The umpiring in this league stinks. The strike zone is non- exsistant. 12 inches off the plate is now a strike? The Twins last night were playing against 10 players in the field. It's was clearly evident from the start that the umpire had some kind of relationship with the Cubs pitcher. This umpire should not be allowed back on the field!
This post -- aptly named by its author -- is also an alltimelow. Umpires are doing the best they can under obviously unusual circumstances. Most of us in this league are just grateful to be playing. Just curious...was the umpire the 10th person on the field for your team making those reported fielding errors?
As Tim pointed out, a strike zone from behind the mound is going to be a little different than a strike zone from behind the plate. It is the batter's responsibility to know that strike zone. It drives me crazy when a batter strikes out looking in a late inning then bitches about the umpire's call. The batter had the whole game to learn that strike zone. In this case, alltimelow, you've had six or seven games to learn the zone. That's a you problem.
You also had all night to get over the fact that you struck out in a recreation league baseball game. Another you problem.
For the sake of clarification, the opinion of one former member of the Twins regarding the umpiring in the Twins-Cubs game---the other members of the Twins are in agreement that although the umpire was not perfect, he was consistent for both teams and it evened out.
Just so all are clear. Dave Reed is the Author of the "All time low" post. Last night after Cubs' first baseman Jim Bonaparte requested that Dave Reed put on a mask, while being a courtesy runner for John Newman, at first, Dave took offense to that somehow, and proceeded to take an over sized "one way" lead at first. When the pick-off throw came, Dave took the opportunity to cheap shot Bonaparte, lowering his shoulder and throwing an elbow into Jim's ribs as Jim was extended reaching for the throw.
The umpire did the right thing and immediately ejected Dave from the game. Dave's reaction to that was to flip the ump off while walking toward him, telling him to F off and throwing his helmet in the ump's direction! He then turned his attention back to Jim and was threatening him, until his teammates and manager called him off. Even after his ejection, Dave refused to leave the field until he was threatened with forfeiting the game for his team. Even then, it took a ton of coercing by his teammates to get him to leave.
The Twins got together after the game and voted, as a team, to kick Dave off the Twins Roster. That was a classy way to say that they did not condone or support Dave's actions in any way. Thus Dave's "All Time Low" post. Mike LaGoy was the umpire, and he handled this perfectly. Was his strike zone less than perfect, yes. But I don't even think that Dave really thinks that he was biased. He is just striking out against the figure of authority that put his little temper tantrum in its place. WE have no place for those kinds of actions here in the CDMSBL, and I think we need to send him that message clearly!
It is now in the hands of the CDMSBL board of directors.
Let's take a moment and thank Mike Girard for a beautifully written account of what happened the other night. Are you a journalist Mike? If not, you should be. Everyone knows the way a feel about Jim Bonaparte. For the record, very few people cover their face when on the base paths. Jim tried to get under my skin by stopping the game so I could get my face mask. So I got even by shoving him off first base. What I do apologize for is the way I handled myself after getting ejected. Should have never talked to the umpire the way I did, but it just boiled over from him calling a third strike 12 inches off the plate. So to all the other 55+ teams except the dodgers, I am now a free agent and ready to join any other team looking for players. David Reed
The next sound you hear Dave, will be crickets. I cannot foresee anyone wanting someone that conducts themselves as you did, and continue to do with your posts here. I could be wrong, but the 55+ Cubs will definitely pass.
There are so many things that could be said here and I am usually not one to rock the boat. I was a little league coach on and off for over 30 years and the one thing that I always taught was to be respectful towards each other. We came up in a generation where this game was still considered a gentlemens sport and that is how I taught it. Not liking a call strike three that the ump made, it pisses us all off but in the end we all know its part of the game and we just get over it after a few words under our breath walking back to the dugout. On the other hand to physically attack someone in a Rec league that is way over the top and completely unacceptable!!!
I am a retired Air Force Master Sergeant and team and comradely are important. Neither was practiced here and then pointing fingers at other what are we six years old? I am a guy who pretty much like everyone but I have a point to make so here goes.
This isnt about liking or disliking someone the point is that we are all 55+ old kids in our division and we are blessed to be able to still play this game that we all love. Calling someone out should never be tolerated and neither should acting like a fool. There should NEVER be any room for anyone that is going to act like this in OUR league and we should be able to play in a safe and fun environment. There is enough stress in the world right now. Like Shane Falco said in the Replacements Cant we all just get along?
... "For the record, very few people cover their face when on the base paths. ...''
Really Dave? We have played 5-6 games in the 55 division and maybe about the same in the 45s. We, the players, police this pretty well. For the record, if anything, very few DO NOT wear the masks when on the base paths. And when it's discovered, most of us enforce it. And NO ONE except you took exception to it.
But the mask wasn't the issue. Your admitted dismissive attitude toward Bonaparte is the issue. Not everyone likes everyone in life, but who does what you did? Pretty cowardly act to level a vulnerable, unsuspecting player as you did. Reminds me of the 31-year-old degenerate who decked an innocent, unsuspecting 91-year-old woman walking down the street in NYC last month.
I'm sure it made you feel good - hell, maybe even proud.
Twins are to be commended. They showed that the league is bigger than any player.
