equipped?
Yes and yes
If you have a question, wait for the play to finish, ask for time, wait for time to be granted, and approach the official,
I want to have a positive dialogue from the dugouts and I want to see sportsmanship also that means the league rule is no heckling the pitcher, they can root their players on and everything else but screaming at the pitcher is not going to be allowed. Do we understand? Any questions??
No and no
You two are the only ones I will recognize for time. I do not want to have five hundred people asking for time for every little thing.
If there is time need you ask for it?
Any questions?
I am not aware of any problems in the fence and I am sure that the ground is wet so let’s try to keep the balls dry have your pitcher request a new ball any time.
We will start the clock now.

Red takes the field and warms up. No problems accept the usual strike zone. How can the coaches see the strike better than me??? And they surely do not complain when they are up to bat.

Now bottom of the second there is a check swing that I call a strike.
Then there is a play at home on an infield hit that the short decides to throw home instead of first. The runner is out by 12 inches I punch his ticket for out number two. Some more grousing.
Batter settles into box a high strike (under the armpits) comes in I call strike. I come set and something flies from home side to the dirt on first base running track.
"Hey is that a hail stone?" I think
Pitch ball
"Is it melting?" I wonder
Pitch dirt ball
"No it looks like it is not melting"
Pitch belt high down the middle home run strike no swing
"No that is not melting. That means someone threw something."
TIME!
I go and pick it up. It is an American dime 10c WTF!
"Coach you are responsible for your" I am approaching home dugout where the coach is standing "spectators and players." I hand him the dime "throwing objects is not sportsman like conduct and will not be allowed."
What are you talking about blue?
Someone threw this onto the field. It came from your stands I do not know who threw it but you had better make sure it does not happen again.
No blue no one threw this.
No coach it did not fall from the sky and I saw it come from your side of the field
I turn back to the plate.
Top of the forth red coach wants to swap his pitcher that just finished warming up
No coach he has to face the batter before you can swap him.
What?
Your pitcher took the mound
He must face the first batter.
Are you serious?
Yes coach
Batter steps into the box
Pitch is thrown for a strike.
I turn to the coach
He does not call time
I signal to the pitcher to throw.
Batter hits to second and gets out at first.
I look to the coach again he does not signal
Fine.
Now at the bottom of the forth.
Red is up by 4
Red is at bat
Runner at first
Coach asks me how much time we have left
No coach I do not have the time and I signal to my partner
He (my partner) states that we have 13 minutes left
Coach asks 3?
No 13
Coach asks 2?
No coach 13
Three??
No I say and I put the ball into play
There is a pick off to first and the ball is dropped and the runner makes it to second
As the pitch comes set the red coach charges to second base
I jump up stop the pitch
I ask my partner if he granted time
He says no and looks as confused as me
I call to the coach
sir you were not granted time get off the field
My player is hurt (he is not he is standing)
No sir you must request time there was a live ball when you entered the field now get off the field
My player was hurt
No sir gets off the field
But I was just...
No sir now gets off the field.
He exits the field and starts to explain something
I say now if you want time ask for it
He says he does not want it and that he was just...
I turn from him signal to my partner and I call play
His runner make s a bad move to third is thrown out
Coach comes towards me and explains again
I tell him I am not interested and to go back to his box
Third out occurs on a backwards K
The coach approaches me and states that the time has expired.
I smile and ask my partner how much time we have left
He states that we have 8 minutes
He says no we are to be playing an hour 30 because of all the rain delays
I tell him that I was not made aware of this that start of the day, the table said nothing to me when the game card
Was picked up
So it was an hour 40 when I walked onto the field
It was an hour 40 at the plate meeting and we will play an hour 40 now
No he says it is suppose to be an hour 30
No sir you can not call a game time expired
The pitcher has warmed up and the coach is joined by the abstain coach who begins to chime in
I tell the assistant coach that he was not at the plate meeting and he has no place in this discussion
The coach tells him to be quite
The coach starts about the time again
I say coach goes to your place now as we are starting this game and I turn
The blue assistant coach approaches me as he is going to third he starts with let me tell you about........
I say no coach you were not at the plate meeting if this is important then have the head coach talk to me.
He decides that it was not important.
I call play
Blue scores 2 with no outs the red coach calls time and approaches me
He states that the game is under protest and that the last two runs do not count and that the time is expired
I state the protest is fine and that the runs are not my concern right now
I tell my partner that the game is under protest and to mark the card accordingly
The coach begins to argue some more and my partner says "play" I tell the coach to go back to the dug out
And I get behind the plate.
Blue is behind by 2 and two outs my partner signals that time have expired.
I announce time has expired and that we finish the inning
The red crowd is freaking out.
I put the ball back into play
Red makes the third out
I call ball game
Red wins by 2 runs
I exit the field
I call the UIC and ask about the time
He says yes it was to be an hour 30 but it was agreed at the plate an hour 40