A word about Blue...

Charlie Henry is regarded as one of the best umpires in our state. No one is held at a higher esteem by the coaches. He is fair, consistent, works hard and is approachable. Yet, this is a day in the life of Charlie Henry:

“A guy that sits outside their dugout (scorekeeper I guess) that had the count wrong. Bases loaded and the count was 3-2 on my sheet. Charlie Henry signaled 3-2. Everyone had 3-2 except the scoreboard. Ball 4 walks in a run and they are bitching and screaming to tag the runner out. Charlie explained the call and this guy RAGES and wasn’t ejected.

A kid was ejected in the first for arguing balls and strikes. Actually, he was rung up on what was pretty clearly strike three and turned to Charlie Henry and said "that’s "BS" and you know it."

I guess Charlie didn't want another Pineville/Cherryville situation so he was afraid to police this like it should have been done.

Another thing, Charlie Henry is the only black umpire left in this area. Everyone knows his name. People cuss him by name and he cant do anything about it. He must love the game, because if he is that glutton for punishment I cant imagine why he does it otherwise.”

This is something one of the best umpires is subjected to. No wonder some of them acquire a short fuse. It takes a very special person to remain as a good umpire. I freely admit I can't do it because there are games I would bang everybody out.

One of my favorite umpire stories?

"A coach came screaming out to the field to argue a call I made. He said, 'You are the only person at this game that saw the call the way you called it.' The umpired replied, 'Wow, thanks coach. That makes me pretty smart!' The coach tried hard not to laugh, but turned and walked away

 

Great exchanges

Umpire has a close call at first base to end a very important and exciting ball game.

Exiting the field, a mild-mannered, professional and polite fan calmly stated (quietly and respecftully), "I think you may have missed that one blue." Blue politely and respectfully replies, "Thanks, but I didn't ask your opinion."

LMAO!!!! good one....

 

LMAO...I will have to add that one to the list

 

Plate mans responsibility but unless it is blatant it is rarely called. If I'm behind the plate I have things that take higher priority over whether the batter was borderline out of the box. It is clear to everyone and it's pretty obvious than yes I will get that.

Charles Henry will be a patron saint of baseball umpires. He's a great guy. I love Charlie...he's went to bat for a lot of people pardon the pun and he's worked a lot games...heck, I think he was Madison Bumgarner's personal umpire when Madison was at South Caldwell.

 

A big no no for any fan.

Braves said that Charlie has been cussed by name and he cannot do anything about it. I have to disagree. Last year I was talking to Chris Padgett at a scrimmage and he was giving me a hard time about standing behind home plate and just wearing him out over a call he made. I didn't recall it because I am usually in the press box during games. Then he said I called him by name during the criticism. I knew it wasn't me when he said that because I have a hard and fast rule about addressing game officials. I NEVER address them by name. That makes the situation personal. Chris speaks to being "all business" and not "making friends" when he is on the field and that is a good practice. He is "blue" or "ump" during the game. I will call him by his name outside the field. Back to Charlie. He should not have to tolerate a personal attack by a fan and would be well within his rights to send the offender home early. There is a big difference between a fan yelling, "You suck blue!" and "You suck, Charlie!"

I will say that my hard and fast rule was put to a severe test at a game last
year though. A ball was foul tipped to the screen and rolled back within 3 feet of the plate umpire. He turned to the batter (African American kid) on deck and said, "Boy, get this ball." The kid was facing into the dugout "listening" to his coach. The asshole behind the plate repeated his demand twice more. The other teams assistant coach, who knew the kid, hopped up and ran out and picked up the ball and handed it to the ump. Instead of dropping into his bag he turned and threw it at the kid that didn't respond to his command. The
issue I had was not that he referred to the player as boy but the fact that the kid is DEAF! He had to look at his coach to read his lips and could not hear the prick behind the plate. I had every intention of addressing this lowlife by a whole lot of things and I wanted it to be personal but he beat me to the parking lot. I reported what happened to Bill Freeman and his response was, "(That ump) is having a tough time in his personal life." Really? Maybe he should try being deaf! Others have commented on the attitude of the umpires and an improvement in the attitude by a few of the men in blue would go a long way toward making their job easier for the simple fact it would improve the attitude of the other people at the game.

 

A good way to end a great season. Charlie was on the field - and while we may not have won the game - Yes... Charlie knows. I hope he knows that some fans really do appreciate umpires who do their job, not just for the money - but for the love of the game.

 

Anon called a PHS game.

Anon, I know you called a Providence game this year. Their lead-off batter wipes out the inside line of the box and places his back foot behind the plate. I have heard players, fans, and coaches bring it to the attention of the umpire. I have video of it, everyone sees it, it is brought to the umps attention and it is never called.

And you are right about Mr. Henry. He is a fine man and a wonderful umpire.

 

I've never called a Providence game. As far as your example goes, one or both feet have to be COMPLETELY out of the batters box. Not in the air but have to be touching the ground COMPLETELY out of the batters box. When you wipe out the inside line you get into whether the batter is putting himself in a position to purposely get hit. I've never seen the Providence lead off hitter to my knowledge...if he plays showcase for SCP than maybe I've seen him. If he puts his foot BEHIND the plate than it will cause a problem with the catcher receiving a pitch. I can't speak for every umpire. If you knew what was actually required to call hs baseball you would be shocked/appalled.

As far as how I handle it? I simply tell the batter to get back in the box. The box is in my head...I know where it is in relation to the plate. If I think you are out or close to being out I will let you know. The outside edge of the inside line is 6 inches which is the width of two baseballs (my strike zone in showcase). If they are too close I tell them to back up. What most people and some umpires who don't have any game management skills fail to realize is that most baseball issues can be dealt with before they happen. Why get in a pissing contest with a coach about the batters box when I know where it is and simply tell the guy to get back in? If you are a coach, why do you want to sit on your "bucket" and bust my balls about a guy being out if your players do the same thing? It's called gamesmanship. As an umpire you deal with it. You acknowledge the coach even though you know he's trying to get in the hitters head. If he escalates/continues than you address it further. Games management is what makes or breaks an umpire.

 

My best advice, coaches coach, umpires umpire and parents STFU. YOu guys bitch about coaches, bitch about umpires, but not once have i ever heard or read about you bitching about your cruddy DNA.

 

Um, not exactly how I would have phrased it... but you just pounded the nail right on its rusty little head with the truest of hammers.

I would simply ask that the coaches and umpires be treated as well as the DNA. Well, except for the running of Gatorades to the dugout after big hits - or the hand signalling from the stands of what we really need to be throwing from the mound or doing at the plate. Now, the tossing of $20 bills to go eat as we exit the gates, that I can handle. In fact, I wouldn't mind one of those $30,000 rides you drop on JR either. My ride was 21 years old when I turned 16. (OK, it was a 1965 Mustang, so no tears here.)