The "Men In Blue" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Slipping into my blue umpire's uniform so I can umpire a modified men's softball game with my neighbor Bob who has been umpiring for years.  Asked me from time to time if I was interested in earning a few extra bucks during summer evenings by umpiring softball games and I eventually said yes.  At the time I was playing and pitching slow-pitch softball on a team that was managed by another friend.  Bob said that wouldn't interfere with my other games, so I agreed to umpire with him a night or two a week.  Carol and I had two young children at the time and could use the extra money.  I had to purchase a short-sleeve collared blue shirt and a pair of blue shorts.  Bob gave me a patch that Carol sewed on the sleeve telling everyone I was an official umpire with the Lanco Umpiring Association.  

Bob and I took turns driving to fields around the county to try and preserve the peace at the games in the Lancaster Church League.  One game Bob was behind the plate calling balls and strikes while the next game I did that duty.  I played baseball for years and even coached a little league team for a few years and always found a way to complain about the calls the umpires made during those game.  Being in a different position at the game wasn't much fun I must admit.  Even thought I tried to make all the correct calls, someone was always yelling at you.  Calling the balls and strikes was a tough job.  The size of the player, how he stood at the plate and how low he wore his uniform made a difference.  Well, that experiment with making money lasted exactly one year and then I returned to the coaching ranks, complaining about the calls the umpires were making once again.  That was back in the early 1970's and today's game hasn't changed much except for one new twist.  Today's newspaper cried in big capital letters "MAN VS. MACHINE" and told of computers making the ball and strike calls.  A few days ago in San Rafael, California, a computerized video system, designed to judge balls and strikes, was used in an independent professional league game.  Three cameras were used in the game to judge the the location and trajectory of each pitch as it crossed home plate.  Major League games have been using the same PITCH/x technology for years on broadcasts to show viewers where the pitch was located and every major league stadium has the technology installed and ready, but none have ever used it in a game to officially call the balls and strikes.  

May be because of the Umpires Asso. contract or may be because people don't want to change history.  Many believe that baseball should only be officiated by robots when it is played by robots.  I shared the newspaper article with my wife who said who would call the guy safe or out at home if there wasn't a homeplate umpire?  Who could see if a player was struck by a ball or who could see if the catcher's glove hits the bat when the player swings?  That's usually the job of the homeplate umpire. The game has been changing so much in the last few years with pitchers throwing close to 100MPH.  Has to be tough to call a ball or strike in an instant.  Maybe it is time to use technology to help.  I'm not sure I would like it since it's not baseball as I knew it and played it.  Heck, who would you yell at all the time when you were frustrated when losing a game?  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.