[JJJ]

Esquer got ejected after he prevented Handley from that fate on a called strikeout that he disagreed with. Big Bad Wulff then singled and Will the Thrill left the yard so now 4-2 (should’ve been 4-3?) and we chase the starter, T7.

I was at Dedeaux Field. The umpires certainly did not have a good game. USC's 2 runs in the 1st were abetted by several questionable calls. With USC on 2nd, Handley had the runner picked off after a strike out. The runner broke for 3rd and the ball reached the bag in plenty of time for the tag. Bellafronto caught the ball, put his glove down and the umpire called the runner safe. Esquer protested to no avail. After a walk, the USC runner on 3rd tried to steal home. Starting pitcher Miller recognized the situation when the runner was halfway to home. He whipped it to Handley who put the tag down in time as the runner slid. We waited one second, two seconds for the home plate ump to make a call. Finally, after the USC runner had separated himself from Handley's glove, the ball popped loose and the ump signaled safe.

Esquer got thrown out after Handley took a called 3rd strike on a ball just above the top of his shoes. Handley was understandably displeased. Before he could say anything that would get him in trouble, Esquer went out and escorted him back to the dugout. The ump had rabbit ears and made the mistake of reacting to something from the Stanford bench before the next batter got in the box. I heard Esquer say 3 times, "I'm not arguing balls and strikes." But the ump tossed him anyway.

Turns out the home plate umpire has a history of similar events when he was an MLB umpire - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_Campos

Thanks for the “on the ground” recaps. I missed the first 2 runs given up and am not sure I want to go back and watch the DVR. Did you go yesterday as well? It turns out 4-5 pitchers from ‘82-‘83 teams were there.

[JJJ]

Esquer got ejected after he prevented Handley from that fate on a called strikeout that he disagreed with. Big Bad Wulff then singled and Will the Thrill left the yard so now 4-2 (should’ve been 4-3?) and we chase the starter, T7.

I was at Dedeaux Field. The umpires certainly did not have a good game. USC's 2 runs in the 1st were abetted by several questionable calls. With USC on 2nd, Handley had the runner picked off after a strike out. The runner broke for 3rd and the ball reached the bag in plenty of time for the tag. Bellafronto caught the ball, put his glove down and the umpire called the runner safe. Esquer protested to no avail. After a walk, the USC runner on 3rd tried to steal home. Starting pitcher Miller recognized the situation when the runner was halfway to home. He whipped it to Handley who put the tag down in time as the runner slid. We waited one second, two seconds for the home plate ump to make a call. Finally, after the USC runner had separated himself from Handley's glove, the ball popped loose and the ump signaled safe.

Esquer got thrown out after Handley took a called 3rd strike on a ball just above the top of his shoes. Handley was understandably displeased. Before he could say anything that would get him in trouble, Esquer went out and escorted him back to the dugout. The ump had rabbit ears and made the mistake of reacting to something from the Stanford bench before the next batter got in the box. I heard Esquer say 3 times, "I'm not arguing balls and strikes." But the ump tossed him anyway.

Turns out the home plate umpire has a history of similar events when he was an MLB umpire - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_Campos

Thanks for the “on the ground” recaps. I missed the first 2 runs given up and am not sure I want to go back and watch the DVR. Did you go yesterday as well? It turns out 4-5 pitchers from ‘82-‘83 teams were there.