Recently, I was doing my annual duty in being the crew chief of three-man crews for the long series of tournaments that youth programs undertake in July and August. Our assignor rewards the hard working journeyman umpires of our association by giving them those tournaments.

But he sends out a very senior umpire with each crew to make sure nothing weird happens that will reflect badly on the association.  Misapplied rules are his primary concern, but out of control behavior follows closely behind.

My job is to work one of the base positions and let the journeymen have their day in the sun. I take the position that neither of the other two wants third base, but one of them usually wants to work the plate. While I was enjoying the sunshine and the breeze in "the rocking chair," I observed that all kinds of things go on in youth baseball that should not be allowed to happen.

Continued...