Stardate: -316199.86
After a couple middle school basketball games the past two days, which were easy, I had a baptism by fire today during my first baseball game. I got thrust behind the plate.Pretty challenging for a new umpire, and a lot of pressure knowing that I'm the only one who can call balls and strikes. I think I did pretty well on that and stayed consistent throughout the game. However, I did have a couple close plays at home, one of which I think I botched, and another that I got right but probably called too quickly.
They were a lot of runs -- 20 combined? 25? Hard to say, since umpires don't keep track of the score. Two and a half hours. My legs are sore after going down into a plate stance and back up all game.
More than just the basics though, today was about more than that. It was an initiation into a culture that I've never been involved with firsthand before. I didn't get the opportunity to play organized baseball. It's a sport that is still old fashioned, devoid of technology, no whistles for the officials, and played out in an open field.
As much as I love basketball, I can see how baseball can be addictive in its own way. I'm glad I have this opportunity.
captain's log = Luke @ 22:32
4 Comments:
I am glad that you have the opportunity as well. Funny though...I never thought I would hear that coming from such a devote and avid basketball fan...
Hey Luke,
I'm glad you enjoyed your first game. Hang in there and before you know it, you'll be working Ems games!
I like your comment about technology (or tha lack of it) in baseball. I think that's one reason I like to watch baseball in person and not on TV.
Play ball!
Jack
That sounds interesting. Why no whistles?
I never thought I would hear me say that either...
I'm not sure why there are no whistles. I guess the simple (though vague) answer is that they have never used whistles. The philosophical answer is that in baseball, umpires are there primarily to facilitate the game by rendering judgments -- safe/out, catch/no catch, fair/foul, ball/strike -- which does not require a whistle, but just hand and vocal signals. This is unlike basketball, football, soccer, and just about every other sport that does have referees, where the referees have whistles to help them call violations or fouls. So in that way it's a reflection on baseball actually being a different sport in some ways, hence it's aforementioned appeal.
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