Some strange umpiring

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- Perhaps the biggest news out of today's morning tilt between the Portland Sea Dogs and Binghamton Mets, was that the umpiring didn't produce something bizarre.

There have been some strange calls throughout all levels of the minor leagues, who are using college, amateur, and who knows, maybe even T-ball arbiters (their identities have bravely been withheld by Minor League Baseball) while the regular callers of balls and strikes squabble with "the Association" over nickels and dimes.

I'd seen a few of them at the Triple-A level, and wondered that if these are the best of the irregulars, Lord only knows what's being called at the levels below.

I found out during the course of this series.

For instance, at one point during the first game, the home plate umpire (lets call him Mr. X) was seen waving feverishly to the two guys in the field, trying to get them into position. A strange sight to be sure, but made even stranger when the runner on first base, thinking he was somehow being awarded second, pointed to himself as to say "who me"? At least he saw the signal, the two men in blue did not, at least not for a while.

No one on hand had ever seen such a thing.

Or as we saw the next night, the sight of TWO umpires covering home plate on a play at third base.

"They are what they are," one of the managers said to me, exhibiting great patience. "College umps, used to working a two-man game."

That same manager was more than a little flabbergasted when that same grew came up with a call at second in which two runners were caught occupying the same base. Both should have been called out, since the lead runner (who was entitled to the base)had come off, and was tagged, as was the other runner.

But only one was called out.

My question was this: Would you have gotten the correct call from the regular umps?

Again showing great restraint, he said, "my mistake was in not calling them all together, so I learned something too."

We all have.

The hard way.

Comments

[stew]

Comments from minor league players upon the return of the Professionals from the strike...(and i quote)
"...man it is great to see you...this has been a f...ing nightmare."
"Thanks for coming back...you have no f...ing idea what it's been like dealing with these f...ing fools."
So my answer to you is..."YES (and i didn't mean to yell) they would have gotten the f...ing call right."
Thanx for coming back blue!!!