I arrived at 5:55 pm for a 6:30 start. My partner arrived at 6:10 pm. We found a hotly-contested softball game in progress, tied & going into extra innings. I spoke with both coaches & was told the Red Sox were the home team. I asked the coach if he had a permit with him, as I wanted to have it in hand in case of problems. I then spoke with the home softball team's coach, told him of the permit & they agreed to make the current inning the last one - win, lose or draw. I returned the permit to the Red Sox coach & reported the results of our discussion. Everyone was cool.
At about 6:35 the softball game ended & we entered the field, only to find the Diamondbacks were short one man. I informed the Red Sox coach, & clearly told both teams they had 1/2 hour from the schedule start time of 6:30 to field 9 men. Since we had a 10:00 curfew & since the Diamondbacks were the visitors, we agreed to start the game as soon as their last man arrived in the parking lot. Again, everyone was cool.
My partner & I did our pre-game run through & awaited the last player's arrival. He got there at about 6:50, we immediately did our "ground rules" at the plate (confirming no collisions, the 10-run rule & no inning to start after 9:45), & the 1st pitch was thrown at 6:55 pm.
Early in the game, the Red Sox player coaching 3rd, was using foul & abusive language. I called time & asked the coach to please ask him to stop. Done, no problem.
Mr. assignor, with all due respect, I don't know what kind of officials the Red Sox are used to, but they took great exception to my not calling strikes 6 inches below the knees. The coach came out to confront me & I told him the pitches were low & I was not going to call them. He was not at all pleased, & said I was favoring the other team (whose pitcher's strikes were at the knees or higher). Several times during the game the Red Sox coach asked for time to discuss the other pitcher's lack of control - he had hit 2 batters (obviously not intentionally) & was keeping the ball tight to the plate. I asked him what he wanted me to do & he said I should warn him. I told him the hit batters were not intentional, he was not throwing wildly or doing anything wrong, it was just baseball (besides, unless it becomes a safety issue, I don't think it's my job to intervene). Again, he was not pleased & his bench let me know it.
He also came running out to inquire why a balk was not called when the other pitcher turned to throw to 2nd in the middle of his stretch - before he had come to his stop. I told him that was perfectly OK, since he can throw to any base at any time during his windup. He didn't like that explanation either, & I heard several derisive comments from his bench.
Their fans, who sit behind the fence about 10 feet to my left between home plate & their bench, were becoming loud & abusive & using lots of foul language. I called time & told him to tell them to cut the language or I was going to terminate the game. Done, no problem.
Between innings as I was getting a drink, I quietly asked the Diamondbacks' coach if there was any history between these 2 teams I should be aware of & he told me no.
In the 5th inning, we had a close play at 3rd base (right in front of their bench), & my partner was right there in great position & made a correct "safe" call - although the high throw had beaten the runner, by the time the tag was applied the runner had slid in safely underneath it. Their bench erupted, & their catcher (#3) ran halfway down the 3rd baseline, threw his helmet down, & started screaming & cursing. I told him to watch his language & he said, “It’s a fucking free country & I can say any fucking thing I want to." I told him he couldn't & he would need to stop the cursing, & he said, “I can say any fucking thing I like," so I said, "Well, you just said it - you're gone." His comment - "Fuck you."
He went to sit with the fans & was still "chirping" & cursing. I told the coach if he didn't stop it I was going to eject him from the park & would hold the game until he left, or terminate the game if he didn't leave. The coach spoke to him &, even though he had put down a few "Coronas", he was quite after that.
We continued without incident, & began the 7th inning at 9:35 (double-checked with one of the fans), & completed the game at 10:00 - final score Diamondbacks 19, Red Sox 2. My partner & I went to our cars, changed up & heard no further incidents. All in all, not a wonderful evening.
FYI - The coach's statement is untrue - there is no way I said we'd wait as long as it takes to get 9 men - the rule is 1/2 hour &, especially with the curfew, that's it. At no time did the Red Sox question the start time or indicate we were beyond the 1/2 hour wait time.
Thank you,
Really stupid official