Thoughts on today

Not every good pitch is a strike?

Here's my advice.  Don't listen to anything from the peanut gallery.  And definitely, don't address the crowd or bench when they "disagree" with a call.  We had that happen the other day and the umpire looks foolish doing it.  Just go about you business calling the game as best that you can. 

couple things....at 9u, anything near the plate is often thought of as a good pitch....as you go up the ladder, that comment is still heard but usually not enough to bother you...

The stands and dugouts see pitches up and down better than in and out......so a knee high pitch caught well off the plate, looks like a good pitch from where they are sitting....so you will still hear it....

Agree with Golfman, hear everything game oriented, but don't hear everything from the stands.....before long that wont even matter to you...and never engage fans....nothing good can come from it....if its bad get the home coach involved... 

I try to let the umpire know before the game that "good pitch" from me as the coach does not mean I think it was a strike. I need my pitchers to be able to put the ball away from the strike zone on occasion. Like wise, when I tell a batter that a pitch "is not one for him to hit", it may be a strike but not the best pitch for him in that spot or count.

If you listen you will hear so much STUPIDITY from the peanut gallery that it's mind boggling.  Today I had a routine grounder to the second baseman.  He threw to 1st.  The batter runner was very, very slow.  The first baseman fell down.  He rolled around several times and rolled over the base TWICE with possession and control both times!  I called the batter-runner out (just ONCE).

The crowd is going ballistic, they are talking all sorts of stupidity.

The coach even comes out and asks me if I'll ask for help.

I tell him, "Coach I've got a beach whale play at 1st.  But I will happily ask for help."

I go to my partner and ask him what he's got.  He tells me, "You're buying me a whale burger after the game!"

I announce to all, "The beached whale play stands as called.  The batter is OUT!"

Good thing whaling is illegal.  I don't think I could afford a WHALE BURGER.