In one of our pool games that my dd pitched, the umpire explained to her after the game how he had called a high pitch a strike (that may or may not have been
) and couldn't change it after he did it. So for the entire game, both ways, he called that pitch a strike. Then he told her, "but your smart, you knew that!" :lmao: She told him she was and understood! To funny. The umpires were great all weekend. Very friendly and fun!
Not really an ideal way to handle this. If you miss one pitch, then you miss one pitch- it happens. But just because you missed one pitch doesn't mean you should adjust your strike zone for the entire game! Now, instead of making one mistake, you will be making dozens of them throughout the game!
Glad to hear that everyone seems mostly happy with their umpires at this tourney. But that can all turn bad on one call that doesn't go your way.
I have seen terrible umpires slide through games just because they didn't happen to be put in any tough positions during that game. Call it the luck of the draw or the law of averages. Sometimes you'll just happen to have games, or strings of games, where there aren't any close calls and a particular umpire's shortcomings don't happen to be exposed.
On the other hand, I've seen good umpires get crucified for making a call that one team didn't like, even when it was 100% the correct call.
During this past week I've umpired a dozen games and for the most part they went smoothly. But there was one game, with one team, where they were probably convinced that I was the worst umpire in the world! Not because I missapplied any rules, or really blew any calls. There just happened to be several close calls that didn't go their way- even though I am satisfied that they were the correct calls. Adding to their frustration was the fact that they were getting beat badly (which was their own fault, through numerous errors, poor pitching and a lack of hitting). I ended up ejecting one of their players and one of their coaches this game (totally deserved for arguing calls and unsportsmanlike behavior).
This team later complained to the TD about how the umpires had "cost them the game". They were run-ruled! But it's always easier to blame your failures on somebody else besides yourself.